The BASICS college curriculum

The BASICS College Curriculum is a series of books that  present a hands-on approach to learning essential independence and life skills for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The CeDIR Library has four titles in this series available to check out.

Independence, Social, and Study Strategies for Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder focuses on the transition to college, developing key academic skills, navigating campus social life, and living away from home for the first time.

Developing Identity, Strengths, and Self-Perception for Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder helps young adults to explore their identity and self-perception and encourages them to consider their personal characteristics and strengths, to help navigate college life more easily and to provide a starting point for thinking about future careers.

Turning Skills and Strengths into Careers for Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder helps young adults to translate their strengths and interests into possible careers and develop job-hunting skills that will set them on the road to success.

Developing Workplace Skills for Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder helps young adults to develop strategies for successfully managing workplace challenges, both before they enter the workplace and during employment.

Interested in checking out any of these titles? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu or use worldcat.org to find them in a library near you.

National Disability Employment Awareness Month

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. It's a national campaign that raises awareness about disability employment issues. The image above is a poster created by the Office of Disability Employment Policy, US Department of Labor. To learn more about it and to order or download the poster, please visit:
https://www.dol.gov/odep/topics/ndeam/

Did you know that CeDIR has a topic guide that covers the issue of employment for people with disabilities? There you will find books, videos and online resources to help you learn more about getting jobs, supporting employees, the state of employment for people with disabilities and policies influencing employment options for people with disabilities. Visit the guide at:
http://guides.libraries.indiana.edu/cedir_employment

Bloomington Sponsors Autism Awareness Event

Bloomington, Ind. – In honor of April as Autism Awareness Month, the City of Bloomington Community and Family Resources Department will host “Autism at Work,”  an autism awareness event, on Thursday, April 30, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Council Chambers of City Hall, 401 N. Morton St. The event is free and open to the public.

The event will focus on increasing the community’s understanding of the benefits of hiring autistic adults. “Autism at Work” will include presentations by professionals and those with first-hand experience in working with autism, and will be moderated by Susan Rinne, Chief Executive Officer of LifeDesigns, Inc., an agency in south-central Indiana that provides services to people with disabilities. Light refreshments will be served. Parking is available in the City Hall employee parking lot at no charge.

Panelists will cover a range of perspectives and experience. The first panelist, Adria Nassim, is a graduate of Brescia University in Owensboro Kentucky and a person with autism. Nassim will discuss her perspective on the special challenges that autism brings to the work world. James Emmett, a Corporate Disability Consultant, is the second panelist and will discuss his career vision to change the business and disability communities by helping hundreds of companies create disability and inclusion brands.  Emmett’s overall goal is to support companies to become more inclusive of the disability community in all areas such as recruiting, training, diversity planning and marketing.  The third panelist, Jenny Austin, works with Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation and will discuss Work4LifeIN, a campaign to bring awareness about the importance of employment for people with disabilities throughout the state. The fourth panelist, Jennifer Halloran, comes from Milestones (a division of Stone Belt), where she teaches individual and social skill instruction to young adults with high function autism and other learning differences. Halloran will discuss teaching on-the-job social skills to autistic employees.

Over the past decade, autism has emerged as a major public health concern in the United States. Autism costs the United States $126 billion per year and affects an estimated 1 in 68 children. Autistic children living in the Bloomington community will need to learn the necessary social skills to succeed in the workplace, and employers will need to understand and learn to overcome the special challenges which come with hiring an autistic adult. Employment experiences are a key factor in the future success and independence of young people as they prepare to leave high school. However, youth with disabilities need employers and other adults in their community who will guide them to see what type of lifelong work they are best suited for and give them opportunities that will help them reach their full employment potential.

For additional information, contact Health Projects Coordinator Nancy Woolery at 812.349.3851 or wooleryn@bloomington.in.gov.

Mobile App Monday - Job Interview Questions Prep

Looking for an app to help someone learn about what it takes to have a successful job interview? Job Interview Questions Prep is a free video app that helps you improve your answers to tough interview questions by letting you see how an interview expert thinks about and answers each question.

Job interview coach Peggy McKee, CEO of Career Confidential, asks and answers some of the common but tough job interview questions you will be asked in your next interview. Through these 1-2 minute videos, you will see and hear the best way to structure your answer in order to make a strong, positive impression on the hiring manager and stand out from all the other candidates.

