SEN need not apply

[Dsjobhunting]

My DS has autism. He's not really badly affected but he didn't manage to get any gcses above a 2. He's doing a course for SEN kids but having looked around at jobs and other courses his options seem extremely limited!
What I've found is that even "normal" courses in college are stipulating GCSE at a set level. Employers want GCSE at a set level. Even apprenticeships.
Then there are the local councils who you'd think might have jobs suitable for people with disabilities such as this but no. Even a helper in a library which I know he could do, MUST have 5 GCSE’s. What will become of my DS? I fear for his future as I won't be around for ever and he won't qualify for disability as he's actually marginally too capable. AIBU to think there should be more help out there and understanding for young people who just are not able to sit exams or learn a skill.
Don't get me started on jobs that don't actually involve driving but require a licence anyway. Which he won't have as he can't process the dangers in the car.
It all feels rather discriminative yet he's a bright and wonderful person who'd actually be an asset. He's not a physical type so the "trades" jobs are out. Any ideas while we're here?

Can the college he is at not help at all? Our local college has systems whereby they help find supported internships and similar.

What can he do? Write down his capabilities and then find work that matches. Focus on the positives. Could he be a carer? Work in a supermarket? A factory? Gardening? Data input? Hospitality? Maybe contact Access to Work and see if they have some ideas?

My son was diagnosed with autism aged 5 and went to 3 primary schools (last one was SEN), 3 high schools (all SEN but last 2 private) and came out with no GCSEs. He's like a walking encyclopaedia and very into music, he wanted to do music at college but his school said the college couldn't meet his needs and he didn't have the required gcses.

I contacted the college directly and they said school had sent them his EHCP from 5 years ago and I explained that he had come on so much since then and they agreed to meet him. He was asked to play his guitar and talk to music tutors.

College agreed his place and in his first year he got music production and performance level 2 with distinction and functional skills level 1 in maths and english. Last Sept he started music level 3 and is doing GCSE English.

In Ireland there are specific job support programs. They tend to be arranged through supported further education programmes and not advertised on the usual online portals.

Here the civil and public service offer stepping stone programmes as there are set agreements to employ people who may not meet the general access criteria.

Hopefully someone can highlight availability in your region.

Speak to your LA's Family information service, there should be a service that supports young people to gain employment.

If he gained 2’s in maths and English it does indicate his ability in these subjects are poor (he may just be bad at exams but this is the metric people are going by) and most jobs require some form of literacy. The trades aren’t a back up for poorly educated people, there’s a lot of maths there!!!!

would his grades improve if he studied only 1 subjects at a time and he then achieved only maths and English? If not I think you need to assess his skills and see what he is good/competent at and try and resource some work experience in this area. Are there any local charities what focus on work and ASD? Could he volunteer at a local charity shop or community centre so he can gain some work experience?

I know a lot of them want GCSE, is this SEN course compatible to basic math's/ English?

I only ask as on paper I've not got a math's GCSE but an Adult math's. And it's been accepted for collage courses and jobs.

I think if you contact the places, explain the situation a lot of places would meet him and see he's capable. I also have a SEN child so I completely understand.

Most apprenticeships will take people without GCSE maths and eng, but the student will have to pass their functional skills level 1 as part of the apprenticeship.

The college careers department must have some guidance for him. Would he be into volunteering for a charity he has interest in? That would look great on his CV and could lead to permanent work. The charity sector must have loads of SEN volunteers and staff. He could contact one of the autism charities?
What are his hobbies, could he seek out a mentor through those? There must also be work experience schemes through college. Again that could lead to a job. Is he into animals? He could ask at the local shelter or farm if there's any work going.
As a short term thing could he do deliveries on a pushbike? That would be good exercise and increase his confidence.

Unfortunately he went through the mainstream system with no echp. The LA made it extremely difficult because he's borderline in many areas and the schools discouraged re applying and wouldn't support it. I now realise it was all about budget from both parties and my DS was the loser. Supported internships - only for ehcp kids. College are pretty useless if I'm honest. Wanted to send him brick laying or car maintaining. Nothing wrong with those but it's just not him and no offence to anyone but that's where the more "difficult" teens at our college go. DS was badly bullied in school so is wary of neurotypical teenage boys. Hopefully I'll be able to find something else to help him but I have never felt so bleak about his future. I always figured that since he is quite capable he'd find his thing. It makes me sad.

