Employment Information for Individuals with Autism

Try to give advance notice about new situations, if possible. Share details about the change and how it could affect the person. Discuss the positive outcomes of the new situation or change. Use visual tools to provide predictability and structure. Examples may include:

• A countdown calendar
• A social narrative (e.g. a written and/or illustrated guide to a specific social setting, such as how to use public restrooms safely)
• A video or photographs of new people or settings
• An activity schedule using pictures
• A written daily agenda

1. Test out the strategies described above for supporting someone through a small change. Make note of which methods work best for the individual and utilize these when planning for big changes.
2. New situations are not always predictable. Prepare yourself and the person you support by practicing coping strategies together and learn which strategies work for the person you’re supporting. Remember, what works for you may not necessarily work for the person you’re supporting.

Yes, but this can come with challenges. Being friends with coworkers outside of work is ok, and often very common. However, you will need to remember that when you’re at work, you need to be professional and limit personal conversations to certain times and places, like lunch breaks. Also, being friends with coworkers can be hard if that friendship ends. You will still need to be able to work together even if you’re not friends anymore.

Can help you with: Finding a reasonable accommodation to enable you to do the job you have or want

Contact:https://askjan.org/ (800)526-7234 (Voice) (877)781-9403 (TTY)

Can help you with: Supported employment services to find and keep a job

Contact: 444 N 3rd St # 5A, Philadelphia, PA 19123 Phone: (215) 560-1900 TTY: 215-560-6144

Can help you with: Searching job listings, building a resume, networking opportunities

Contact: http://www.philaworks.org Suburban Station 1617 JFK Boulevard, 2nd Floor Philadelphia, PA 19103 Phone: 215-557-2625

Can help people with physical disabilities with: Consumer protection, family law, housing, wills, public benefits, and insurance

Contact: legalinfo@lcdphila.org

Intake: Wednesday only: 9:30am to 3:30pm call: 215-587-3350

Can help you with: Living independently in the community

Contact: 714 Market Street, Suite 100 Philadelphia, PA 19106 215-634-2000 tdd: 215-634-6630 LRinc@libertyresources.οrg

Can help you with: Building skills to find employment

Contact: 714 Market St, Suite 302, Philadelphia, PA 19106 info@lriacademy.org
215.634.2000 ext. 203

Can help you with: Employment discrimination based on disability; reasonable accommodations at work; criminal records in employment applications

Contact: jfoster@publawint.org 267-546-1313

Can help you with: Unemployment compensation, home ownership, bankruptcy, medical assistance, family law

Contact: 215-981-3800 on Tuesday or Thursday between 9:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.
Walk-in: Mon & Wed, 9-11:30 The Cast Iron Building,718 Arch Street, Suite 300N

Family law: call 215-981-3800 Mon & Wed, 10 – 12 (no walk-ins)

Can help you with: Work Incentives Planning Assistance, Ticket to Work

Contact: 800-692-7443 (voice) or 877-375-7139 (TDD) intake@drnpa.org

When you apply to OVR for help with employment, a counselor will be assigned to work with you. The counselor will meet with you face-to-face to get to know you in order to decide how OVR can best assist you to help yourself. With your written consent, your counselor will gather information about your needs, your interests, aptitudes, education, work experience, family and finances. Your counselor will arrange any needed medical examinations and testing, at no cost to you.You will be eligible for OVR services if:

• You have a disability, that is a physical, mental or emotional impairment which results in a substantial impediment to employment and you can benefit in terms of an employment outcome from services provided
• Vocational rehabilitation services are required for you to prepare for, enter, engage in or retain gainful employment.

You and your counselor will work together to make informed choices regarding a cooperative plan of action to include a career goal, the services needed to assist you help yourself to get started in or maintain your career, and your responsibilities. This plan of action is called the Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE).

Deciding on your goal usually takes time. During this time you will receive information and options to assist you in developing a successful program. You will have the opportunity to consider different types of careers,your job skills, chances for employment in your local area, potential earnings, family responsibilities,training, and other matters of importance to you and your family

Your counselor wants you to pick a career, one that you will still want and at which you will still be able to work years from now. Your IPE outlines the steps you will take to obtain a job and can be changed if your needs change. You and your counselor will work together to make any necessary changes.

Some services can help you overcome or lessen your disability; others can directly help you prepare for a career. The services you receive will be arranged to meet your individual needs. Not everyone will need every service.

