They Love to be on Time

By Patty Pacelli

Like many people with autism, our son Trevor has always been very aware of time, and likes to stick to a schedule. He owned and used a watch from preschool on, and that attention to timeliness helped him when he had a job. Because autistic individuals thrive on routine, schedules and predictability, they will rarely, if ever, be late to work or meetings, which is a dream for employers.

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Trevor's job doing nightly security lock-up at a church was perfect for him, because he never forgot to show up and do the very important job of securing a public building. His supervisor said Trevor was his "right-hand man" and he was more reliable than many of his other employees, and he could always count on him to do what he was asked. He took "literally no supervision" and he didn't have to check up on him. "As a supervisor, that's huge," he said.

For more tips on helping prepare kids with autism for the workplace, and to learn how employers can take advantage of the special skills of people with autism, check out Patty's book, Six-Word Lessons for Autism-Friendly Workplaces.