AGXStarseed
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(Not written by me)
Katherine St. Amand, 22, who has autism, was at the autism panel at the School of Public Policy in Calgary on Sept. 9, 2015. Leah Hennel / Calgary Herald
With public schools facing a 300-fold increase in students with autism, researchers are warning a lack of support for adolescents and young adults is making it harder than ever for graduates to find work.
With about one in every 65 Canadian kids in elementary now dealing with autism spectrum disorder, as compared to only one in every 2,000 two decades ago, experts say diminishing supports will cause a tidal wave of social problems.
“This is a very complex problem that affects many different departments across governments … but we are facing a tsunami of demands and we need better strategies,” said Carolyn Dudley, who helped author the report put out this week by the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy.
Examining the employment outcomes of adults with autism spectrum disorder, the report cites this particular group as having some of the poorest job prospects with only about 12 per cent being employed, mostly in part-time, low-paying jobs, compared with those with other physical disabilities where nearly 50 per cent are employed.
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A big part of the problem, researchers say, is the behavioural challenges and limited social skills that those with autism often struggle with and that employers often don’t want to deal with.
“It’s difficult to find a group that’s having a harder time within the Canadian labour market,” said Herb Emery, director of health policy at the U of C’s School of Public Policy.
The report concludes “most earn less than the national minimum hourly wage, endure extended periods of joblessness and frequently shuffle between positions, further diminishing their prospects.
“Poor employment outcomes result in lower quality of life and often lead to steep economic costs.”
And researchers predict that with the continued, largely unexplained, rise of kids entering the school system with ASD, the problem is expected to get worse.
Dudley says that beyond better diagnostics, and continuing research around brain development and environmental impacts, there is still very little known about why autism has seen such a significant rise.
Thus comes a veritable “tsunami” of graduates today and tomorrow who face minimal job prospects, Dudley adds.
Recommendations within the report include more research, more incentives for employers, and better support programs for young people with autism, including help with mental health, social skills and behavioural management across the lifespan, not just in early childhood.
Lyndon Parakin, executive director with Autism Calgary, said the school system also needs to do so much more, for kids of all ages as parents of kids with autism become increasingly frustrated.
“We get calls from parents, at least once a month, whose children aren’t being supported in the regular classroom and are being suspended from school simply because they are exhibiting behaviours that are typical for ASD,” Parakin said.
“There’s a pattern of diminishing supports.”
Elizabeth Gouthro, director of learning for the Calgary Board of Education, said that while the public system could always use more supports in working with kids who have special needs, there are some programs making headway.
A new, federally-funded program at Henry Wisewood Senior High School helped train and employ six students with autism last year.
“There is definitely a noticeable rise in students with ASD,” Gouthro said.
“But it’s not always about adding more aids, it can also be about better training for teachers.”
Gouthro explained the CBE is also now working to provide better training for teachers to deal with special needs students that have behavioural issues.
Katherine St. Amand, who has ASD and is employed at Autism Calgary as a librarian and resource specialist, said she’s grateful to have found meaningful work that improves her quality of life daily.
“It makes me feel good to work here. I finally found some place where I can do what I like,” she said.
Parakin added that companies that are considering employees with autism need to understand that while they may have some behavioural or social challenges, they, like St. Amand, can be “brilliant, extremely loyal and extremely hardworking.”
[email protected]
SOURCE: http://calgaryherald.com/news/local...dults-with-autism-are-struggling-to-find-work
Katherine St. Amand, 22, who has autism, was at the autism panel at the School of Public Policy in Calgary on Sept. 9, 2015. Leah Hennel / Calgary Herald
With public schools facing a 300-fold increase in students with autism, researchers are warning a lack of support for adolescents and young adults is making it harder than ever for graduates to find work.
With about one in every 65 Canadian kids in elementary now dealing with autism spectrum disorder, as compared to only one in every 2,000 two decades ago, experts say diminishing supports will cause a tidal wave of social problems.
“This is a very complex problem that affects many different departments across governments … but we are facing a tsunami of demands and we need better strategies,” said Carolyn Dudley, who helped author the report put out this week by the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy.
Examining the employment outcomes of adults with autism spectrum disorder, the report cites this particular group as having some of the poorest job prospects with only about 12 per cent being employed, mostly in part-time, low-paying jobs, compared with those with other physical disabilities where nearly 50 per cent are employed.
Advertisement
A big part of the problem, researchers say, is the behavioural challenges and limited social skills that those with autism often struggle with and that employers often don’t want to deal with.
“It’s difficult to find a group that’s having a harder time within the Canadian labour market,” said Herb Emery, director of health policy at the U of C’s School of Public Policy.
The report concludes “most earn less than the national minimum hourly wage, endure extended periods of joblessness and frequently shuffle between positions, further diminishing their prospects.
“Poor employment outcomes result in lower quality of life and often lead to steep economic costs.”
And researchers predict that with the continued, largely unexplained, rise of kids entering the school system with ASD, the problem is expected to get worse.
Dudley says that beyond better diagnostics, and continuing research around brain development and environmental impacts, there is still very little known about why autism has seen such a significant rise.
Thus comes a veritable “tsunami” of graduates today and tomorrow who face minimal job prospects, Dudley adds.
Recommendations within the report include more research, more incentives for employers, and better support programs for young people with autism, including help with mental health, social skills and behavioural management across the lifespan, not just in early childhood.
Lyndon Parakin, executive director with Autism Calgary, said the school system also needs to do so much more, for kids of all ages as parents of kids with autism become increasingly frustrated.
“We get calls from parents, at least once a month, whose children aren’t being supported in the regular classroom and are being suspended from school simply because they are exhibiting behaviours that are typical for ASD,” Parakin said.
“There’s a pattern of diminishing supports.”
Elizabeth Gouthro, director of learning for the Calgary Board of Education, said that while the public system could always use more supports in working with kids who have special needs, there are some programs making headway.
A new, federally-funded program at Henry Wisewood Senior High School helped train and employ six students with autism last year.
“There is definitely a noticeable rise in students with ASD,” Gouthro said.
“But it’s not always about adding more aids, it can also be about better training for teachers.”
Gouthro explained the CBE is also now working to provide better training for teachers to deal with special needs students that have behavioural issues.
Katherine St. Amand, who has ASD and is employed at Autism Calgary as a librarian and resource specialist, said she’s grateful to have found meaningful work that improves her quality of life daily.
“It makes me feel good to work here. I finally found some place where I can do what I like,” she said.
Parakin added that companies that are considering employees with autism need to understand that while they may have some behavioural or social challenges, they, like St. Amand, can be “brilliant, extremely loyal and extremely hardworking.”
[email protected]
SOURCE: http://calgaryherald.com/news/local...dults-with-autism-are-struggling-to-find-work