• Diagnostic Services include medical,psychological and audiological exams and tests used to better understand your disability and your needs for specific types of services.
• Vocational Evaluation includes testing such as aptitude, interest, general ability, academic exams,work tolerance and “hands-on” job experience used to understand your vocational potential.
• Counseling Services are offered to assist you find ways to better help yourself throughout the rehabilitation program from the first meeting with your counselor to your starting and maintaining a career. Counseling services help you to better understand your potential, rely on your abilities,set realistic vocational goals, change them when necessary, develop successful work habits and begin a satisfying career.
• Restoration Services include many types of medical services and equipment such as physical and occupational therapy, wheelchairs, automobile hand controls and other types of rehabilitation technology that may be provided to enable you to pursue your career and achieve independence
• Training Services include education to prepare you for a job including but not limited to basic academic, vocational/technical, college, on-the-job, independent living skills and personal and work adjustment training. It may be necessary for you to leave home to get the training you want and need.
• Placement Services include counseling, job-seeking programs, job club and job development used to increase your ability to obtain a job. You will receive ideas, practice and advice on finding job leads, filling out applications, getting interviews for a job and how to interview. Your counselor may also give you job leads or explain to employers about tax credits they can receive when hiring you. The more contacts with employers you make, the better your chances are of starting your career.

Support services are provided if they are necessary for you to start your career. Services may include:

• Room, board and transportation costs during your evaluation or while you are completing a rehabilitation program.
• Occupational tools, licenses or equipment.• Home modifications, adaptive or special household equipment related to obtaining or maintaining a job.
• Van or car modifications, including special driving devices or lifting devices to enable you to travel to your job.
• Personal care assistance provided to help you with your daily needs in order to enable you to participate in a vocational rehabilitation program.
• Job site modifications that will enable you to obtain and maintain a job.
• Independent living training to provide the means for you to become more self-sufficient and thereby make it possible for you to participate fully in the vocational rehabilitation program.
• Text Telephone (TTY), signaling devices, hearing aids and interpreter services may be provided to help you communicate if needed to participate in the vocational rehabilitation program.

That depends on your abilities, the career for which you are preparing, and on your individual needs. Most important, it depends on how much responsibility you take for helping yourself to prepare for, start or maintain a career. You can help things move along as quickly as possible if you:

• Help your counselor get the needed information.
• Keep all appointments or call if you can’t be there.
• Stay in touch with your counselor (if your counselor cannot find you, things are bound to slow down).
• Tell your counselor if you feel things are going too slowly.

This is your rehabilitation program. Don’t hesitate to ask questions about anything. You are entitled to the best service OVR can give you. Your comments,suggestions and criticisms are important.

If you are an applicant or a customer of OVR and are dissatisfied with a determination or service OVR is providing, please contact your counselor or your counselor’s supervisor to discuss your concerns. You may request a hearing before an impartial Hearing Officer. A written request for a hearing must be made within thirty (30) days. This request must be mailed to or filed with the Director, Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (BVRS), Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, 1521 North Sixth Street, Harrisburg, PA17102. An impartial Hearing Officer will be assigned to hear and decide your case. You will be given the opportunity for an informal administrative review prior to the impartial hearing. At any time during your program you may contact the Client Assistance Program for help.

The Client Assistance Program (CAP) works with you and your counselor to:

• Act as an advocate for your rights;
• Answer your questions about rehabilitation;
• Explain rules, regulations and procedures;
• Assist you through the appeal process; and
• Help you to establish and maintain open communication.

Any applicant for OVR services who wants general information or who would like CAP’s involvement during their rehabilitation program can contact CAP for assistance. If your case is about to be or already has been closed by OVR, you may ask CAP to review the case to ensure that you have received maximum benefits from OVR. To contact CAP, call this toll-free number 888-745-2357 Voice/TTY.

You are in charge of your rehabilitation program and must be willing to help yourself. You must participate actively in setting your vocational goals and work hard to achieve them. It is very important that you talk to your counselor about your needs, your deadlines and anything else that could speed up, slow down or stop you from starting and maintaining a career.Rehabilitation will work better if you:

• Keep all appointments, or call if you can’t be there
• Ask questions if you do not understand something
• Are honest about your needs and feelings
• Help yourself

When OVR does not have enough money to provide services to all eligible individuals, it is required to provide services according to an Order of Selection.Under an Order of Selection, a certain group (or groups)of individuals receive services while others are placed on an indefinite waiting list for when sufficient funds become available. OVR’s Order of Selection places all eligible individuals into one of three groups as follows:

• Individuals with the Most Significant Disabilities
• Individuals with Significant Disabilities
• All remaining eligible individuals

Should you be eligible for OVR services, your counselor will inform you if OVR is on an Order of Selection and whether you will be provided services or placed on a waiting list.

