Presentation Overview

1. Self-Employment: A Customized Career Strategy for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) • Kim Cordingly, Ph.D., Lead Consultant • and • Melanie Whetzel, M.A., Senior Consultant

2. Presentation Overview • Introduction to JAN services • Consultant team collaboration • Overview of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) • ASD limitations and employment • ASD accommodations – an overview • Self-employment; microenterprise; customized employment • Benefits and challenges • Overview of the business development process • Examples from JAN’s customers • Questions and answers

3. Autism Self-Employment • Overview • Job Accommodation • Americans with Disabilities Act / Rehabilitation Act • Entrepreneurship

4. Autism Self-Employment

5. Autism Self-Employment • Overview – Entrepreneurship Team • Accessible by toll free phone/TTY, chat, Email, JAN on Demand • Comprehensive intake process • Individualized consulting and resource materials • Provide local, state and national resources • Ongoing electronic and telephone access and support • JAN entrepreneurship Website access • For-profit, non-profit, • customized self-employment, • home-based business, independent contracting

6. Autism Self-Employment • Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) • Complex neurodevelopmental disorder that exists on a spectrum characterized by difficulties in social interaction; verbal and nonverbal communication; and sensory processing. • Recent revisions to the DSM-5 combined several previously separate diagnosis into the umbrella of ASD, including Asperger Syndrome (DSM-5). • ASD is the fastest growing developmental disability in the U.S. (Autism Speaks).

7. Autism Self-Employment • Limitations that may affect self-employment or small business ownership include: • Communication • Social skills • Sensory processing • Time management • Stress management • Organization and prioritization • Multi-tasking

8. Autism Self-Employment • Difficulty communicating with business development counselors, customers, funding professionals, and business mentors: • Inability to carry on conversations • Immature speech • Lack intonation and emotion • Difficulty interpreting typical body language or nonverbal innuendo

9. Autism Self-Employment • Difficulty exhibiting typical social skills as small business owner: • Interrupting others inappropriately • Difficulty in listening • Not making eye contact when communicating • Difficulty interpreting typical body language or social cues • Anxiety over appropriate social conventions in business contexts

10. Autism Self-Employment • Difficulty processing sensory stimuli • Experiencing oversensitivity to stimuli in the work environment affecting: • Touch • Sights • Sounds • Smells

11. Autism Self-Employment • Difficulty with organization, prioritization, and multi-tasking • Feeling overloaded with the multiple responsibilities of being self-employed or managing a business • Difficulty managing multiple tasks at the same time • Skills in one area but not another (e.g., good with photography but not accounting) • Not knowing which task takes priority over another • Not recognizing when supports and accommodations are needed

12. Autism Self-Employment • Workplace Contrasts

13. Autism Self-Employment • Employment and ASD • CDC - 1 in 68 children diagnosed with ASD (2014) • Young people with ASDs transitioning from high school had the worst employment outcomes compared to peers w/ other types of disabilities (2013) “The traditional job development approach is like retail - looking for jobs that already exist and are sitting on the shelf. It is as if you are saying 'I want to buy a box of jobs.' That doesn't work well. Forreally effective employment, the jobs will have to be off the grid. It will have to be something that matches the needs and skills each person with autism can bring to the job.” – Cary Griffin

14. Autism Self-Employment • Benefits of Self-Employment • Customized approach • Accommodation opportunities • Social Security advantages and • accumulation of assets • Integration in community • Employment creation • Resolve transportation issues • Autonomy and ownership • Increased flexibility • Economic development (e.g., hiring others with disabilities; job creation) • Fulfills a dream and lifelong interests

15. Autism Self-Employment • Potential Challenges • General risks of starting a business • Inadequate or inaccurate information • Financial concerns related to interaction with benefits • Funding and credit challenges • Health insurance and coverage issues • Proper supports and agency cooperation • Health challenges • Lack of appropriate supports

16. Autism Self-Employment • Many challenges • can be overcome • with proper planning • and supports!

17. Autism Self-Employment • Entrepreneurial Strategies • Self-employment • Small business • Microenterprise • Customized self-employment • Home-based business • Independent contractor • Business within a business • Family business • Non-profit organizations& social enterprise

18. Autism Self-Employment • Customized Self-Employment • “The customized self-employment process unites person-centered planning strategies with the development of a business plan. The goal is to develop an individualized, profitable, and sustainable microenterprise.” • (WI Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Customized Self-Employment Toolkit)

19. Autism Self-Employment • Keys to Success • A really good business idea • Individualized – no one is the same • Building on abilities and interests • Appropriate support system throughout the process • Family support • Mentorship in one’s field • A business/self-employment plan • Financing options • Assistance with benefits planning • Accommodations built into the design of business

