Decreasing barriers to employment for Asperger's Spectrum clients career services

CDF Independent StudyRachelle Lappinen

Project IncludesCareer PortfolioBecker Career Services website redesignJob Seeker workshopsDecreasing Barriers to Employment for Asperger Job Seekers

Career Portfolio

IncludesCopy of Publication Life in Miller Hall, a book on the history of the colleges oldest dormitory hall;Wrote, designed and edited the publication, which now serves as a fundraiser for the Womens Studies Scholarship

This is a project that I worked on for a couple of years in college and required research, collaboration, grant writing with my professor, work with the printing department, and connecting with past alumni from the past 70+ years at FSU. The project started out as a womens history month tea to commorate the 100 year anniversary of the college. Our idea was to collect stories from women who lived in this womens dormitory, and even ask some of them to come in and speak at our tea. We got such a huge response of letters, pictures, and memorabilia, that we decided to put this together into a book.4

Continued:Copy of Awards and CertificationsUnderwriting Mentor CertificationMicrosoft Office CertificatesUnderwriting Performance Recognition Flyer designsWriting SamplesPowerPoint workshops createdTestimonials and Letters of References

I helped to re-design info-graphic resumes and cover letters for Beckers website, I design flyers for cub scout events. I contributed to the designs of many of the Becker PowerPoint presentations.

Sample thank you letters for job searching

Sample News Letters for Cub Scouts5

Enhance Becker Career Services Website

Enhance Becker Career Services WebsiteCo-Create online career services resource guide with director of career services of Becker CollegeTo include bridge page with sample resumes, cover letters, thank you notes, interview tips, etc. Collaborate with Marketing department and director of Career ServicesResearch other colleges career services websites, gauging what they are offering

We expect some of the documents to go live this month. We many even have the Graphics Designer train me on Mac software so that we may be able to get some more of these docs ready to go life soon.

7

Sample Page

This is an example of our resume info-graphic. We will also have other info-graphics, including cover letters, graduate resumes, game design resumes, thank you letters, networking letters and more. 8

Impact Full Bullet Points Doc

This document will include guidance for one of the hardest part of the resume writing process describing experience9

Action VerbsACTION VERBS LISTWhen you describe a current or previous position on a resume, each sentence should start with an action verb. This list contains many great suggestions, broken down by categories. It was extracted from www.quintcareers.comCommunication/People SkillsAddressed Advertised Arbitrated Arranged Articulated Authored Clarified Collaborated Communicated Composed Condensed Conferred Consulted Contacted Conveyed Convinced Corresponded Debated Defined Developed Directed Discussed Drafted Edited Elicited Enlisted Explained Expressed Formulated Furnished Incorporated Influenced Interacted Interpreted Interviewed Involved Joined Judged Lectured Listened Marketed Mediated Moderated Negotiated Observed Outlined Participated Persuaded Presented Promoted Proposed Publicized Reconciled Recruited Referred Reinforced Reported Resolved Responded Solicited Specified Spoke Suggested Summarized Synthesized Translated Wrote

This word doc, adapted from quitcareers.com, will have action verbs listed alphabetically by category10

Job Seeking WorkshopsLeominster Job Seekers Network Group

Workshops includeConduct peer resume workshops for Leominster job seekers networkCo-facilitate interview skill workshop for Leominster job seekers network

For the resume workshop, I first had my clients swap resumes and look at them for 15 seconds, then turn them over and answer questions such as work history, skills, objective. My clients were apprehensive of this exercise, but when I told them it was to illustrate how long a recruiter looks at their resume, and to give them feedback such as if their resume is bulleted and can be read/scanned quickly for content, or are there too many long paragraphs on the resume.12

Results:Peer Resume Review session : I thought the session went well and found the information (constructive criticism) very beneficial. Facilitators such as you and Walter offer a great deal of knowledge and expertise. Thank you!

Mock Interview breakout groups : Again, I found this session to be very beneficial. My group had a good mix of individuals with different career patterns and objectives. In view of this, I received different perspectives on ways I might improve on my interviewing techniques.

For the Mock interview session, I had our group split up into groups of 4, and gave each group a bag with 12 common interview questions. I had one of our facilitators sit with each group. The participants each took a question out of the bag and answered it, and after they answered, the group members gave them feed back.13

Decreasing Barriers to Employment for Asperger's Spectrum clients through Career Services This is a multistep/level project involving, early education to students and parents, student outreach, employer outreach and a guide for career service professionals to use when working with this population. There is a definite need for a project like this. Current data shows that young adults with Aspergers Syndrome have a 45% unemployment (American Journal of Pediatrics 2011).

This project would be rolled out over 4 years, with parts one and two this year, part one early reach out to students, and part two, outreach to employers to find these students work experience opportunities14

Growing need

From 1992 to 2001, students with learning disorders grew by 28% (US Dept. of Education)Becker College, where I work, attracts a growing number of Asperger and ADHD students to its popular Gaming program

15

Early Student OutreachPartner Career Services with Beckers Collaborative Learning Center and Counseling Services

This would be done via the CLC and Counseling services referring these students to us in their Sophmore year (they would get accelmented to college life in their Freshman year)16

Counseling and the CLC refer AS students to Career Services early onCareer Services would work with students to build work experienceThis would help ease transition from the familiarity structured environment of college, to the unstructured environment of the workforceEarly outreach to this population would help to develop trusted relationships between CS staff and AS students

Comfort would allow us to teach them things like hygiene, tips to make eye contact (look at nose, and look away periodically to not appear to be staring.

We would teach interviewing skills, social skills for the workplace, and work as advocates for the students in the workplace if needed.

