29
Teresa Allen Communication & Autism Team Pathway to Work Programme
Teresa Allen Communication & Autism Team
Pathway to Work Programme
Research
National Autistic Society Survey:
There are 350,000 autistic adults of working age, only 15% are in full-‐time paid work.
One third are currently without a job or access to benefits
79% of those on incapacity benefit want to work.
NAS 2009 UK don’t write me off campaign
Peter Griffin
Peter Griffin is 29, has an IQ of 159 and a degree in astrophysics.
His only paid work has been a Saturday job in Tesco, which he has had since he was 16.
Anxiety around doing things for the first time , he doesn’t like “getting it wrong”, his way of coping was to do nothing.
Danny Hancock
Danny left school with a set of GCSEs, A in maths and three grade Cs at A-‐level in maths, physics and chemistry.
Despite this success, since leaving school he has only had a couple of part-‐time administration jobs.
Barriers to Employment
Social communication is key to success, people with Asperger's syndrome may not be able to establish the basic connections with other people that are critical when seeking employment.
The Person with AS may possess valuable job skills but due to social communication difficulties, performing well in a job interview can be extremely difficult. Unwillingness to shake hands, difficulty making eye contact and hesitation in speech may be read as coldness or incompetence.
People with AS struggle to understand the unwritten social rules that help most of us act and speak appropriately-‐ Offering to make the coffee.
People with AS can find it difficult to decipher figures of speech, facial expressions and tones of voice, and are frequently (but unintentionally) concise and literal to the point of rudeness-‐ “That dress is far too tight, it doesn’t suit you at all “.
Aspire/What we can do to help
Not understanding the benefits of work/ Lack of motivation to work.
Different barriers for different people, interaction difficulties, anxiety, organisation skills, take into consideration the individual.
Different places of work require different skills, try to teach skills relevant to the chosen profession.
Realistic expectations of jobs, (RAF /army do not currently employ people with autism )
Travel to work, a skill needed to practice, may not be able to cope with public transport, think about alternative travel arrangements.
Aspire, part of Autism West Midlands, provide support for adults with autism into employment. These are issues they felt created barriers to adults with autism gain employment. It is possible for us to reduce these barriers if tackled earlier.
Aspire/What we can do to help
Teach basic skills (eg time management; advice on dress and hygiene)
Provide a “real” experience of work-‐ introduce pupils to the “good and the bad” aspects of work.
How to make a good first impression, Interview practice.
Disclosure, how to tell people about their diagnosis , how to seek support at work.
Social skills at work, how to we interact differently with different people, telling the boss what you think of them isn’t a good idea! (think it don’t say it)
Practise greetings and “small talk”
Dealing with people (eg speaking on the phone, showing people to reception).
Help to understand the process of getting a job.
Pathway to Work Programme
A programme designed to develop:
Self Awareness-‐ strengths and interests.
A personal pathway.
Awareness of the world of work.
Social communication skills.
Skills needed to access employment .
Pathway to Work Programme
Can be done with an individual or in a small group.
Make the whole school staff aware of what the programme is about and who is taking part in the group, creating opportunities in a familiar and safe environment can be of benefit for pupils to practise skills.
For Resources
http://www.do2learn.com/JobTIPS/index.html lots of relevant and very useful resources related to the programme.
http://www.autismwestmidlands.org.uk/content/674763/help__advice/downloads/ Talking to others about my Autism
For Autism
http://www.autism.org.uk/socialskills supporting pupils with social communication The Den http://www.autismeducationtrust.org.uk/the-‐den.aspx Lots of helpful info and video clips to support people with ASD , also relevant to the
programme. http://www.autismeducationtrust.org.uk/theden/work%20and%20study/the%20facts.aspx http://www.autism.org.uk/living-‐with-‐autism/adults-‐with-‐autism-‐or-‐asperger-‐
syndrome.aspx http://www.preparingforadulthood.org.uk/ Job information
http://www.fasttomato.com/index.aspx questionnaires to help with job preferences http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/careers virtual tours of jobs, extensive list of jobs, video clips
etc http://www.connexions-‐bs.co.uk/main.php?section=1459
The following websites will be a good support for the member of staff who is delivering the programme.
My Pathway
An example of a pathway to work for a Year 10 pupil
What I would like to be doing when I am 25 years old?
At first this pupil found it very difficult to imagine what he could be doing in 10 years time, this is a discussion tool to focus attention on the future.
