HOW TO MAKE TEENS WITH AUTISM PREPARE FOR WORK

Getting a first time job is an important part for teenagers and one that can help prepare them to face their future as adults. As children with autism grow to become teenagers, parents start facing some common question like will they be able to get a job? The answer to this question totally depends upon the capabilities of children on the Autism spectrum. But with the right training and planning teens can find their path to a great job.

Here are some guidelines on how parents can prepare their children with Autism for the outside world for journey as a teen into growing into early adulthood. 

Open Lines of Communication:

• A challenge that parents often face is finding the right time to discuss with their children about their interests. 
• Likewise, other youngsters growing up, kids with autism are figuring out what they want to be when they grow up.
• The answer to them and to their parents are not always clear 
• Although it depends on your child’s level of functioning, the discussion probably should happen during the teen years
• Beginning with this kind of preparation and educating kids with Autism will give them the time they need to develop real-world skills that will help them in a job.

Teach them Hard and soft skills:

• When preparing for your teen’s transition to adulthood, it’s important to recognize that your son or daughter is unique.
• For individuals with autism, hard and soft skills are important that can take time and effort to achieve.
• Parents and training centres should focus on both hard and soft skills.
• For instance, assuming you train your kid to understand and follow instructions, you should also teach them social skills.
• Social skills help individuals with Autism to build healthy relationships with peers and make friends which is good for their self-esteem 
• Start to develop some soft skills like interviewing, decision making, communicating and managing relationships with others.
• This will help the overall development of your child to put them into practice in their new workplace.

Parent’s involvement is crucial:

• You are engaged in every phase of your child’s preparation, so you have a fair idea of what your children can do and what they can’t.
• Not only observing gives parents a sense of what their children do well but it also provides ways to reinforce positive behaviour between parents and kids.
• Engage your child in activities that will sharpen their skills.
• Help them to understand the importance of goals. 
• Once this is done it is much easier to understand about career.
• Your role as a parent can also make a big impact.

Talk about appropriate social behaviours:

• Interacting in a society is a challenge for teens with Autism.
• Make your child join various groups according to their special interest and hobby.
• This can help them to socialise easily with other team members because  it gives your child something to talk about.
• Parents should be actively educating their teens with Autism about social behaviour and safety.
• Make use of social stories. For instance, you can make a story explaining about the interaction between boss and an employee and what all skills are appropriate.