Lillian Scenna, LSW, ACRE Supported Employment Specialist

Dennis Fitzgibbons, M ED

President & CEO

Setting a foundation for future employmentSouthern Maine Autism Conference

March 14, 2015

The Challenge of finding a job

• Poor interviewing skills• Frequent job changes• Numerous failed attempts• Long periods of unemployment• Forced into low paying jobs and

overqualified

The Facts about ASD

• It is a neurological disorder • ASD is a hidden disability• Genetic or interactive environmental causes • ASD is a developmental disability • The incidence of ASD is thought to be 1 in 250• There are currently more males diagnosed

ASD core features

• Language in a social context• Difficulty understanding

non-verbal cues • Challenges with executive

functioning tasks• Focusing on small details • Intense interest areas • The environment

• Eye contact is difficult• Additional diagnoses• Difficulties working in a

group• Meltdowns as a child• Extremely good at

memorizing facts and information

A better work experience

Social Skill Building

• A tolerable social and physical environment

• Communication skills• Social behavior• Working with individual

skills and interest areas

Basic Interventions

• Use of medication• Setting up routines• Minimize social events• Provide organizational

supports, visual may be better for some people

A change in culture

• Supported Employment - Job Coach• Quality Indicators

Types of EmploymentCustomized Employment

Job Carving and Job CreationNatural Supports

Networking

Employment First Maine • A National official directive • A Law from Maine state government agencies

Maine State Partners– Offices of Aging and Disability Services(OADS)– Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS)– Department of Labor (DOL)– Department of Education (DOE)

What does Employment First mean for Maine?

• Employment will be the first option • Greater opportunities to pursue self-employment• Employed within the general workforce, have increased

incomes, financial assets, and economic wealth• Employers will include people with disabilities within general

recruitment and hiring efforts as standard practice• Greater opportunities to advance in careers • Funding will be sufficient for quality services and supports • For individuals who are not working are re-evaluated on a

regular basis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4aZpcsJPq8