The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, or OVR, provides vocational rehabilitation services to help eligible people with disabilities prepare for, obtain or maintain employment.

The Jobs for All On-the-Job Training, or OJT, initiative provides opportunities for qualified OVR youth customers, age 25 and under, to enter into employment. OVR recognizes there are costs associated with training an employee to learn a new job. The Jobs for All OJT provides reimbursement of a percentage of an OVR customer’s wages to absorb some of these training costs.

In today’s job market, it is becoming more difficult for young people to obtain and acquire needed skills to compete in the 21st century job market. The Jobs for All OJT can assist employers in hiring and providing employment opportunities for OVR youth customers and in turn assist youth in building their skill sets. The key to the success of the Jobs for All OJT is flexibility with business and industry in meeting the unique needs of these youth.

The Jobs for All OJT allows a reimbursement of employee wages for internships and other non-permanent employment, either full-time or part-time. This may include summer youth employment, seasonal and temporary positions. Permanent employment positions are also eligible for Jobs for All OJT reimbursements for OVR youth customers.

OVR staff are available at no cost to provide support and resources to facilitate a successful outcome for both the business and the OVR youth customer. For permanent employment positions, OVR can provide technical support and certification of additional tax credits when employers hire qualified, job-ready OVR youth customers.

WHICH EMPLOYERS ARE ELIGIBLE?

Any employer that is able to provide on-the-job training and is in good standing with local, state and federal laws is eligible

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS TO EMPLOYERS?

The benefits to employers include the opportunity to interview and select from pre-screened, qualified, OVR youth customers and reimbursement of an OVR customer’s wages for the duration of the agreed-upon training period. Also, the employer is providing a young person an opportunity to enrich their employ ability skills and aid them in their preparation for future employment.

WHO QUALIFIES?

Any youth customer, age 25 and younger, referred by OVR qualifies.

WHAT HAPPENS AT THE END OF THE ON-THE-JOB TRAINING PERIOD?

For OVR youth customers involved in non-permanent employment, the customer will return to their current educational program enriched with new employ ability skills. For permanent employment, if performance standards are met, the OVR youth customer will be retained as a permanent employee with the employer taking over 100 percent of wages

HOW MUCH PAPERWORK?

An OJT contract and invoices for the wage reimbursement must be signed.

WHAT IS THE DURATION OF THE TRAINING PERIOD?

The training period is agreed upon by the employer and OVR.

A credit union is another place you can put your money and offers the same services as a bank. While anyone can open an account at a bank, to open an account at a credit union, you need to be part of a group that is allowed to join that credit union.

Before opening an account, visit different banks and credit unions to see what they offer. Check for fees you may have to pay and choose the bank and account that will best fit your needs.

A checking account lets you keep your money safe and still be able to spend it. Checking accounts let you pay for things without using cash, instead you can pay with a check or debit card.

Opening a checking account allows you to keep money safe while still being able to spend it. Checking accounts allow you to pay using debit cards or checks, get cash from automated teller machines (ATM), pay bills online, get access to loans, or cash checks from other people.

A savings account is for money you want to save. Savings accounts keep the money you are saving separate from the money you need to spend now.

Savings accounts help you save money for emergencies or financial goals, keep your money safe, keep money separate from the money you spend, and earn extra money through savings accounts that offer interest.

Putting money into an account is called a “deposit.” You deposit money into an account by:

• Going to the bank or credit union or using an ATM
• Having money directly deposited through your job or government benefits
• Transfer money from one account into another
• Some banks also offer online or mobile deposits

1. Look professional and be easy to read
2. Print on white, off-white, or ivory paper. No bright colors
3. Use a professional font, such as Times New Roman or Arial
4. Keep the font size between 10 and 12 points
5. Use single spacing
6. Keep margins to ½ to 1 inch around the page

1. Look for examples of resumes online so you can see different structures and layouts
2. Remember to proofread it and have someone else proofread it, if possible