Each young adult has different needs, strengths and challenges and path that is right for you. Everyone’s situation is unique. At this stage you may be entering an on the job training program, trade school, community college or university, an internship, or in an entry level job. Ask about the kinds of job accommodations such as having a job coach that might help you be successful. The Supporting Autistic Employees page on the Milestones website includes information about potential job accommodations to help you think through options.
Vocational planning and preparation builds skills for employment and exploring your interests which usually starts earlier in high school with related goals in your Individualized Education Program (IEP). If you haven’t started this yet, it’s not too late. Get connected to your state’s agency that helps people with disabilities find competitive work to start developing skills. In Ohio, that agency is Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD). The Rehabilitation Services Administration provides this gateway to the various state agencies.
For Those in School
If you are in school at this point, see the Education section of the Milestones Autism Planning (MAP) Tool for more information. Summer internships or jobs are very important to build skills while in school.
If you are still in high school, you with your school team and family will need to decide if you are graduating and exiting school, doing a social graduation and remaining at school for more transition based services, or not doing the social graduation and just continuing IEP programming. If you and your parents feel that you could still benefit from services at school, you must demonstrate that you have not met all IEP goals and could benefit from more educational or vocational training.
Age Appropriate Transition Assessments (AATAs) should be occurring throughout all years in high school to help determine needed services to achieve desired goals as an adult. This is typically done in school but can also happen in other therapeutic settings. This information from Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI) provides information and a video about AATA.
Other Details to Take Care of
This is the time male young adults to register for military service because any vocational disability service in each state will ask for that information. It is also the time to register to vote. All people have that right. People with disabilities are entitled to accommodations to vote, and vocational disability services will also ask if you have registered to vote.
Related Skill Building
Working on life skills like hygiene, self-advocacy, money management basics and social communication.are important to succeed in school and jobs. These linked articles in the MAP Planning Tool will provide you with more information.
Learn how to identify when you're getting overwhelmed and coping strategies, so you build that self-awareness. Ask for help when something is difficult. Know that it is OK to say no to something that you do not want to do or that is uncomfortable for you. While we all need to take of tasks at work we're not excited about, it's also important to know you do not have to do things that seem wrong or to be bullied. In the workplace you will encounter different kinds of people and bosses and you will need to learn how to handle it.
Build self awareness for what may trigger a meltdown such as overscheduling, and what you need to help you manage you sensory issues. Two self-advocates share strategies they use to manage their sensory challenges here including light, sound and smell, starting with assessing your needs. This Managing Sensory Issues article in the MAP also provides tips and information.
The Milestones free autism Helpdesk or Individual and Family Consultations can assist you and your family in finding resources and making a plan to help you develop the skills you need.
For Those More Impacted, the Role of Your Board of Development Disabilities and Your State Employment Services Agency
For individuals who are not headed to having competitive employment, your state or county Board of Developmental Disabilities can also provide employment services. But only if it has been found that you cannot be served by vocational employment services. In Ohio that is Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD). So you may work with your county or state Board of Development Disabilities to find and maintain employment.
For individuals who qualify for the state or county board for employment services they can do follow along support while the individual has a job. Vocational employment agencies like OOD are likely to only support the individual for three months after job placement. However when the three months are up your county board might provide services depending on the situation and the county board’s policy.
You always have to go to the employment services agency like OOD first. If they can’t serve you then you can ask your county or state’s Board of Disabilities for support. If you are still in school past 18 you usually want to have the Board of Disabilities involved supporting you and at IEP meetings while you are still in high school.
We know this can be confusing and complicated to deal with. Contact the Milestones Helpdesk for more information.