Job Path | Autism Speaks Official Blog

Rachel Pollack LIVE Chat Transcript

October 19, 2011 Autism Speaks Leave a comment

Rachel Pollack, Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel of Job Path, answered questions about employment, in recognition of October as U.S. Department of Labor’s National Disability Employment Awareness month.

4:02

Hi Everyone, my name is Rachel Pollack, I am the Chief Operating Officer at Job Path, that provides among other things, employment services for people with autism spectrum disabilities. I have been working in the field for over 15 years, am a lawyer, and have a 22-year-old son with autism.

4:03

Comment From Lisarae

My daughter is 19 and will be losing her SSI on Nov. 10th. She has Apergers and will somehow have to make up that money in the job force. Is their hope? Can she do this? She is very high funtioning but just does not understand social ques very well.

4:05

Hi Lisarae – I don’t know why your daughter is losing SSI at 19 so you should consult with whatever legal services are available to see if there is anything you can do about that. YES there is hope you can find a job for your daughter- just be sure you are looking for a job that matches her strengths and interests. We find that when we work with people and match them to their strengths and interests we have very good success and up to 90% retention rate. Each state has state vocational services and providers that can work with you to help you find a job. I understand that the Autism Speaks Family Services page has a link to vocational rehabilitation services. The important thing it to be a consumer and interview those agencies and try to find one that matches your daughter. http://www.autismspeaks.org/family-services/resource-library/adults-autism

4:08

It might be interesting for people to see what we have found works with people with ASD in looking for employment. We are looking for a customized employment approach that relies on a discovery period where employment specialists spend time in the home and community of people with disabilities. Learn about their interests, strengths, and needs then network with employers that has tasks employees can do in that environment.

4:08

Comment From Monique

Have you attempted to get your daugther an extension on her SSI?

4:09

Comment From Guest

We have a 17 yrs old son. He is very easily angered. Do you have any suggestions?

4:12

Hi Guest – If someone gets easily angered, the important thing is to think about what his trigger points are and to be looking for a job that doesn’t create those triggers. To have a job coach who understands what those trigger points are and who will work with him on those trigger points. We have also found that if that person is on the job and they don’t have a job coach there all the time, they can contact their job coach by cell phone when they feel angry. We have arranged with employers to have accommodations with individuals to remove themselves from the job situation when they are feeling under stress or have brief timeouts during the work day. The important thing is to find an environment that can help accommodate those individuals best.

4:12

Comment From Lisarae

@ Guest…A sensory room helped my daughter with anger….and swinging! We built a giante swing that gets her a good 12 feet in the air and she pumps long and hard! LOL

4:13

Comment From Lisarae

How do I retain these services you speak of?

4:16

As I mentioned, most state agencies have provider agencies that provide support and trainer. The important thing to do is perform research to see which agency provides as much individual attention as possible. There are some agencies around the country that are provider customized employment services, a starting place to find that would be to go to the website Marc Gold and Associates which is where we learned this lesson fromhttp://www.marcgold.com

4:17

Comment From Guest

My brother is 40 with aspergers and is currently struggling to find work. Are there job training opportunities available, if so, where do I go to find them. His primary issue is social.

4:18

Currently, I don’t know of any specific job training programs geared to this group of people. The important thing is to encourage your brother to get training in an area that he likes, that he feels comfortable with, and that is going to play on his strengths.

4:19

There are, for younger people around the country, a range of college support programs, some are publicly funded, but many are privately funded. There are some specialized vocational internship programs – most of which are very extensive.

4:23

I always encourage parents, who are looking for an agency to work with them to do extensive interviewing. Often when you go into a state referring agency, they tell you who they think you should work with. You, as an advocate for your family member, should feel comfortable asking questions about the agency and also asking them for other possibilities. You will want to know about supportive employment programs as well as training programs. A training program will provide training in a particular set of skills. A supportive employment program will start with the abilities an employee has to help them find a job and then provide job coaching. You’ll want to choose whichever type of program you think is best for the family member you are trying to help. Don’t be afraid to call up the agency and ask if you can come in and talk with them. Any agency that is going to work well with an individual will be willing to do that. I am always ready to do that and I am very busy!

