Hi,
As I wonder about the future for DD8, I notice
articles about people on the spectrum who have found careers,
like this one
http://www.ipwatchdog.com/2012/05/11/ip-community-raising-autism-awareness/id=24815/
I realize information about people with autism may not be
so relevant to people with Aspergers or who are 2e
or 2e in other ways, but I do find it helpful that some
NT people are sympathetic and willing to work with
non-NTs. Does anyone know if there is something similar
(lists of jobs; consultants) for kids who are 2e?

(This is how I deal with my own anxiety for DD--trying
to figure out what I should steer her towards as an
adult; I know it bugs DH, which is why I come here

Hi Dbat,

There's been quite a bit of press about this lately, both college support and jobs... I think it's emerging just in time.

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/30/putting-the-gifts-of-the-autistic-to-work/

http://www.aheadd.org/about.html

http://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2011/02/25/helping-people-with-aspergers-find-work/

http://asperger-employment.org/about/what-we-do/

DeeDee

This might help quantify the problem, though I suspect that gifted autistic children are beating these statistics by a large margin: http://news.yahoo.com/1-3-autistic-young-adults-lack-jobs-education-042246312.html

35 percent seems low. I've seen figures as high as 85 percent percent unemployment for people with ASD.

One hopes this will improve as services, supports, and public awareness get better.

DeeDee

If your child has an IEP, you can include things like interviewing, skills for interacting on the job, and career planning goals and objectives in the IEP as it beocomes age-appropriate. These come under the umbrella of " transition planning ", which is mandated in the IDEA for older students with IEPs. I would also encourage you to get your DD involved with Vocational Rehabilitation as soon as she is old enough, to help her develop a transition plan - at the latest around age 15, depending on the state. You can invite the public VR agency to be part of the IEP planning team, if desired.

I hoep this is helpful.

Great stuff! Thanks for posting these links DeeDee.