Growing Up Autistic
  • Home
  • Product Recommendations
  • Meet Us
    • Trevor
    • Tracey
    • Patty
    • Lonnie
  • Books
  • Blog
  • 1-Minute Videos
  • About Autism
  • Contact

My Post-College Career Journey with Autism

2/8/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
By Trevor Pacelli

I may land on the autism spectrum, I may have delayed speech development, I may be at times discomforting to talk to in person, I may get tired easily from being out a lot, but I still have proven that I’m just as capable as everybody else in working a satisfying career.

One month after I received my Bachelor of Arts in Film and Media Studies from Arizona State University, my parents offered me a position in their company to prepare me for a career. They had me start with my three primary areas of interest: photography, movie reviews, and my book I wrote at 19, Six-Word Lessons on Growing Up Autistic. Since then, these areas have grown into a website where I sell photos (trevorpacelliphotography.com), a blog where I write about autism lessons in your favorite movies (trevorsviewonhollywood.com), and talks I’ve done for schools and other groups around the Seattle suburban area to promote autism awareness.

The bad news is, not everyone understands this. A 2013 study by the Journal for the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry says that only 53.4% of adults with autism aged 21-25 have work for pay outside the home.
It’s much harder for people on the spectrum to find work that both pays them well and utilizes what they’re capable of, as those types of jobs are limiting. What makes it harder is that many corporations value team players who are excellent with interpersonal interaction; which does not align with the heavily introverted traits of autism.

The mental health website Emaxhealth.com has listed jobs best recommended for anyone on the spectrum, which includes but is not limited to computer programming, engineering, designing, photography, accounting, and journaling. Or, if the worker is nonverbal, job titles including janitor, store stocker, or landscaper work out great. They do not recommend “people” jobs such as waiter/waitress, market trader, and receptionist. While limitations exist for more popular jobs, it’s not hopeless.

In fact, accommodations are everywhere to help those with developmental disorders find the right type of employment. There are hiring programs, including those that help you after you get hired. Now, these can go a number of ways: If there is any sensitivity to bright lights, you can ask to have the fluorescent lights in your work space turned down. If you are caught off guard by sudden schedule changes, the employer can know to give more advance notice of these changes. Most people on the spectrum love a predictable work environment, and employers are always required by law to make sure each employee is comfortable in his or her work space.
Once one with autism finds an employer where both the boss and worker can mutually cooperate, then the positive skills of an autistic worker come into play. A couple of key strengths than an autistic worker can use to benefit a business includes a hawk’s eye attention to detail, a photographic memory, passionate focus on a given task, and a vivid imagination. The journey to finding the right type of job is different for everyone, and everyone gets to the position of earning regular income differently and in varying amounts of time, but everyone is capable of doing it, no matter what it may appear.
​
And finally, here is an article about the Soldiers of Intelligence Unit 9900, who demonstrate the skills of autism utilized in a job that actually requires them to save thousands of lives.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    Inspiration for Life with Autism

    This blog has a variety of articles about people living life with autism, and topics and ideas that can help in the journey. Guest bloggers are welcome. Inspired by Trevor, a young adult film critic, photographer and college graduate on the autism spectrum. 

    Check out Trevor's movie review blog, TrevorsViewonHollywood

    Categories

    All
    Accommodations
    Addiction
    Adult Life
    Art
    Autism
    Bullying
    College Life
    Creativity
    Dental Issues
    Depression
    Disability Friendly
    Early Education
    Early Signs Of Autism
    Employment
    High School
    Home Safety
    Jobs & Careers
    Lonnie's Blog Posts
    Misconceptions
    Movie Reviews
    Movies And Disabilities
    Moving Homes
    Obsessions
    One Minute Lessons
    Parenting
    Patty's Blog Posts
    Pokemon
    Research
    Safety
    Siblings And Autism
    Sleep Problems
    Teasing
    Teen Life
    Tracey's Blog Posts
    Trevor's Blog Posts
    Video Gaming

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    December 2020
    September 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    October 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    October 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • Product Recommendations
  • Meet Us
    • Trevor
    • Tracey
    • Patty
    • Lonnie
  • Books
  • Blog
  • 1-Minute Videos
  • About Autism
  • Contact