Finding work after graduation can prove challenging for anyone, but for young adults with autism, getting that first job can be especially difficult.
A recent study by the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry found that half of young adults with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are unable to find work in the eight years after finishing high school.
Enter Project SEARCH, an innovative program that hopes to make the transition easier.
The year-long program uses a hands-on learning approach combined with classroom-style instruction to introduce developmentally and mentally disabled children to the workplace.
Project SEARCH began as a single program at Cincinnati Children's Hospital in 1996. It's grown rapidly and now includes more than 200 facilities across the United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. Washington sites include: Longview, Olympia, Seattle, Spokane, Vancouver & Yakima (Coming soon to Bothell).
For the duration of the program, interns--who range in age from 18 to 21--will spend at least six hours each day building and later applying necessary skills and becoming more comfortable with the idea of entering the workplace.
Participants must have received an ASD diagnosis, have no violent tendencies, be able to communicate effectively and follow a one- to two-step schedule.
Many thanks to UW Medicine Adult Autism Clinic for hosting a symposium featuring Project Search.