To be feeling really sad at the thought that DS1 will probably never get a job?

[TotallyUtterlyDesperate]

DS1 is 21 and has ASD and learning difficulties. He is a really sweet lad (most of the time) and tries very hard to make the most of himself.

However, our local County Council are closing everything down that he does - various training placements and so on - and soon he will have nothing. He has been doing three month's work experience in a local shopping centre and he has loved every minute. I think that they have enjoyed having him there too. We had hoped that they might take him on really part-time for a small wage, but they have told us that every job they advertise - cleaning, security, desk - has 100s of applications from graduates. So what chance has our DS of ever getting a job? He hasn't got the ability to get on his bike (cannot coordinate himself to ride one) and find a job or set up his own business. He is like a little boy in his head, but when he really loves something, then he will pull the stops out!

Why, oh, why are those at the CC closing everything for Young Adults with "mild" disabilities? I could weep!

Wetaugust... what is the guaranteed interview approach??

My son is 14 and will be in a similar position .. autism and mod learning diffs.. he IS capable of a simple predictable job.. good boy eager to please and reliable within the limits of his abilities (he can read quite well and write a bit but won't have any exams).. and he wants to have a job when he leaves school...but I am worried no one will ever give him that chance..:(

The guaranteed interview is an initiative that many enlightened (usually large) employers have that guarantees an interview to any applicant with disabilities that meets the minimum advertised criteria.

Here's an example from the CAB site:

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/jobopportunities/guaranteed_interview_scheme.htm

The key is education - keep them in education as long as you can and gather any qualifications they may be able to get.

You need to plan very long term - I'd be looking at post 16 education now. A residential college will equip them with life skills and also academic or vocational training as appropriate.

This sort of placement
www.priorygroup.com/Locations/South-West/Farleigh-Further-Education-College-Swindon.aspx

Mine is 22 - ASD and went to a Priory College.

I'd feel happier taking about this on the SN thread TBH.

slightly diverging but a similar rant. My cousin has sever learning difficulties and lives in a residential home, she is 42. The local tech used to do classes for adults with sever learning difficulties every friday morning. they did cooking (well without ovens or hobs but you get the gist) knitting, reading, hair dressing etc. These adults were never going to be able to work, but it was still nice for them to do. My cousin when she came home at weekends always went on about what she did at tech. Now they have stopped all of this. Loads of her activities have been stopped because of money and budget cuts. its a bloody disgrace. isn't there some biblical quote about judging a society by how it treats their lowest members?

Back to the OP is there Praxis or similar in your area? Praxis have a lovely project near where my mum lives. Its a garden centre/cafe and the majority of staff have learning difficulties, Downs etc. It would be worth looking into local charity projects, but they are probably all doomed as well to fund illegal wars corrupt banking systems and licking america's arsehole.

Again, thanks for the suggestions. We will look into whether any of them apply here. I put this on AIBU as it gets so much traffic. When I posted on SN in the past, nothing much happened in the Teen area - and he is an adult now, so I don't think there is a proper section for that.

Try your local council. Mine employs a variety of people with sn in differing roles, gardening to office admin.

Supermarkets do employ a percentage of people with sn, quite oftn in their head office.

I am reluctant to suggest supermarkets as I work in one and have seen our staff with sn treated like a lower life form by customers who are just too busy too care. However have seen better results in garden centres.

Try your local branch of mencap to see if they have job match. OurIs does although I believe there is a long waiting list.

I also have children with asd and feel much the same as you do. We have plenty of people with degrees on the shop floor of the supermarket I work in.

maddiemostmerry Thanks for your reply - unfortunately, it's our local council who are closing everything that DS1 does!

another vote for ASDA. Don't know about this hundreds of applications from graduates - I was helped yesterday by a very nice helfpul teenager, who obviously did have LD, but was really helpful when I couldn't find somrhting they had moved. Please do try the supermarkets.

If there are any large companies, its worthy trying them. DH works for a large insurer, and they had a positive approach to employing those with LDs, so the team who collected/distributed the paper files all had LDs/brain injuries for instance.

So but again, worth checking the supermarkets. Lots of employees at local Sains have various disabilities but obviously do a good job as they have all been there quite a long time (I hope they get paid and treated well tho). Also M&S actively employ people with disabilities.

Good luck to him

Just to post again please try the Shaw trust they specialise in this area,
www.shaw-trust.org.uk