Want to learn more about it? Please visit:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/job-interview-questions-prep/id554675731?mt=8

The hidden curriculum of getting and keeping a job

The hidden curriculum of getting and keeping a job provides insight into a variety of topics on getting a job, finding a mentor, networking, using agencies, interviewing, talking with supervisors, dealing with on-the-job-frustrations, understanding the social rules at work and many other topics. The book is written by two individuals on the spectrum who have extensive experience in helping others become employed.

Interested? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu to check it out or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

The Wonderful World of Work

The Wonderful World of Work is a hands-on workbook that demystifies the world of work in order to help teenagers with Asperger syndrome (Autism Spectrum Disorder) feel confident in their ability to be successful at their studies and get a job. Each chapter talks the teen through a different element of employment, including the benefits of having a job, why education is important, how to write a resume and succeed at job interviews, and the advantages and disadvantages of autism in the workplace.

Want to check it out? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

Asperger's Syndrome Workplace Survival Guide

Asperger's Syndrome Workplace Survival Guide "is the definitive guide to surviving and thriving in the workplace for people with AS. Common employment challenges are illustrated through examples from the author's extensive experience coaching individuals with AS at all job levels. This book will benefit anyone with AS who is entering the workforce, as well as those who struggle to maintain employment, or who want to improve their performance and advance their careers." -book description

Want to check it out? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

Structured work systems

Want to learn more about using structured work systems? Building independence: How to create and use structured work systems can help. With color photos and case examples, this book is a guide to help you create and assess the visual information that helps employees on the spectrum get their work done correctly and independently.

Want to check it out? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

Create and Use Structured Work Systems

Supporting an individual with ASD or a related disorder at work? Building independence: How to create and use structured work systems can help you build the visual tools that are sometimes needed to ensure that people on the spectrum work independently. These tools can show an employee "what work needs to be done, how much works needs to be done, when the work is completed and what will happen next." Chock full of colorful photos and examples, this book may be just what you're looking for!

Want to check it out? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

The complete guide to getting a job for people with Asperger's syndrome

Looking for help for someone with asperger syndrome who want to find employment? The complete guide to getting a job for people with asperger's syndrome may be just the ticket! In this book, you will find information on defining strengths, researching occupations, marketing oneself, and projecting confidence and enthusiasm in interviews. It works well for those entering the workforce for the first time as well as experienced workers who have lost jobs or wish to change careers but are uncertain about how to find the best match for their abilities.

Interested? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu to check out this title, or go to worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

The hidden curriculum of getting and keeping a job

The hidden curriculum of getting and keeping a job provides insight into a variety of topics on getting a job, finding a mentor, networking, using agencies, interviewing, talking with supervisors, dealing with on-the-job-frustrations, understanding the social rules at work and many other topics. The book is written by two individuals on the spectrum who have extensive experience in helping others become employed.

Interested? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu to check it out or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

Mobile App Monday - Personal Social Skills - Workplace

Workplace Social Skills is a three-part system that covers the basics of social skills on the job. The three parts include Personal, Responding and Initiating Social Skills. Personal Social Skills includes: Take Responsibility, Be Dependable, Accept Consequences, Have Self-Control, Maintain Hygiene, Grooming and Dress, Be Positive, Tell the Truth, Be Polite and Courteous, Be Assertive.

Want to learn more? Visit: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/personal-social-skills/id375377746?mt=8

Different... Not Less

Different... Not less: Inspiring stories of achievement and successful employment from adults with autism, asperger's, and ADHD is a compilation of stories from people who have become successful in their lives despite their various disabilities. Overcoming social obstacles in order to share their greater potential has helped the individuals in these stories succeed in their work and lives. Pick up the book and be inspired!

To check out this title, email us at cedir@indiana.edu or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

Social Thinking at Work

Looking for help in understanding the social mind in the workplace? Try Social Thinking at Work: Why Should I Care? Take a look at the hidden rules of the social world at work and how people typically multitask to understand the mindsets of others. Learn how to better express your thoughts and how to ask for support as you gain an understanding of how to think socially at work.

Email us at cedir@indiana.edu to check out this title, or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

Asperger's Syndrome Workplace Survival Guide

This unique guide explains what it takes to succeed in a workplace dominated by neurotypicals. The Asperger’s Syndrome Workplace Survival Guide covers everything from choosing the right career to deciding whether disclosure is the right option. It features realistic strategies for meeting employer expectations and effectively resolving problems.

Want to check it out? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu. Or use worldcat.org to find this title in a library near you.