Discuss whether to disclose to an employer, reasons for and against. Learn about things that interest them, like World of Warcraft, LARP, etc, so that you can make connections.17

Develop social skills group and mentor programThis would be facilitated by a CS staff memberThis would help these students to build relationships to help support each student throughout their lifetimeMatch AS students with mentors; mentors can help guide them through social blunders both in their personal life, as well at in the workforce world

Teach perspective taking, how to take part in small talk, listening skills.

For student anxiety, we would refer the students out our counseling department. We would be trained to watch for warning signs so that we could be ready to refer our students as needed.

Mentoring program would be an important key to success in college and in the workplace. Many successful AS people state that their success (and they ability to get over things like negativity, is through an encouraging mentor). Temple Grandin mentions the importance of her HS science teacher throughout her HS years and through college18

Develop workshops, teach career portfolio creation, and complete employment workbookTeach AS students the social skills they need to gain employmentPortfolios can be used to show examples of their work in an interview or networking situation (this is how Temple Grandin got many of her first jobs)Complete Asperger Syndrome Employment Workbook by Roger Myers

Use pictures (clip art) of popular things AS students may be interested in, AIME and World of Warcraft, Science Fiction, Video Games, etc.

Portfolios can be key in a networking or even an interview situation for an individual who is talented, but has trouble expressing themselves. Temple got many of her first jobs in the cattle industry by showing samples of her work.

Networking can also help, talking to the right people at the right time, can help AS job seekers avoid the HR screen, and go through the side door, showing their talent to get the job.19

Employer OutreachIncorporate AS education into already existing Employer Outreach

In order of us to build experience slowly to help transition our students, we need to outreach to local employers and non-profits, to find who is willing to give these students a chance to build their experience.

We would also reach out to Becker staff and facility asking them if they know of any employer or organization who would be willing to give these students a chance.

We would also use existing agencies such as vocational rehab, Seven Hills, Gethired.com, etc20

Educate employers AS TraitsInform employers about desirable traits AS employees bring to the jobTolerance to repetitionStrong logic and analytic skillsPerseveranceHonesty and loyalty

AS students will excel in jobs that are task oriented:Allows concentration on one thing at a timeAccuracy and quality vs. speedStructure and clear performance expectationsAt least some element of routineMinimal social interaction/scripted interactionDoes not involve the management of others21

Educate Employers Tools for AS employeesProvide:Break instructions into small segmentsUse of Check listsElectronic remindersThe need to be mindful of differences in social behaviorTools to coach employees on proper social behavior

Be direct, literal and avoid metaphors. Keep your cool, they are not doing this behavior to annoy you. Be respectful, dont yell at them. Slow it down. Break info into small manageable bits. Social autopsy, lets look at what you did wrong and see what could be done differently next time. Reduce distractions, sensory toys stress ball

Through my research, I have found that accommodations for AS employees are greatly appreciated and useful for NT employees22

Educate Employers More tools for AS employeesProvide:Quiet workspaceCertain type of lightingFrequent breaksHelp understanding interpersonal exchanges in the office

AS Guide for Futures Career Services StaffDevelop guide for future career services staff to work with students on the Aspergers Spectrum

Career Services Guide to ASInclude guidance on the following:Background knowledge of Aspergers SyndromeDevelopmental disability, personality variant

Theory of mind, visual thinkers, pattern thinkers, verbal thinkers, and those who straitle two mind sets. AS people also have trouble with pragmatic language (social language), and executive function they have trouble multi-tasking.

Learn how to assist job seekers with choosing career path it is hard for these students to imagine what hasnt been experienced. Use of interest inventories can be helpful, CS must be careful to explain that these inventories are not an exact science, and that the AS student must be flexible to other ideas. Once you find careers they may be interested in and well matched, encourage them to go on informational interviews to establish if they are in fact interested, and to practice interacting on a professional level25

Career Services Guide to ASTeaching social skills for the workforce and job searchTools for helping this population become more successful in the job search and in the workforce

Pre-college workshopsProvided to parents and pre-college students

27

Partner with Colleges of Worcester ConsortiumEducate parents and students on the transitions from high school to college and then from college to the workforceInclude a panel discussion of students with AS, Alumni in the workforce, psychology professors, counselors and career services staffDevelop new student/parent/college relationships and serve as a good public relations to the community

ConclusionsCDF Competencies developed:Increased knowledge on diverse populationsTechnology skillsWorking with groupsEmployability skills Training skillsHelping skills

I still have a lot of work to do on my project with Aspergers, and I am hoping that this will serve two purposes. One, to build a niche for me to gain a full time job in Career Services, and two, to better help and understand my nine year old son with Aspergers.

My website project also has a lot of work left and will probably be an on going project if I get this full time job at Becker.29

IncludingEmployability SkillsTrainingDiverse PopulationsHelping SkillsTechnology

References

References

Interviews with authors:Roger Meyers, Aspergers Employment WorkbookBarbara Bissonnette, Author and Principle of Forward Motion, career coach for employees with AS

ContinuedBooks:Temple Grandin, Developing Talents, Careers for Individuals with Asperger Syndrome and High-Functioning AutismRoger Meyers, Aspergers Employment WorkbookYvona Fast, Employment for Individuals with Asperger Syndrome or Non-Verbal Learning Disability: Stories and StrategiesTony Atwood, The Complete Guide to Aspergers Syndrome.

Continued:Webinars and LinkedIn GroupsAutism Spectrum News, Fall 2011; http://asperger-employment.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ASTEP-Article-ASN-Fall-2011-1.pdfPostsecondary Education and Employment Among Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Paul T. Shattuck, PhD, http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2012/05/09/peds.2011-2864.abstractMeetings with Director of Counseling Becker College

Questions