For many teenagers, summer jobs are a stepping stone into the adult world, a chance to earn money and learn valuable life lessons. These experiences, often seen as rites of passage, are crucial for developing strengths, understanding weaknesses, and discovering personal preferences. However, for teenagers with autism, these opportunities are not always readily available. This lack of access can be a significant hurdle, as early work experiences are vital for future career success and personal fulfillment. For families of children with disabilities, even seemingly small milestones like a first summer job are profound achievements, worthy of immense celebration.
This is the story of Blake, a teenager with autism, and his journey to finding his first summer job, highlighting the importance of early career exploration and the possibilities that open up when communities and families work together. It also serves as an inspiration and a guide for parents and educators seeking good programs or career paths for autistic teenagers and kids.
Blake’s Journey: From Early Intervention to Employment
Blake’s journey began with an autism diagnosis at 21 months old. Doctors predicted he might remain non-verbal. His mother, a speech-language pathologist, was well-equipped to understand and address his needs. From a young age, Blake received intensive therapy, specialized programs, and excellent medical care. He made remarkable progress.
Image alt text: Blake, a smiling autistic teenager, stands proudly outside Texas Roadhouse in his uniform, showcasing his first summer job experience.
As Blake grew, the focus shifted towards preparing him for life after high school. Transition planning started as early as fifth grade, covering crucial topics like special needs trusts, vocational rehabilitation, and independent living options. Entering high school, the pressure mounted to create a detailed transition plan. This process can be daunting for parents of autistic children, who often face uncertainty about their child’s future aspirations and capabilities.
Despite years of dedicated effort to prepare Blake for adulthood, his parents were confronted with the limitations he still faced. Instead of dwelling on what Blake couldn’t do, they proactively focused on identifying his strengths and exploring his potential. By the time he was 16, Blake had become verbal, proficient at typing, and capable in math. He enjoyed school, swimming, music, and using his iPad.
Blake’s high school program for students with autism played a pivotal role in helping him explore employment, living options, and recreational activities. Initially, Blake didn’t grasp the concept of a job and expressed a desire to stay at home. Encouraged to take action, his family sought opportunities for him to gain real-world work experience.
Attending a conference on employment for individuals with disabilities, Blake’s mother learned a critical insight: securing employment after high school is significantly harder for those without prior paid work experience. This realization shifted their goal from simply finding any job to finding a job that would motivate and inspire Blake, setting him on a path toward a fulfilling career. A summer job became the immediate, achievable goal.
Identifying Strengths and Exploring Career Options
Blake’s teachers provided invaluable assistance in pinpointing his likes and dislikes, crucial for identifying suitable career paths. They discovered Blake enjoyed cooking, computer work, structured tasks, indoor environments, and social interaction. Conversely, he disliked custodial work, outdoor jobs, language-heavy tasks, and unpredictable routines. This eliminated common entry-level jobs for individuals with disabilities, such as landscaping or janitorial services, as they were not aligned with Blake’s strengths.
Considering his preferences, potential career avenues like sous chef, car detailer, data entry, computer-based roles, or animal care were explored. However, finding paid summer positions in these areas proved challenging. Seeking broader community support, Blake’s mother turned to social media, hoping to connect with local businesses open to inclusive hiring. The response was overwhelming, with family and friends offering numerous suggestions and resources.
Crucially, their county’s employment program provided essential support through active case management. While Blake’s waiver limited on-the-job instructional support, they accessed a home and life specialist from Boone County Family Resources. This specialist guided Blake in creating a resume, attending interviews, navigating job applications, and even obtaining a food handler’s card. She facilitated job modifications, such as checklists and staff training, ensuring a supportive work environment, although she couldn’t provide continuous on-site support.
This network of support led to Blake’s first job at a local Texas Roadhouse restaurant. Due to legal restrictions, kitchen work was not an option, but a restaurant prep role involving silverware rolling and other tasks proved to be an ideal starting point. The restaurant staff were welcoming, supportive, and patient, creating a genuinely inclusive environment where coworkers naturally assisted Blake like any other employee. While the work itself wasn’t Blake’s passion, he enjoyed having a job and being part of the Texas Roadhouse team. His motivation, typical of many teenagers, was “to buy snacks,” demonstrating a relatable and age-appropriate understanding of work and reward.
Lessons Learned and Future Horizons
Image alt text: An autistic teenager, focused and diligent, rolls silverware at a restaurant, showcasing a suitable job task for individuals with autism.
Blake’s first summer job, though temporary, was a profound learning experience for everyone involved. Blake gained essential understandings about work: the need for sustained effort, the connection between work and earning, and workplace responsibilities like uniform maintenance and punctuality. He successfully applied learned skills in a new setting, demonstrating valuable generalization abilities. His support team gained insights into the complexities and confusion surrounding employment programs for individuals with disabilities, prompting them to create a resource list for other parents.
Key takeaways about Blake’s workplace strengths emerged: his excellent task memory, ability to follow directions, quick learning, adherence to rules, functional communication, and positive social interactions with coworkers. Areas for future improvement were also identified, such as the need for better coworker training on supporting Blake, strategies to maintain focus during repetitive tasks, and the importance of varied routines to prevent monotony. They also noted his need for clear task completion expectations and encouragement to use full sentences, alongside challenges with critical thinking and unexpected changes in routine. For Blake’s mother, the experience reinforced the importance of relentless advocacy, creative problem-solving, and immense pride in her son’s willingness to try new things.
Looking ahead, Blake is planning volunteer work during the school year and aims for a different work placement next summer, potentially accessing programs offering more upfront support. Just as summer jobs help many young people discover career interests, these experiences are crucial for autistic individuals to explore their strengths and preferences through doing. Often, career choices for autistic individuals are made based on limited observations in unrelated settings, highlighting the critical need for direct work experience.
To ensure meaningful employment for autistic individuals, parents must advocate for early work experiences. Potential employers need to create more inclusive opportunities, and service providers should simplify the process for families. Part-time and summer jobs are not just about earning money; they are invaluable opportunities for autistic teenagers and kids to learn, adapt, and ultimately find fulfilling career paths. Blake’s first job was a significant step, not just for buying snacks, but for building a foundation for a successful and rewarding future.
