An integral component of ICare4Autism’s Global Autism Center for Research and Education in Jerusalem will be the world’s first comprehensive autism workforce development initiative which will encompass workforce entry services for high school students with autism, post-transition supportive services, vocational and employment services ranging from semi-skilled to high functioning individuals, and a special targeted program to place persons with Asperger’s Syndrome in technology sector jobs.
Workforce Entry Services
Services to provide high school students with autism with the opportunity to discover their interests and abilities by participating in a variety of vocational experiences, and works with students and their families to develop realistic transition plans when preparing to leave school and enter the workforce. Also includes post-transition supportive services and independent life skills reinforcement.
Vocational and Employment Services: Semi-Skilled
Individuals are trained for and placed in (or work as subcontractors on) jobs performing tasks such as light assembly, packaging, recycling, collating, lawn and garden work, etc. In addition to learning specific job skills, each person receives initial training and ongoing coaching in areas such as appropriate work habits, attitudes and behavior, and social skills required by community employers.
Vocational and Employment Services: High Functioning
Individuals are trained for and placed in (or work as subcontractors on) jobs that build off their existing strengths and personality traits in such areas as computer programming, maintenance and operation of machines and equipment, laboratory technician, animal training and care, horticulture, handicrafts, photography, etc. In addition to learning specific job skills, each person receives initial training and ongoing coaching in areas such as appropriate work habits, attitudes and behavior, and social skills required by community employers.
High Level Employment Services for Persons with Asperger’s Syndrome: Technology Sector
In recognition to the large number of opportunities in this high growth sector and the unique skills that persons with Asperger’s possess which can lead to high level career opportunities, this service provides individuals with a customized job plan, job coach, skills training to help their job searches (resume building, applications, interviewing, etc.) and ongoing on-the-job training and support.
This initiative will offer unique opportunities to Israelis with autism, their families and – by creating new high value-added private sector opportunities – the entire community. By creating an urgently needed replicable model, it will also have global reach as well as local impact.
