The Challenges involved in moving from school into the workplace Presenter -

Garry Burge 5thNovember 2010

“Almost always, the creative dedicated minority has made the world better”. Martin Luther King Jr

The difficulties for adolescents with Asperger Syndrome in School

You are from another planetYou don’t know the rulesYou are misunderstood Your strengths and abilities

are over lookedYou may not have a conventional or have a clear career path or receivesupport within the schooling socialisation

process

What is needed in school to help make the transition to employment easierA focus on the adolescent’s special interest. The school to nurture the adolescent's special

interest and to make modifications where necessary to assist with mainstreaming learning.

Assistance from Teachers and or Parent’s to ensure proper support in terms of special interest.

The presence of an authority figure to safeguard against bullying and intimidation.

Long term career goals and a means of meeting expectations.

The future is uncertain and I need some guidance“For a person with Asperger Syndrome just looking ahead can be difficult as the world is an overwhelming place.”

Adolescents with Asperger SyndromeWhy is it important in school to have early

intervention and guidance in terms of transition into future employment?

• A person with Asperger syndrome may focus too much on a special interest and not know of employment opportunities available after completing school

• Being socially isolated and experiencing a sense of alienation may also create difficulty in terms of team work requirements

• Exposure to bullying and intimidation may cause low self esteem and a sense of vulnerability in adulthood.

How school and employment are similar

High School EmploymentSupport is required in

terms of sensory issues An understanding of

hierarchy and the need for authority figures to safeguard against difficult issues

Nurturing of a career path in relation to special interest.

Training of Managers to ensure necessary workplace assistance and awareness

Disability Employment Agencies required to ensure on the job support

The issues of dealing with Teamwork skills and making modifications where necessary

Challenges to finding employment?For adolescents moving into employment the following difficulties can occur.A lack of a conventional career pathLack of job agencies to provide supportThey are not able to read body language and

understand important visual queuesAnxiety (see all the above)

I would like a chance but I feel nervous at job interview as I don’t know what I am supposed to know and say, read body language and whether I will be given a chance to demonstrate my skills, abilities and feel judged at face value!

Hurdles for Adults with Asperger Syndrome at workA person may focus too much on individual

details and respond better to routine. This makes it difficult to adapt to change, accomplish multi tasking duties and perceive the host organisation’s big picture

Without efficacious communication and support strategies, a person can lose a sense of direction and become confused by hierarchical structure

Am I going to be able to get somewhere in my life!?!

For Adults within employment it is difficult to obtain career development Lacking social skills they can be

placed into routine, base grade, positions

Opportunity to demonstrate and develop their more valuable skills is rarely presented

Most adults are overlooked for promotion

Limited on the job support from employment agencies

I hope I am doing my job right? Why do I never seem to be promoted?

Thinking and acting differentlyJust thinking and acting differently makes it hard for an adult with Asperger syndrome to find tolerance and support within a work environment

Everyday stumbling blocks at workAn adult with Asperger syndrome may appear

as odd or different and feel alienated from other employees, and co-workers around them

An adult with Asperger syndrome may not know what clothes are appropriate for certain jobs

The following link highlights employment issues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pj9_WKbbZwA

Bullying and ExploitationBullying and exploitation is a serious a problem during

the lifetime of a person with Asperger syndromeMost adults with Asperger syndrome have suffer low

self esteem as a result of bullying and/or exploitation, which they may be self-conscious of within employment

In the workplace, deliberate bullying, and thoughtless separatist behaviour can seriously raise anxiety levels and affect job performance

Sadly dismissal or resignation is common in workplaces where separatist behaviours remain unchecked

Remember... ...a person with Asperger Syndrome needs time to demonstrate their skills and abilities

A person with Asperger syndrome can feel anxious, have difficulty with multi tasking and demonstrating their strengths and abilities

Communication SupportOnce a person with Asperger syndrome has been employed, an Employment Consultant should build and maintain a working relationship between the person with Asperger syndrome, the Manager & Supervisors, and themselves

The key is knowing to tell and how to sell!

