Transition can be a stressful thing. For many autistic students, October will be the end of high school. Whether they are doing scored VCE, unscored VCE, VCAL or VET many autistic school leavers and parents will ask themselves, What next?
A large group of students will consider a part-time job, a summer job, or perhaps a more permanent opportunity to earn money and advance their skills. However, several factors are in play here that need to be considered. It is not as simple as just applying and hoping for the best. There needs to be a strategy and game plan to ensure the most successful outcome for a young autistic school leaver.
Ask friends and family first.
This may seem a logical step. However, we are always surprised to hear that not many people take advantage of their friends and family connections. Many report a feeling of trepidation or even fear. Imagine if it didn’t work out, or I had to quit or have days off? While this may be the reality, an honest and upfront conversation always works well in the initial discussion about job opportunities.
We often assume that autism will be negative. However, many employers report the opposite. Locally, organisations that actively recruit autistic talent include software giant SAP, Westpac, IBM, ANZ, the Australian Tax Office, Telstra, NAB, Coles, and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Many employers also report better productivity, greater attention to detail, and increased staff retention when hiring autistic employees. Always remember to mention any skills you think will be looked at favourably. Attention to detail, finding comfort in patterns and order and routines may be a few.
Once you have exhausted friends and family, you may consider using a Disability employment service.
Autistic school leavers can dress for success and be comfortable.
Clothing can be a difficult thing to navigate when you have sensory issues. Let’s imagine you successfully landed a job interview, and you need to look smart. You have been wearing the same school uniform for years, and now you must wear that itchy shirt and scratchy pants. It is not the best start to an interview. Being distracted and placed in a position of sensory overwhelm. Luckily JAM the Label has thought of this very thing. They have designed a range of tag-free clothing and comfortable natural fabrics that may be able to be claimed via a participant’s NDIS plan.
Assistive technology claimable via NDIS.
One of our favourite outfits from JAM is the linen shirt and the black pants pictured above. The Linen shirt comes in two colours, white and Olive. It has magnetic closures on the front and the cuffs, no tags, and it always looks impressive. More importantly, it feels great. We like pairing this with the Black chino pants. These pants have an elastic waist with belt loops to assist in pulling up. The bonus is that it can be pulled on just like tracksuit pants. It also has a hidden side zip to provide discrete front and back access for those who require more assistance with dressing.
Luckily today, many employers consider anyone who dresses neat and looks clean an acceptable candidate. Mainly due to the new work-at-home uniform adopted during the pandemic. So, a nice clean T-shirt and smart pants will look just as professional. You could also check out JAM the label’s range of bamboo short sleeve and long sleeves T-shirts.
They are label-free and have flat seams for sensory bliss. Also do not forget to check out Chloe Hayden, our favourite autistic advocate and actress in this amazing range.
As all of these products are designed to make dressing easier, simpler, or more accessible, it is considered ‘Assistive Technology’ by the NDIS. It may be purchased through your ‘Core,’ ‘Consumables,’ or ‘Low-Cost Assistive Technology’ budgets.
Know what you want.
Understanding what you want in and from a job will always set you up for success. Going for a job that wants you to work 30 hours a week and on weekends is of no benefit when you know this may be too much, to begin with. It will also significantly impact your mental health if you cannot sustain this. Your future employer will also want to see you succeed; it is far more inconvenient for them to start the job search again than it is to retain valuable staff. Never be too embarrassed or afraid, to be honest with your expectations. Remember, you can also increase your work hours if you love your work, and your employer understands your needs.
We suggest making a list to take with you if you land an interview. You can either give it to the person interviewing you or discuss it with them if you feel comfortable. The interviewed person will always appreciate honesty and reinforce your commitment to the job. Things to consider are.
The hours you think you would be comfortable with. Would you prefer to talk to customers, or would you like to go behind the scenes? Do you feel comfortable talking about your diagnosis and needs? Ask if there will be a uniform or if you can wear sensory-friendly clothing. This may be especially relevant for anyone who becomes sensory overwhelmed by clothing.
Be prepared.
It is always a good idea to have a few things prepared beforehand. Make sure you do some research on the company you are interviewing for. Understand what they do and if they are an inclusive workplace. They will usually have an inclusion policy on their website.
Have at least one question prepared (maybe two, just in case one of the questions has been answered during the interview). Showing you are genuinely interested in the position and have come prepared. is always recognised as a positive. It may also be helpful to take in a pen and piece of paper so you can note any information you think may be beneficial. It can be stressful in an interview, and it is not easy to remember all the data.
If you feel comfortable disclosing your diagnosis, always feel free to ask if you could have a copy of the interview questions beforehand. This will ensure a stress-free interview process and prevent any overwhelm. While some may find this unusual, many will appreciate that you wish to be prepared and see it as a positive request.
And finally, practice, practice, practice! It may take a few interviews until you gain employment. However, you are not alone. Many people report having to attend several interviews before getting a job. Not being successful in an interview does not make you a failure. It just means you are not the right candidate for that particular job at that particular time.
For more information about adaptive and sensory clothing or tips for autistic school leavers to speak to the team at JAM the label or visit their listing in our directory to learn more.