The best Job for young adults with mild autism

[mumwith]

Hi all,

My daughter (18yo) is finishing school this year and still don't know what she wants to do because she's not confidence enough to do anything. She's got very mild autism. She's quite slow to do everything. Not sure any company will be happy about it. I just wonder if any mums here experienced this before?

Cheers

My DD is ASD/ADD and now a young adult. Without knowing what they’d like to go into it’s impossible to say and something we’ve struggled with since she’s left school.
There are organisations that can help with extra support, maybe worth pursuing some of them.

There’s no such thing as “very mild autism”.

What is DD doing at school?

Does she have a ECHP ? Some local councils / organizations run schemes which assist young people get into work. It's a work experience type of scheme but could lead to paid work. You would need a ECHP to access it though.

Agree there is no such thing as "mild autism".

The Prince's Trust may be able to help.

www.princes-trust.org.uk/

Why do people argue over the words 'very mild'? Of course some people are less affected than others. The OP is not saying that's her official diagnosis, just trying to give an idea of the level she functions at now that everyone - from people who have no speech and need 24 hour care to those who can live independently, hold down a job and have a relationship - has been lumped in together.

I think it would really help if she could do something to help build up her confidence - what about doing a voluntary job at the weekend? This could improve her confidence and give her something to put on her CV.

Gowithme in order to get a diagnosis one must have “persistent difficulties with social communication and social interaction” and “restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviours, activities or interests” that “limit and impair everyday functioning”. If someone’s difficulties were ‘mild’ they would not be diagnosed.

People usually use ‘mild autism’ as a synonym for high functioning. They also mean the person’s autism doesn’t affect others so much or cause others difficulties. Just because someone presents with high functioning autism, with autism that doesn’t affect others quite so much and without so many visible signs it doesn’t mean the person themselves experiences their autism mildly. They may well be quite significantly affected, just not in visible ways or ways that affect others. For example, only 22% of autistic people are in any kind of employment. High functioning autists are more likely to commit suicide, especially women.

The spectrum is not a linear continuum from mild to severe. People with autism have differing needs but not on a continuum from mild to severe.

I am going to tag @blanktimes (hope you don’t mind blanktimes) here as she linked to a good article on a previous thread about this, but I can’t find it.

Was it these Dory ?
I don't mind being tagged, or sent a pm/dm anytime

This is the simple explanation of a non-linear spectrum.
the-art-of-autism.com/understanding-the-spectrum-a-comic-strip-explanation/

This one's more adult and has the refutation of the "mild autism" perception.
neuroclastic.com/its-a-spectrum-doesnt-mean-what-you-think/

I find 'mild autism' a particularly insulting, derogatory and offensive term, as Dory has said, the conditions for being given a diagnosis mean it has to severely affect your life. Nothing "mild" severely affects your life, does it? There are plenty discussions on the SN boards about it and probably a lot on AIBU too which have the full gamut of opinions so I'll not continue it here.

mumwith All you've said your daughter's barriers to employment are lack of confidence and being quite slow. It's not a lot to go on.

Does she have English and Maths GCSE at the level employers require these days?

How is her executive function, can she do a task, albeit slowly, from A to Z on her own without any other interventions from anyone else?

How does she cope in an environment like a shopping centre that's a sensory challenge?

Can she drive, travel independently?

If you said here's £100, go into town and choose an outfit for forthcoming job interviews then bring it back home, could she do that?

I'm not having a go, I'm trying to find out what her strengths are so I could suggest something for future employment.

Also never forget that many neurodiverse people are emotionally two thirds of their chronological age so it can be very difficult for them to socialise with age peers.

Thank you Blanktimes, it was the neuroclastic link I had remembered.

Your questions are, as always, helpful.

Thank you @BlankTimes & @Imitatingdory

My 15 is autistic & really struggles so this was interesting reading

Thanks UggyPow

My DD is late twenties now and hes several co-morbids. Her CFS impacts her much more than anything else at the moment. Her capabilities and general abilities are so different to when she was 15, much much more than an NT person generally 'growing up'

What sort of things is your DD/DS struggling with?

This is a brilliant website for sensory stuff, it explains things very simply and gives easy interventions. www.theottoolbox.com/

HAS several comorbids

Can't even blame the phone, I'm on the pc

Mainly school, people related things - we have a good set up at home where he has his own space , so he is happy here, but doesn’t ‘do’ anything.
I suppose I worry for the future, I have GCSE’s & A levels happening here this summer, just trying to keep the surface of the pond smooth as he can’t pass the exams if he doesn’t even sit them.
It a weird situation as school say he might get 7’s or he might not pass anything- I am struggling with the uncertainty of it all so cripes knows how he is feeling

Have you seen the SENCO to see if a quiet room could be available for him if he's distracted easily in exams, or is there anything else they can do along the lines of reasonable adjustments for him?
I'm long gone from the education system so I'm unsure of the up to date concessions etc.

On that tack, have you heard of Flare Calmers? They dumb down a lot of the general noise in classrooms, shops etc. helping many autistic and other ND people to concentrate and with that, their anxiety lessens as they aren't having to filter out all the intrusive sounds. The translucent ones are pretty much invisible.
www.flareaudio.com/products/calmer?variant=39419599749223

Do give him a one a day multivitamin and mineral supplement so he's not lacking anything and try and get him to exercise if possible, if you have a dog, can he walk the dog at least once a day so he gets some fresh air?

Not to be the Harbinger of Doom, but if he's 15 now and has DLA, you'll need to sort his PIP soon, so it's better you're forewarned and ready to roll with it.
CAB have online advice free.
Benefits and Work need you to buy a year's subscription, but then you have access to all their downloads about how to complete the forms and deal with the whole process. Some people sail through, others have to appeal then go to Tribunal.
It's often discussed on the SNChat and SNChildren boards.

My teenage child (younger than yours) has learning needs but has always had a passion for a particular interest. They were offered casual work last year in that field and their interest, passion and work ethic has led to more work and the possibility of an apprenticeship.

I knew the employer and set out clearly limitations and guidance. eg no long lists of instructions, to only use power tools under full adult supervision, and that school work and soon to be college work is always the priority. As another pp has observed our DC are often much younger than their peer group so need perhaps more help to navigate conflicting expectations.

Can you give more details about what your DD might be interested in? I

UggyPow does DS have an EHCP?

To add to Blanktimes’ post about PIP, you can become DS’s appointee and deal with the whole claim on his behalf.