• Replies 2 replies
  • Subscribers 68 subscribers
  • Views 722 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

Is there such a thing as an Employment Coach?

NAS87080

Hi, my 18 yr old ASD son is wanting to drop out of college as he's struggling.  We'd prefer he stayed, but are trying to support him anyway.  He has no idea what he wants to do, or what his skill set is. We know that he's good in maths and science, but like most things in life at the minute they're "boring". (We think boring is code for too hard). He is unmotivated and lacks initiative and executive function.  He has been to see the the Connexions officer (under duress) who is obviously used to neurotypical young adults and has signposted him to an apprenticeship website.  He's done nothing with that information.  We think he's feeling overwhelmed but, hey,  he's 18 and parents know nothing  right?! Because he's overwhelmed and doesnt like change,  he's procrastinating.  I feel he needs some 1-2-1 sessions in basic skills like completing a CV, filling in application forms,  interview skills etc. We have tried to help with these things, but he won't listen to us.  His Dad and I have 110 years life experience between us,  but we clearly know diddly squat about these things! Any advice for some frazzled parents would be much appreciated.  Thank you. 

Parents

  • There are indeed employment coaches and indeed there are some of them that are even specific to autism. For autism specific ones they’re usually delivered by charities but the charities are usually local. You’ll have to check if there’s one in your local area. I applied for this in my local area and was told there were no spaces.

    The unemployment ‘universal credit’ service will force someone to have a work coach in order to get benefits although I haven’t found them to be particularly helpful.

    there are charities like connections and the National career service and other, again usually local, charities that offer work coaching. They are generally better than the jobs office.

    let me advocate for your son for a moment. Don’t underestimate the mental wall that something being boring or uninteresting can be for an autistic person. I was relatively lucky I not only was very good at maths and science I also really really loved it. Not everybody loves what they’re good at.

    I would say that if there is some particular field or study or vocation that he loves, even if he’s not very good at it, even if you don’t think it’s likely to lead to a good career, that would be the study, the career direction, in which you should invest. Because he is very likely to stick with it.

Reply

  • There are indeed employment coaches and indeed there are some of them that are even specific to autism. For autism specific ones they’re usually delivered by charities but the charities are usually local. You’ll have to check if there’s one in your local area. I applied for this in my local area and was told there were no spaces.

    The unemployment ‘universal credit’ service will force someone to have a work coach in order to get benefits although I haven’t found them to be particularly helpful.

    there are charities like connections and the National career service and other, again usually local, charities that offer work coaching. They are generally better than the jobs office.

    let me advocate for your son for a moment. Don’t underestimate the mental wall that something being boring or uninteresting can be for an autistic person. I was relatively lucky I not only was very good at maths and science I also really really loved it. Not everybody loves what they’re good at.

    I would say that if there is some particular field or study or vocation that he loves, even if he’s not very good at it, even if you don’t think it’s likely to lead to a good career, that would be the study, the career direction, in which you should invest. Because he is very likely to stick with it.

Children
No Data