HOW TO BE SELF SUFFICIENT HOW TO BE SELF SUFFICIENT WITH HIGH FUNCTIONING WITH HIGH FUNCTIONING

AUTISMAUTISM

Jason ZervoudakesJason Zervoudakes

Self AdvocateSelf Advocate

MAKING THE DECISION TO MAKING THE DECISION TO BE SELF SUFFICIENTBE SELF SUFFICIENT

We Make Changes When We Are We Make Changes When We Are Dissatisfied With Our Current Dissatisfied With Our Current

SituationSituation

There Is No Road Map In LifeThere Is No Road Map In Life

HOW TO BE SELF SUFFICIENT HOW TO BE SELF SUFFICIENT WITH HIGH FUNCTIONING WITH HIGH FUNCTIONING

AUTISMAUTISM

Jason ZervoudakesJason Zervoudakes

Self AdvocateSelf Advocate

SELF ASSESSMENT IS IMPORTANTSELF ASSESSMENT IS IMPORTANT

•The clearer the pictureThe clearer the picture

•The stronger the desireThe stronger the desire

•The more motivated you will beThe more motivated you will be

UNDERSTANDING YOURSELF IS A UNDERSTANDING YOURSELF IS A KEY TO A MORE REWARDING LIFEKEY TO A MORE REWARDING LIFE

NETWORKINGNETWORKING

WHO YOU KNOW IS WHO YOU KNOW IS IMPORTANTIMPORTANT

Networking can occurNetworking can occur  anytimeanytime  anyplaceanyplace  anywhereanywhere

FACE TO FACE NETWORKINGFACE TO FACE NETWORKING

Face to Face is most effectiveFace to Face is most effective

A “Natural Smile” will help youA “Natural Smile” will help youmeet peoplemeet people

““How, What & Why” questions are How, What & Why” questions are great for small talkgreat for small talk

Talk about general topics such as Talk about general topics such as the weather the weather

BUILD YOUR NETWORKBUILD YOUR NETWORK

Carry business cardsCarry business cards

Carry pen & paperCarry pen & paper

Join groups to build networkJoin groups to build network Take advantage of volunteer Take advantage of volunteer opportunitiesopportunities

NETWORKINGNETWORKINGIS IMPORTANTIS IMPORTANT

•You can find answers to problemsYou can find answers to problems

•Get informationGet information

•Get solicited & unsolicited adviceGet solicited & unsolicited advice

C O M B A T P H O N E C O M B A T P H O N EA N X IE T YA N X IE T Y

Write out three scriptsWrite out three scripts

3.3. Leaving a message for machine (voice Leaving a message for machine (voice mail)mail)

4.4. Leaving message to a “live” personLeaving message to a “live” person5.5. Talking to your contactTalking to your contact

Rehearse scripts before you callRehearse scripts before you call

YOUR PHONE AGENDAYOUR PHONE AGENDA

If necessary, send a brief e-mail If necessary, send a brief e-mail before you callbefore you call

Be brief & specificBe brief & specific

State your businessState your business

All calls less than 15 minutesAll calls less than 15 minutes

SELL YOURSELFSELL YOURSELFThink of yourself as a productThink of yourself as a product

Emphasize your strengthsEmphasize your strengths

Minimize or don’t mention your weaknessMinimize or don’t mention your weakness

PEOPLE WANT TO KNOWPEOPLE WANT TO KNOW

What job you wantWhat job you want

What skills you haveWhat skills you have

How you can benefit themHow you can benefit them

BE PERSISTENTBE PERSISTENT

NEVER GIVE UP!NEVER GIVE UP!

It takes hard work, desire and It takes hard work, desire and dedication to achieve your dedication to achieve your

goalsgoals

TO DISCLOSE OR NOT TO TO DISCLOSE OR NOT TO DISCLOSE-THAT IS THE DISCLOSE-THAT IS THE

QUESTIONQUESTION

Disclose too earlyDisclose too early

you may not get the jobyou may not get the job

Disclose too lateDisclose too late

you may not hold on to the jobyou may not hold on to the job

REASONS NOT TO REASONS NOT TO DISCLOSEDISCLOSE

•Job hunting is discriminatory by Job hunting is discriminatory by naturenature

•Any excuse a potential employer Any excuse a potential employer can use can use notnot to hire you, they will to hire you, they will use ituse it

•People do not follow the lawsPeople do not follow the laws

•Job discrimination is difficult to Job discrimination is difficult to proveprove

HOW TO DISCLOSEHOW TO DISCLOSE•To disclose, use the To disclose, use the simplest terms possible simplest terms possible and frame it as an asset as and frame it as an asset as opposed to a liabilityopposed to a liability

•Let employer know what Let employer know what specific accommodations specific accommodations you needyou need

•Disclose late in the hiring Disclose late in the hiring interviewinterview

USE YOUR USE YOUR JUDGEMENT!JUDGEMENT!

HOW TO BE SELF SUFFICIENT HOW TO BE SELF SUFFICIENT WITH HIGH FUNCTIONING WITH HIGH FUNCTIONING

AUTISMAUTISM

Jason ZervoudakesJason Zervoudakes

Self AdvocateSelf Advocate

MULTITASKINGMULTITASKINGWHICH IS BETTER?WHICH IS BETTER?

ONE TASK OR THREE AT A TIME?ONE TASK OR THREE AT A TIME?

ONE TASK

PHONE LAUNDRY COOKING DINNER

STARTING NEW PROJECTSSTARTING NEW PROJECTSUntil 1974Until 1974

Babe Ruth hit more home runs Babe Ruth hit more home runs than anyone in MLB historythan anyone in MLB history

Babe Ruth struck out more times Babe Ruth struck out more times than anyone in MLB historythan anyone in MLB history

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU NEVER TRY?NEVER TRY?

KNOW WHEN TO SAY STOPKNOW WHEN TO SAY STOP

When you get frustrated and can’t When you get frustrated and can’t solve a problemsolve a problem

When it is time to go to bedWhen it is time to go to bed

When you have to do other things atWhen you have to do other things at a certain timea certain time

When you are tired of doing a taskWhen you are tired of doing a task

CHORES ARE NEVER DONE!CHORES ARE NEVER DONE!

COME TO TERMSCOME TO TERMSWITH YOURWITH YOUR

LATE DIAGNOSISLATE DIAGNOSIS

Go through list of AS characteristicsGo through list of AS characteristics

Pick 20 that are most troublingPick 20 that are most troubling

Work with your professional to Work with your professional to improve on themimprove on them

HOW TO BE SELF SUFFICIENT HOW TO BE SELF SUFFICIENT WITH HIGH FUNCTIONING WITH HIGH FUNCTIONING

AUTISMAUTISM

Jason ZervoudakesJason Zervoudakes

Self AdvocateSelf Advocate

YOUR GOALYOUR GOAL IS TO BE SELF SUFFICIENTIS TO BE SELF SUFFICIENT

NEVER LOSE SIGHT OF THE GOALNEVER LOSE SIGHT OF THE GOAL

THINK OF SELF SUFFICIENCY AS YOUR THINK OF SELF SUFFICIENCY AS YOUR BUSINESS!BUSINESS!