Job Training and Independent Living
As autistic children become young adults, they may want to find employment opportunities and/or live independently. Here we discuss ways autistic young adults can learn job skills, places that can help them find employment, and places that can help autistic people live independently.
Vocational Rehabilitation
What is Vocational Rehabilitation? Vocational rehabilitation allows autistic people or people with other disabilities to learn the skills needed to carry out a specific profession.
Choosing the Right Career: A job that works well for one autistic person may not work for someone else. When considering jobs, autistic people should think about special skills or interests that they have, how they learn best, and the kinds of environments that they prefer to determine the right career path.
How Do I Begin My Journey to Employment?
1. Meet with a Vocational Counselor. A vocational counselor can help assess eligibility for vocational training and help find a profession that may be a good fit.
Click on the link below to find a vocational counselor near you!
Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency – Georgia.gov
2. Find a Job Skills Course. Courses that teach specialized job skills can be found throughout the state of Georgia. Your vocational counselor can help find a course that best fits your interests or may refer you to a program like one of the following:
- Roosevelt Warm Springs Vocational Training Center (Warm Springs, GA): This residential campus offers job skills training in a number of high demand fields to those with ASD and/or intellectual disabilities.
For more information, or to see if this program is a good fit for you, please call (706) 655-5000 or visit their website: https://gvs.georgia.gov/roosevelt-warm-springs
- PRISM of Georgia (Roswell, GA): This program offers job coaching services, job skills training and much more to those with mild to moderate ASD and/or intellectual disabilities.
For more information about PRISM, please visit the PRISM website: https://www.prismga.org/
- Easterseals of East Georgia (Augusta, GA): Easterseals is a non-profit organization that aids in vocational evaluations, job skills training and job placement for those with ASD and/or disabilities. Easterseals of East Georgia serves 33 counties in east Georgia.
For more information about Easterseals, please visit the Easterseals website: https://www.easterseals.com/eastgeorgia/our-programs/adult-services/
What if Employment is Unattainable?
Employment may not be attainable for those with severe autism. If this is the case, you can contact disability adjudication services (DAS). DAS is a federally funded program that works with the Social Security Administration to bring social security disability funds for autistic people and people with other disabilities who are unable to work.
To get started, please visit the DAS website: https://gvs.georgia.gov/social-security-services
Communal Living Options for Autistic Adults
As autistic people transition to independence, a communal living home might provide the right balance of having help nearby and opportunities to do things unaided.
Important Questions to Ask:
As when choosing any living arrangement, it is important to think about what sorts of things are important for you / your child to live comfortably. When choosing a facility, consider:
- What kind of neighborhood do I want to live in? What kind of house is right for me?
- How much support will I need in order to live there?
- How will I pay for everything? Is there public funding or financial support?
Creating a Plan:
Take the Community-based Skills Assessment: This assessment was created in order to evaluate the skill level and capabilities of those diagnosed with autism to help the individual and/or family unit build a thorough plan for transitioning into independent living. This will aid in identifying areas of knowledge, strengths, skills, and challenges to consider before the transition takes place.
Remember that each plan will be different for every person and the plan should always be a guide for improvement, not set in stone. Goals should be set with the individual in mind in order to progress toward achieving independence.
Take the assessment here: Community-based Skills Assessment
Housing Options:
Communal living can offer benefits such as companionship, emotional support, and interaction with those with similar likes and interests. Here are some communal housing options that are available in the state of Georgia (click on housing option names to be directed to their website):
Located in Suwanee, GA.
Support offered:
- 24/7 care
- Moderate level of support
- Semi-independent
- Drop-in
Located in Norcross, GA.
Support offered:
- Moderate level of support
- Semi-independent
- Drop-in
Located in Decatur, GA.
Support offered:
- Moderate level of support
Located in Decatur, GA.
Support offered:
- Moderate level of support
- Semi-independent
- Drop-in
Located in Macon, GA.
Support offered:
– 24/7 care
The Autism Housing Network has a housing directory available to search for communal living options in the United States. Visit the link for more options outside of Georgia: Housing Directory
Article by: The Autism ToolKit
Other resources you may be interested in
Please enjoy our articles and contact us if there’s a topic you would like more information about.