When getting a job is no longer a “remarkable accomplishment”

Today is October 1, and October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Yes. You read that right. Employment of persons with disabilities is such a huge issue that it actually has its own month!

Having a job is key in our society. Regular income allows a person to live where they want and engage in activities they choose. Unfortunately employment eludes many people with disabilities — even those who REALLY want to work and have amazing skills to contribute.

Every professional in autism has a few success stories they like to pull out of their hats when asked about employing someone with autism. My student Duke was successfully employed at the neighborhood movie theater. Lars Perner is a professor at USC. And of course Temple Grandin is a highly successful animal scientist.

I’m proud of those three hard-working people, but one day I would like to be able to stop telling these “amazing” success stories. Instead, I’d like to celebrate that every individual with autism seeking gainful employment is able to accomplish this objective. I look forward to celebrating a day when getting a job is not considered a remarkable accomplishment — just one of the processes of adulthood.

In an effort to promote employment for people with autism, Easter Seals has joined efforts with Sumida River Solutions (SRS), a global for-profit social innovation organization founded on the principles of Neurodiversity & Autism Advocacy. SRS and Easter Seals are working together to match highly talented individuals who have autism with full-time employment and contract opportunities at large corporations.

As more and more people with autism gain meaningful employment, their success stories can blend into the message that “adults work — those with autism, and those without.”


 

Comments may not reflect Easterseals' policies or positions.


  1. Cheryl Says:

    There are many many sucesses for adults with autism in our communities. However, the parents have to fight so long and hard to get the schools to incorporate skills into work related skills and then have to fight to find employment. The Walgreens distribution center (I think it was Walgreens) in NC is a great example of employing all different forms of disabilities. The person in charge saw a need and created a site with ADA guidelines. Why can’t other employers see an opportunity and grab it? There are federal funds to help the employer and it creates happy, employed people – a win-win situation.