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Suitable Work-work experience

Homebird

My son has to decide what to do for work experience. He finds written work difficult and needs people to give instructions slowly and doesn't like to say if he is not sure. All he knows he wants to do for work is something practical. He has ADHD as well as autism. We are currently looking at possibilities for work experience later this year. Also he finds a whole week at school difficult. He is not creative, but interested in football and doesn't mind being outdoors.

Does anyone have experience of anything they have done as a job that might fit into the above?

  • in reply to Homebird
    Homebird said:
    The challenge is finding something that will encourage him to go into work,

    The driver for most young people is money.

    If you plan ahead and reduce his allowance to a subsistance level if he doesn't get a job then this is likely to be the motivator. He will want stuff (new games, to go out with his friends for a meal/drink) or to go to the cinema etc so these all cost - new clothes, a new mobile phone, going to a gig - all this costs and he can empower himself to be able to do all these with a job.

    I spent my years at university working in a warehouse in a big supermarket just moving stock around from the trucks arriving to storage areas and loading pallets of stock for the night shift to put on the shelves. It was physically tough (mind you the muscles and six pack it gave me did help this Aspie get a hot girlfriend), mund numbingly boring but it gave me enough money to have plenty of social life when back at uni.

    It will be important to sell the idea to him I think - maybe make it one of the life lessons discussions you have with him as he transitions to adult life. 

    Just my 2p worth.

  • in reply to Iain

    Thank you for your reply. Yes I believe you are right regarding decorating, he has very little patience and needs a job that does not require a great deal of precision, as well as working alongside people who understand his needs in respect of instructions.

    I think something like gardening or sports related would suit. The challenge is finding something that will encourage him to go into work, as he needs the structure of regular activity but struggles to create his own entertainment.

  • A few thoughts:

    Gardening. It is very hands on, gets lots of fresh air and sunshine and can be very rewarding to see the things you plant grow over time. Not a high flying career, but in these days of Artificial Intelligence looking like it will take over so many jobs then it is a pretty safe option.

    Decorating. This may be a bit too slow and methodical for someone with ADHD but it has low entry barriers and actually pays reasonably (at least from what I found trying to get someone to work on my flat). Plastering is another one that is quite physical, doesn't need much paperwork and is quite fast moving once underway so should be ok with the lower attention span.

    Mechanic. There is a higher threshold for training and paperwork here admittedly but most jobs are fairly fast moving with variety so he may find this better paying, more applicable to his interests and a better balance of hands on / training.

    What are his areas of interest? This may give us some more scope to work with for suggestions.