Inclusion in work force

According to a story in the New York Times Opinionator last week, inclusion in the work place will become more important than ever as the growing population of people on the spectrum graduate and leave school. Finding employment where they are valued and feel comfortable can be a struggle, but one Danish company, Specialisterne, may have an answer. "Specialisterne trains people with autism to work as consultants in large companies where they excel at jobs like testing software and managing data," say the article's author.

To read the entire story, go to: http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/05/building-a-more-inclusive-work-force/

Good Job by Dan Coulter

What’s your child with Asperger Syndrome going to do for a living?

Too early to start thinking about that? Really, it's not. While your ten year old or teenager doesn’t have to immediately choose a career, he’s much more likely to find and keep a job when the time comes if you start preparing him in two important ways.

First, assess any social skill deficits your child has and help him work to overcome or mitigate them. Many people with superior job skills have trouble getting hired or staying employed because they lack basic social skills.

Second, expose your child to a variety of jobs and careers. Don’t apply pressure to have him pick a job or even a career field, but make it an interesting topic of conversation. Take him to see people working. Your goal is to have your child find something that sparks his interest so he tells you what he wants to do with his life. From my experience, when a child with Asperger Syndrome latches onto a special interest, you don’t need to do any pushing.

If your child can find a career field that aligns with that special interest, it could be his ticket to an independent livelihood. Of course, you may have to be creative in helping him see a way to capitalize on that interest in a job. Try turning it around, "Gee, look how doing this job would let you do the thing you love."

If your child still has challenges with social skills when he starts a job search, you want an employer to willingly provide reasonable accommodations because your adult child demonstrates he’ll be a valuable employee.

He can also seek a job that’s in high demand but has little competition. For example, I recently heard an interview with Joel Leonard, who calls himself "the maintenance evangelist." He points out that few young people are going into the building maintenance technologies and that buildings are being maintained by older people who will be retiring at an increasing rate in the years ahead. He sees a coming crisis. If your child has a mechanical or electronic aptitude and can make that the focus of his education, he might find a multitude of building maintenance engineer openings with supervisors willing to accommodate some odd behaviors. You can seek out similar "high demand" career niches that might suit your child.

If your child finds dealing with other people especially difficult, he may want to look into jobs that are not "people intensive." An online listing of such jobs I saw recently included accountants, computer programmers, writers, budget analysts, medical transcriptionists, actuaries, and forensic science technicians.

Self-sufficiency is an important goal for children who have Asperger Syndrome. If you can begin a positive, low-key campaign to help your child be "job ready" when the time comes, you’ve managed one of the most important tasks a parent has.

Good job.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR -- Dan Coulter is the producer of ten DVDs about Asperger Syndrome and autism, including "Manners for the Real World: Basic Social Skills" and "Asperger Syndrome at Work." You can find more articles on his website: www.coultervideo.com.

Copyright 2010 Dan Coulter All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.

Asperger's on the job

Asperger's on the job: Must-have advice for people with Asperger's or high functioning autism and their employers, educators and advocates by Rudy Simone with a foreword by Dr. Temple Grandin is an excellent guide for employers as well as job seekers. This book is divided into 20 chapters, each chapter addressing a common situation that may come up in the workplace. Advice is given for potential employees as well as employers and advocates.

Job seekers will also find additional information to help them find the right fit. Included in the appendices are instructions on creating a personal job map, interview tips and resources for further information. Throughout the book personal narratives from people with Asperger's are included.

Interested in checking it out? Contact us at cedir@indiana.edu. Not an Indiana Resident? Find it at a library near you!

Think Beyond The Label

Think Beyond The Label has aired their first national TV commercial! The humorous, close-captioned 30-second slot brings attention to individual differences in all people and the silliness of applying labels:



Think Beyond the Label was formed to set the facts straight about hiring people with disabilities. They provide "expert tools and resources for businesses looking to evolve their workforce." You can visit there website at http://www.thinkbeyondthelabel.com/.

Asperger Syndrome & Employment

Asperger Syndrome & Employment: What People with Asperger Syndrome Really Really Want is written by Sarah Hendrickx, training manager at ASpire and author of the previously highlighted volume Love, Sex & Long-Term Relationships. Hendrickx examines testimony from many individuals with AS across multiple age groups on their search for employment, the difficulties they have faced in the workplace, and the characteristics of their "ideal job." She offers job-seekers strategies for finding positions that best suit their wants and needs, and gives employers advice for creating a nurturing work environment.

Interested in this book? Indiana resident? Contact us!

Not an Indiana resident? Find this book at your local library.