Something that most people don't stop to think about is the fact that over the next 10 years, a tidal wave of approximately a half-million young adults with autism will be aging out of school and seeking employment. With the reporting of these new studies, it is becoming increasingly clear that something must be done to help these individuals prepare for, and then transition into the workforce.
What Is Being Done About This Issue
To address this need, a Danish father of an autistic son is leading an effort to create exciting new opportunities for these gifted individuals. Thorkil Sonne has launched Specialisterne USA, a non-profit organization designed to help educate employers about the unique benefits of employing someone with autism, while also providing valuable training opportunities and workshops for the individuals with autism. The goal of this organization is to enable 100,000 jobs for people with autism and similar challenges in the US.
Unique Strengths Will Help Autistic Adults Land Great Jobs
Specialisterne USA is "partnering with employers, states and non-profit training organizations to assess, train, employ and retain individuals with autism in work settings where they can excel," says Sonne. One of the key reasons this program will likely be a great success is the fact that it recognizes the unique strengths that those with autism often possess. For example, autistic individuals tend to be very detail oriented and often thrive in technical industries and IT positions. The organization assesses, trains, and employs individuals with autism in IT and other technically oriented sectors. They report that 80% of their employees are working at corporate partner locations.
This article is sponsored by New Directions For Young Adults. They provide transitional training and services for young adults with unique challenges and special needs.