Communication support is ongoing. First established prior to start date and progressed throughout work life

Strong communication needs to exist between, the employee with Asperger

syndrome, the Manager and the Employment Consultant

Employment Consultants needed to ensure:

Person with Asperger Syndrome

ManagementResponsibility in the

workplaceTea breaks, lunch room

and start and finish times

Important procedures within employment

Whom to see should there be any issues or concerns

The persons strengths and weaknesses

Information and education mediums other staff members require to facilitate positive outcomes

Critical points to communicate arePerson’s awareness Person’s requirements

Manager and Supervisory roles• Make

meetings with Employee and Consultant

• Collegial directives for:• Clarity• Support

framework

• Scope likely promotion of Employee’s talents

• Follow up any issues that may emerge

Establish reliable liaison

protocols

Establish collegial

relationships

Professional

Development

Clarify and address any staff concerns

Comepass Success

Garry, who has Asperger syndrome, was well suited to take on a shelving role with his high functioning ability and natural affinity with numbers - and UQ Library was pleased to have him.Welcome to the Library, Garry!

ISSUE 656, 22/12/2010 , p5

http://www.library.uq.edu.au/links/links656.pdf#page=5

Pictured (from left) Back row: Martin Rhodes, Garry Burge,

Joanne Rutherford, Chris Burke, Front row: Nicola Bertoli,

Margaret Wilhelm, Eva Lewandowski and Comepass Consultant,

Tri Pham

Garry Burge Service Support Assistant

University of Queensland Social Sciences Library

University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane

Remarkable Minds Just Waiting for Work Extraordinary memory … but the only work James Russell, who has high-functioning autism, can find is filling envelopes and lugging boxes.The Sydney Morning Herald March 20th 2010

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDoWfnAdDeU

Just give me a

chance to think and utilize my knowledg

e and intelligen

ce

http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=4FwKBLotQRc&feature=related

Visit at http://specialisterne.com/

About Specialist People FoundationSpecialist People Foundation want to create a new paradigm in which Specialist People will get a new opportunity to realise their potential as active contributors in the labour market and in society in general.

http://www.autismworks.co.uk/home/contact-us

Workplaces fail the anxious – Courier Mail 27th September 2010Garry Burge adult with Asperger syndrome talks about the difficulties for adults with Asperger syndrome in finding employment and how employment support agencies are needed with the transition into employment.

On Reflection some important things to consider Adults with Asperger syndrome make good employees; they are

diligent, conscientious, reliable and pay attention to detail. So should they really be unemployed?

Applicants should inform potential employers about their Asperger Syndrome, to increase awareness and prevent discrimination (see Disability Discrimination Act).

Should the government improve services and funding to allow for more support in terms of Disability Employment Agencies and Employment Consultants?

In terms of employment opportunities, should society be nurturing

adults with Asperger Syndrome, rather than leaving them behind? Should adults with Asperger syndrome who want to work have the

opportunity to have a go!? Mork and Mindy 1980’s television show excerpt illustrating how

not being aware of, or misreading, social conventions, leads to things going wronghttp://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=KclJrJYtyVo&feature=related

In Summary what has helped me in the transition from school into employment.

Having supportive parents has helped me through times of difficult

Persevering, remaining strong and not giving up despite how difficult it can be at times.

Finding an employment agency after a lot of hard work that placed me into temporary or permanent employment posts

Having supportive managers who try and ensure a workplace is conducive to my needs.

Finding positive solutions in times of despair.

Genius is 1 percent inspiration ninety nine percent perspiration – Thomas Alva Edison – American Inventor (1847 – 1931)

How to contact Garry BurgeGarry Burge’s blog also on Dr Tony Attwood’s website

http://garrysaspieblog.blogspot.com/Dr Tony Attwood’s website

http://www.tonyattwood.com.au/Garry Burge’s You Tube Channel

http://www.youtube.com/user/Aspie37Email: Garry Burge, Staff Representative of University of Queensland

Disability Sub Committee, Social Sciences and Humanities Library g.burge@library.uq.edu.au

Chris Mitchell United Kingdom – Asperger Syndrome Employment Advocacy & Autism Works. Please show your support by joining Autism Works on Facebook. http://www.chrismitchell.org.uk/ http://www.autismworks.co.uk/ http://www.facebook.com/AutismWorksUK

“Me need to think more!”