HMmmm - what do you think (job) in home for Autistic Adults

[HRHQoQ]

Just seen a job advertised for a waking night person at a home about 20 minutes walk from my house. It's a home for Autistic adults, has 5 residents, aged between 20-27, again no experience required, but not sure whether I could do it.

Just been looking at their inspection report - it keeps mentioning the TEACCH method - what's that??

Should I apply for it - I'm sure I could cope with working in a nursing home, but don't know whether I have the skills to work with people with Autism - what do you reckon?

they will train you on TEACHH I would have though if it says no experience necessary

how did your other interview go?

don't know - think it went ok - she still had at least another 7 or 8 applicants to interview between yesterday and tomorrow evening though....so not holding my hopes too high - should find out on Monday/Tuesday.

may help?

Not sure, but at least if you read up a bit it might give you some extra brownie points?!

just noticed its american - sorry

ooo thanks Jess - not sure whether this job is "out of my depth" - but I'll have a read anyhow.

I see it's American - but I'm sure it's probably similar to what they do here in the UK..

come on then you MN'ers (who seem to know me better than most of my RL friends ) should I go for it??

my threads will not be killed by me tonight***

DO IT......

I just don't know how I could "sell" myself for this one, I have no experience of anyone with autism, or know any parents (apart from here on MN) who have autistic children...

well turn the "parents of autistic children" into real life rather than MN.... if you get enough feedback should be quite easy.

Stick a post on SN board for some advice

The add does say NO EXPERIECE NECESSARY

Definitely go for it QofQ - even if only for the interview experience. You know you need a job and agree with j&bm about turning Mn into real life.

Just a hint on phrasology.

You don't say 'autistic adults' you say 'adults with autism'. Likewise 'sn children' should be children with sn.

It is about labelling the disability not the person and will be picked up on by whoever is interviewing you

• I know Soapy - I'm usually ok in RL - but sometimes get carried away when typing

My stepson (now 23 ye gods, with autism) lives in a community with other young adults. They live very independently, but each flat of 4 has a 'carer' in there permanently (obviously I mean different carers working shifts) to just help them to organise themselves, make sure that whoever is cooking that evening's meal has all he needs, help them to keep a check on shopping lists, make sure that washing and ironing is done properly and safely etc.

It sounds like the job you have seen might be just the same as this. No experience is necessary, largely because there just are not enough experienced people out there!!

If it is the same sort of community as SS lives in, then the key factor is getting to know the people you are helping, befriending them and offering just enough support, without encroaching on their personal space (ss is VERY particular about his personal space) or their ability to live independently, with just a little support on hand.

QoQ, I'm sure you could do it, but do watch out if you tend to become emotionally involved. I would guess you may develop feelings for your 'carees' which can put emotional stress into your family life.

In my limited experience of life with an adult with autism, it can in turns be hugely frustrating, and very rewarding.
Oh, and just in case it is where my SS lives (are you anywhere near Scunthorpe) be warned. He bought himself a base guitar and amp last year, and has become a loud, keen musician

Really I've flounced as you know QoQ-- but wanted to say a few things (spotted your link on SN).

First you need to know what level your potential clients are functioning at. Verbal, high functioning would be very different from non-verbal low functioning. If they are actually being engaged in TEACHH as adults they may be low functioning. Someone on my course started a job like this with no experience and now wants to go into autism research as he finds it very rewarding. His clients are mainly non-verbal, low functioning.

If you do get the job I'd advise reading books written by autistic adfults. Jessica Kinglesy (a publisher) is a great source for this. She has books written by high functioning and non verbal adults. If you understand why your clients are behaving the way they are then life becomes far easier (and you'll gain more reading straight from the horses mouth than a few hours training).

You can only get any good at working with autism by experiencing it. So don't worry about lack of experience. The people who have worked with ds1 who have been brilliant are the ones with hands on experience- but they all had to start somewhere.

I'd say go for it as you can always turn it down if it's not for you. If you want a quick course in autism try and get hold of Luke jackson's freaks Geeks and Asperger's syndrome. Very easy reading, widely available (and should be in libraries), and a quick overview of the sensory issues etc, Luke is high functioning, but it'll give you a good taste of the factors involved for the whole spectrum

thanks Jimjams (was hoping you'd spot my thread ). I think I'll call in morning and ask for more about it, factors such as asking whether they are low functioning or high functioning should (I hope) make me 'stand out' as someone who at least has some idea of what I could be getting into.

The NAS (national Autistic Society) website should give you a good overview of autism.

Remember also that even people who do have real-life experience of autism will not necessarily be experts of all forms of autism IYSWIM. Sometimes it's actually easier for people to employ someone with no experience because they will have no misconceptions about what individuals will be like. Too often on mumsnet you hear stories of people saying things like "Well your child can't possibly be autistic. I worked with an autistic boy a few years ago and he was nothing like your child."

This is my long rambling way of saying "Give it a go!"

oh george and sam as well- by CHarlotte Moore. About autistic children- but very real (and great because she has 2 very different autistic sons).

CT is right. Ds1's first LSA in mainstream was employed because she had experience of autism- but her experience was with children with Asperger's. She was completely out of her depth with ds1 (and because she supposedly had experience probably not given enough support iyswim).

My friend has just employed 3 ABA tutors (actually there's another job you could look for- flexible and usually plenty of work available- especially if you're in London) - none with any experience - to work with her autistic non-verbal 2 year old son. She say's they;re all great. I'm off to see them next week- hoping I can persuade at least one to help us out at the weekends

Right shall definitely give them a ring in the morning, guess there's no harm in applying, if I don't get this other job I had an interview for, it'll be (hopefully) at least another interview to go to