Speak to local charity shops about him volunteering one day a week. He will then gain experience in handling cash, customer services, etc. He might be able to use his experience in lieu of GCSEs to get a job in retail/hospitality.

Look also at hospital porter jobs maybe?

Have a look and see if your area does supported internships - they're made to help students like your son get into employment.

Have you looked at animal management? Our local college has a course for 16+ with three levels. Level 1 you are not required to have a certain level of GCSEs.

Thank you but sadly these are for those with an ehcp only. He's been put in a grey area by the LA refusing him an ehcp and by his schools refusing to support an appeal for one.

Have you tried contacting your local social services for advice, they may well have links to people who work with those in supported employment that could steer you in the right direction.

Your Local Authority's SEND local offer should cover up to 25 years old - with their diagnosis he should be eligible for additional support whether that be education or employment.

Work experience is a good idea.

What are his strengths and interests? Identify those and he can approach support services with your help and guidance.

Yes, this.

I'd do as others have suggested and look at what he is good at. Use that to pick a suitable apprenticeship. I know apprenticeships can be quite sought after so you're best looking in areas that are struggling and need staff. Care is a good option or hospitality there will be others though that I can't immediately think of.

There's something for everyone out there, and as long as he wants to work and succeed, he will. Good luck x

Thank you so much for all the replies. I will be taking notes and definitely trying some of your suggestions. It's harder than it should be for these young people and there is a lot of useless helplines run by our council taking up budget but they don't put their money where their mouth is and support these young people more than some wishy washy verbal advice.

Less than one in four adult men with autism diagnosed in childhood are in full time work apparently. It stinks. And there is very little help as you're discovering. Nobody particularly really cares.

They have supported internships for young people with SEN, I'm sometimes dubious of weather they'll really be a job at the end or if unscrupulous businesses will just use them for free labour, but might be worth looking into.

www.ndti.org.uk/change-and-development/internships-work

Is there any chance of him getting the 5 gcse's? Maybe if he did 1-2 a year over a few years (EHCP can remain in place until 25) or looked at key skills (l2)/ functional skills courses, which some places accept as equivalent to gcse.

@Dsjobhunting I am a careers lead so can give some ideas. Your local council will have someone who is their participation officer who can help up to the age of 19 (or 25 is he has an EHCP) our local one is amazing!
https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work

https://www.mencap.org.uk/advice-and-support/children-and-young-people/further

https://www.ndti.org.uk/resources/preparing-for-adulthood-all-tools-resources/pfa-employment-resources

If you live in SE England https://www.waysintowork.com/

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disability-confident-employers-that-have-signed-up

Hopefully some of this can help

Sorry just read he doesn't have a EHCP, would his current colleague be support an application? It is still possible to get one at 19-25.

It’s not about SEN need not apply though is it? He’s not being discriminated against for having SEN. It’s just the jobs you’ve mentioned request a certain level of intellect/dedication to study/particular qualifications.

There are jobs which will accept people with no qualifications - warehouse work, fast food restaurants, drivers mate etc, barber, nail technician, supermarket work, bar work, care work, dog walking. There are plenty of ways for people with no qualifications to earn money, but you are right, getting an apprenticeship for a trade isn't easy, because they are sought after positions which can end up being paid very well eventually.

It is very difficult for an Autistic young person to find a workplace they are comfortable in, regardless of their qualifications, so you do have my sympathy. What is your DS most passionate about? What type of environment would he really enjoy? I would suggest he try to get volunteer work in an area that I interests him.

How old is he? Unfortunately an EHCP opens many educational doors at this stage. Can you get him one, although it's late? It gets you access to courses until about 24.

Also get him onto a night class at a college doing functional skills English, you will escape the naughty students who do it as part of their trades course but really don't want to. Your son may find this significantly easier than GCSE but a level two is GCSE equivalent.

Also, some students plateau at a certain academic level, so if this is the case don't worry about the maths and English but instead just focus on getting in a course with work experience.

Lastly, our local job centre has a gentleman whose role is to give advice about accessing jobs if you have send and will advise on sympathetic employers, and what reasonable adjustments someone would be entitled to.

Good luck