My Pathway to Work
Y9
Options
Y10
Work Experience
Y11
Exams
Making
choices
Age 25
This tool helps the pupil to think about their own pathway , what they are doing now, how it fits into the pathway and how they can get to where they want to be, who can help them to achieve this?
Bricklayer Career Facts
• Salary £17,000 - £21,999
• Hours of work Bricklayers work a 39-hour week. Overtime, including Saturday working.
• Progression http://www.cascaid.co.uk/careerscape/ViewJob.do?jobId=27
Support the pupil to research jobs they may be interested in, see useful websites and seek support from a careers advisor.
What does a Bricklayer do?
• Bricklayers build walls for the insides and outsides of buildings. They construct all types of walling from plain walls to more detailed work.
• Bricklayers may work on new buildings or extensions. They may also restore existing buildings.
• They use a variety of tools such as trowels for spreading mortar, club hammers and bolsters to cut bricks, and brick hammers to trim bricks.
• The work is mainly outdoors and conditions can be dirty and dusty as well as cold, damp and muddy.
Bricklayer
Cutting a brick to size
Using a brick hammer to trim and shape a brick.
Mixing mortar. Using a trowel to spread mortar.
Using a spirit level to check that the wall is straight
Virtual Tour
• http://www.careersserviceni.com/Cultures/en-GB/ExploreCareers/VirtualTours/
Skills needed to be a Bricklayer
to be good with your hands
physically fit, as the work involves bending, stretching, lifting and working at heights
to be able to work on your own and in a team
some number skills.
train by doing a work-based training scheme. working outside
in all weathers
ability to follow written plans and instructions
to understand the importance of health and safety in the construction industry.
Good
• Salary £300-£350 per week
• You don’t always need qualifications
• You can move on to be a buildings inspector
Bad
• Working in dust and dirt
• Working in the cold and wet
Pathway to Work as a Bricklayer
• 4 GCSEs grade D-G
• Good practical skills
• Do an
Apprenticeship
• Go to college
• Health and safety
• Understand
plans/drawings
School Training
Plumber Career Facts
• Salary £22,000 - £26,999 £350-£400 per week
• Hours 37.5 per week Monday-Friday Possible overtime and work on
Saturday
• Progression Manager
What does a Plumber do?
• Plumbers install, maintain and repair hot and cold water systems, sanitary services heating systems, and pipe work and controls for gas supply.
• They use a variety of hand and power tools including wrenches, spanners, saws, cutters and welding gear. They cut, bend, join and fix materials such as lead, copper, aluminium, plastic, zinc and iron.
• Installation work includes things like central heating systems and their controls and pipe work, drainage systems and large refrigeration systems for industry.
• When the equipment has been installed, the plumber tests it to make sure that it is working efficiently and safely.
• Repair work involves finding faults, replacing or repairing damaged parts, carrying out tests and making sure that the system works properly
• Plumbers may be called out at short notice to do emergency repairs, especially in winter if pipes freeze.
plumber
Using a spanner to tighten the nuts on some pipe work.
Welding copper pipes. Testing the flue on a boiler.
Following written specifications Carrying out a routine central heating system service.
Diagnosing a fault in an industrial plumbing system.
Skills needed to be a Plumber
to be good with your hands
physically fit, as the work involves bending, stretching, lifting and working at heights
to be able to work on your own and in a team
have good people skills to work in people’s homes
find problems and repair them
work with different tools
work in dirty conditions and cramped spaces
Ability to follow written plans and instructions
to understand the importance of health and safety.
Good points
• A good salary
• You can work get promoted
• Hours are all right for the money Bad points
• Working in dirty conditions some of the time
Pathway to Work as a Plumber School Training
4 GCSE grade D-G
Good practical skills
Will have to go to college
Do an apprenticeship
Health and safety
Work with others
Understand plans/drawings
My Skills, Qualities and Experience
Work experience
Desk duty
Library monitor
Helping dad with DIY
Hard working
Good at following instructions
Good at maths
Good at practical activities, technology
Aware of health & safety
Making a Choice
Advantages Disadvantages Disadvantages Advantages
Choice 1 Choice 2
My Decision
People with autism find it difficult to make a choice. This chart is helpful for the pupil to organise their thoughts and make an informed decision.
It can be used when thinking about which job they would like to do or what choice is best for their pathway to work, college course or apprenticeship etc.
Remember to take into consideration things that are specific to the pupil’s needs around autism, travel to work, working with people, sensory issues and so on.