20. Autism Self-Employment • Steps to Self-Employment • Discovery, information gathering and/or initial feasibility • Benefits planning • Business planning • Networks and communities of support • Mentoring process • Financing • Ongoing support - sustainability

21. Autism Self-Employment • Accommodation Ideas - Communicating • Prepare well ahead of time for important meetings to help reduce anxiety • Write out questions/information ahead of time • Use alternative communication methods (e.g. electronic) when appropriate • Practice face-to-face interaction and cues with a trusted friend or mentor before a meeting • Have a support team to discuss issues that may arise along the way

22. Autism Self-Employment • Accommodation Ideas – Time Management • Use a handheld calendar system to organize contacts, appointments, and a daily schedule • Have a checklist of things to do • Focus on doing one task at a time using a timer if helpful • Divide large tasks into smaller ones • Outsource certain tasks such as accounting • Include a mentor, family member, or friend in a meeting for extra support (e.g., bank) and to help keep topics on track

23. Autism Self-Employment • Accommodation Ideas – Reducing Sensory Distractions • Use noise cancelling headphones, choose a quiet workspace, or use a white noise machine • Reduce clutter in any workspace and maintain organization • Schedule meetings in locations with low noise levels • Know your triggers and have strategies in place should they occur (e.g., anxiety and panic) • Use a coach, mentor, or counselor to work on problematic situations

24. Autism Self-Employment • Accommodation Ideas – Organization and Prioritization • Use a daily list to prioritize activities • Develop a filing system using color coding, subject areas – a habitual system • Use time flexibly – good days and bad days • Before a crisis, call on mentor or coach • Focus on your strengths and delegate other tasks

25. Autism Self-Employment • Accommodation Ideas – Social Skills • Use a coach or mentor to help understand different social cues • Use role play scenarios to demonstrate appropriate social skills encountered in the business environment • Work from home/telework to manage daily in-person interaction • Limit attendance at professional meetings and find alternative ways to network • Practice social interaction in different environments – computer, telephone, email, and social media

26. Autism Self-Employment • Types of Business • Computer programming & repair • Financial planner/accountant • Pet business (e.g., dog walker, grooming, sitter) • Food business (e.g., bakery, restaurant, food cart) • Agriculture (e.g., herb farm, community agriculture) • Engineer • Graphic design • Automobile repair or detailing • Handmade furniture • Home inspection • Freelance writer or editor

27. Autism Self-Employment • Financing Options • Disability specific programs (e.g., CRPs, VR) • Blended and braiding funding (e.g., agencies collaborate to combine resources) • Microloans • Asset development programs – Individual development accounts (IDAs) • Social Security work incentives (e.g., PASS Plan) • Economic development funds • Personal and family savings • Resource ownership • One Stop funding – Individual training accounts

28. Autism Self-Employment • “Margaret” • Conservation scientist • Diagnosed later in life • Business idea -- writer and consultant • Concerned with social interactions and reading social cues • Anxiety and depression • Lack of self-confidence • Limited agency support • Limited work experience/volunteering • Accommodations

29. Autism Self-Employment • “Alex” • Worked in higher education – compliance issues in intercollegiate athletics • Passionate interest and knowledge in subject • Interested in starting nonprofit based on these issues • Strong focus on ethics • Struggled with workplace politics • Difficulty with organizing, prioritizing, time management, and perfectionism • Struggled to move forward with his business plan

30. Autism Self-Employment • “Thomas” • Engineer in private sector • Left job due to high anxiety in work setting • Independent contracting • Government contracts • Financial loss (e.g., foreclosure, limited financial resources) • In process of applying for SSDI • Believed flexibility and increasing control over workload would make continuation in his field possible

31. Autism Self-Employment • “Joseph” • Contacted by parent • Young man in transition • Gifted photographer • Limited support system • Wanted to shift supports away from family/increased independence • Financed on family credit cards • Ways to expand support system since he had trust issues • Difficulty meeting with counselors due to sensory issues

32. Autism Self-Employment • “Leonard” • Called the same day and time every week for over one year • Artist and sculptor • History of being bullied • Ways to market and sell his products • Unsuccessful experience working with VR and other agencies • Distrustful of government programs • Limited family support • Received Social Security (SSI) • Difficulty with communication and social cues

33. Autism Self-Employment • “Kathy” • Contacted by parent • Customized self-employment • Loves animals and dogs in particular • Pet business (e.g., dog walking, grooming) • Extensive family supports • Financing through family • Unfamiliar with how to market the business • Accommodation questions about social piece of the business • Accountants familiar with Social Security issues

34. Autism Self-Employment

35. Autism Self-Employment

36. Autism Self-Employment • Contact • (800)526-7234 (V) & (877)781-9403 (TTY) • (304) 216-8189 via Text • AskJAN.org & jan@askjan.org • janconsultants via Skype

37. Questions?