huggyrat
Registered: 09/09/03
Posts: 1
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Reply with quote | #1 |
I am the father of a 13 year old boy with Asperger's Syndrome. He is doing wonderfully, and I have begun to consider what I can do to get him ready for independent living. His vision impairment (legally blind) and fine motor problems (dysgraphia etc) and need to follow an extensive drug regimen to maintain a kidney transplant make this challenging. I would like to hear what has helped other AS people gain employment and independence.
Here's what I've learned so far;
1. State Office of Vocational Rehabilitation might be useful.
2. "Abilitations" is a company whose primary focus is serving the needs of individuals with special needs...90% of its grads are placed in jobs.
3. Penn State University has Disability Services Coordinators at all its campuses who review and coordinate needs for special accomodations.
Here's what I'm doing right now;
I am sharing my EBAY hobby with him. He sells toys that he has outgrown and is learning more and more about what is marketable. We go to yard sales and he looks for marketable items that he knows from exhaustive research on EBAY...picture memory is good for this. Right now I do a lot of the listing and shipping work but I am getting him started in small ways. I plan to get DRAGONSPEAK (I don't know if he'll ever acquire the dexterity to keyboard) to help him compose listings that sell. I hope to get him into the accounting for sales and inventory and maybe from there into federal income tax reporting. From there I could introduce him to the possibility of a myriad of business careers which connect all the way back to his matchbox car and lego experiences on EBAY. Of course it might be good to teach him to pack stuff too...but I'll need the help of an occupational therapist for that. EBAY teaches about spending and economizing too. Mike says he "never pays full price for anything" and more than once I've had to call him off trying to get lower prices at yardsales...leave it to an Aspie to overdo anything.
My wife has been handling the life skills aspects of grooming and dressing. I think I have to give him opportunities to explore interests which can turn into careers. I have a notion that it will take some time to hit on the right interest, but once he finds it, he'll quickly make up for lost time by perseverating on it.
I would like to see responses to this offering suggestions as to methods and resources. I would like to hear stories about how Asperger's folks have found careers and independence.
Max |
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Anne
Registered: 08/26/03
Posts: 6
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Reply with quote | #2 |
Hello Max,
I find your story about your son very interesting especially regarding how you've already managed to work around his difficulties, however it is difficult for me to identify exactly what issues or concerns you are seeking comment on. Would you be able to pose a few direct or specific questions that the folks here could answer? Perhaps this might help us to generate more responses.
Cheers,
Anne |
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