Vocational Training and Autism (Update)

First Ever Program

The Hartford Courant is reporting on a test program being proposed that would offer job training for young adults on the Autism Spectrum.

There's a bill in the Connecticut Legislature that would fund job training for 100 young adults on the Autism Spectrum. The program would be run by The Department of Developmental Service and The Bureau of Rehabilitative Services over a two year period.

Some Challenges

There are several issues the program will need to address. The program will need to hire job coaches who understand the challenges of Autism. Part of the training needs to be in soft skills. Interpersonal interactions could be a weakness for the autistic worker.  And...the program needs to be much larger.

The bill funds a two year pilot program and will offer measurable results.

100 young adults barely scratches the surface. It is estimated there are over 54,000 persons with Autism Spectrum Disorders in Connecticut. Most adults lack services needed to be employed, and most adults with Autism are unemployed. Jobs are crucial as parents age and are no longer able to care for their adult children.

High Unemployment Rate

A huge majority of adults on the Autism Spectrum are unemployed. Among those with developmental issues, the rate of unemployment. According to an article in Forbes, about 18% have a job and 14% are in college. Yet, over half of those on the spectrum have IQ's that are average or above. If we were to do something about this, many more individuals would be contributing to our society instead of collecting ever decreasing benefits. By focusing on the needs of individuals, Their self-esteem and self-worth would increase, and all of us would benefit.

Unemployment Rate and African Americans

Black unemployment rate is consistently twice that of whites

Unemployment for African Americans is twice the rate for Whites. It has been that way since the 1950's when the Bureau of Labor Statistics started keeping track.  According to an article published by Fact Tank (Which is part Pew Research), the statistics are, in part, a result of Last In First Out (LIFO). The current unemployment rate among African Americans is 13.4% as opposed to 6.7% for whites. Couple this with the rate for African American teens at 43% and, you have a grim statistic. At the same time corporate profits are at an all-time high.

Corporate Profits Soar To Record, Now More Than Double Their Peak Under Ronald Reagan
The job creators...as they were called in the last election...are not creating enough jobs despite record profits. And, the jobs they are creating are low wage.

New jobs disproportionately low-pay or part-time

Back in the days when I was a history major (I went on to other things) there were studies about the growing tensions created when the income gap between the top 1% and the other 99% got too wide. The result was turmoil and revolution. So far we've avoided that in this country because of the strength of the middle class.The Progressives from the early 20th century understood this and, did something had to be done to break the corporate stranglehold on American or we would pay the consequences. The middle class is being deeply eroded. Minorities are suffering the most with the highest unemployment rates. 

How long can we continue on our current path? Is congress really going to stand up for us? We elect congress. I think we can do something about this.