4:24

Comment From Jessica

I am currently working on my Bachelors Degree in Psychology, through the University of Phoenix. My goal is to work with special needs children, but I would like to keep my options open as to how exactly (teaching, counseling, therapy, etc). I was wondering, to achieve this goal, should I get my Masters Degree in Special Education, or in the Science of Psychology? Thank You for your time.

4:26

Hi Jessica – I think that a Master’s Degree in Special Education is a wonderful degree that you can use in any work that you are going to do with children or adults. Our director of employment services has a Master’s in Special Education that she has been using to provide individual guidance to adults and assistance for vocational rehabilitation. My understanding is that most special education programs have a range of tracks so that you can customize your degree to the kinds of work you think you may be interested in.

4:27

Comment From Lisarae

My daughter has pedantic speach….will a potential employer understand that in the interview process?

4:27

Comment From Lisarae

Does she need paperwork to enter an agency like that or just a diagnosis?

4:27

Comment From Lisarae

My daughter would do well working alone, like stocking shelves at night in a grocery or retail store, I think. Lets just hope those jobs are out there.

4:32

Every state agency is going to require different amounts of paperwork that the chances are the agency will want some type of documentation of a disability, but that will depend on the state agency. Many state agencies will send, if you don’t have the documentation you need, your daughter or son to a psychologist that they will pay for. In terms of the pedantic speech in the interview process, we at Job Path, try to downplay the interview process for the people we work with. A good employment agency will be introducing the employer to your strengths before her interview and will persuade the employer that the interview process is a more a chance to get to know your daughter than a test of her speaking abilities.
To your last question about jobs being available, one of the strengths of customized employment, we aren’t looking at open jobs, rather unmet needs by employers. The idea is to find tasks that aren’t being done by current staff at the busiest hours of the day, or at time of day when other people aren’t available, to to help staff who are overloaded, or to take other tasks other staff are doing that your daughter can do better. You are not looking for job posting as must as you are looking for specific needs of employers that they have not put in a job posting.

4:32

Comment From Michele Vics

I believe I am on the autism spectrum but I haven’t received an official diagnosis. How do I get around that when it comes to job seeking?

4:34

Hi Michele – If you are going to want an accommodation on a job, you are going to want to get an official diagnosis. If you want a referral to a psychologist, most state agencies will send you for an evaluation. In terms of job seeking, if you are having trouble with the interview process, it is very helpful to have an agency involve to help you network.

4:35

Comment From elizabeth

My son is nineteen and was diagnosed with Autism when he was four. We are fortunate to live in Texas where there is help for individuals throughout their school years to recieve help. He is currently going to a school that provide job training until he turns 22. He is not severe and can be quite pleasent to work with at times. During his high school years I worked on my Associates Degree in Criminal Justice and finished my Bachelors Degree in Social Management, I would like to work with children or with families with children of special needs, but am not sure where to begin. I have applyed at a large school district but have not had success getting through with them. What would you suggest? I am open to returning to school again…Sincerely, Elizabeth

4:37

I think it is terrific that you’d like to work in this field and your experience with your son will be invaluable. There are lots of opportunities for working with families of children or adults with special needs in the adult service system. The adult service system needs really, really good people. if you are not having success with your school district, I would suggest that you look for opportunities in the adult system, in your state.

4:37

Comment From Monique

Hi Jessica. I believe an the Masters in Special Eduacation will offer you more options. As long as the degree is a science degree you will be able to teach. So if the Masters in Special Education is a science degree you will be able to teach and work in your career of interest. So to me two is better than one. I just obtained my Masters of Science in Psychology from the University of Phoenix this pass June. Good Luck. Also, make sure you ask your academic counselor which offers you more options so you want be wasting your time.