Many people look down and scorn individuals who have autism, believing that they’ll never make anything of themselves in society. This is a terrible way to think; autistic individuals may act a little differently, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t capable of functioning in society.
If you yourself are autistic or you have a friend or family member who is, their different ways of viewing the world may make them the perfect candidates for certain jobs. Here are three skills that autistic people tend to excel at, making it easier for them to carve their way towards certain occupations.
- Animal-Related Careers
Many children and adults who are autistic tend to have an easier time being around animals than people. They tend to be much calmer and be able to focus more easily on tasks put before them. This could be because they know the animals they’re with aren’t going to judge them or have no expectations of their behaviour. This probably gives them the space they need to sort out problems and overcome challenges in their own time. Working with animals also improves an autistic child’s sense of empathy.
Any job training for autistic adults in this field could involve becoming dog trainers, pet sitters, veterinarians, or pet groomers, just to name a few.
- Manufacturing
Autistic individuals tend to hyper-focus on certain tasks before them and have to complete them before they’re able to work on something else. This is why manufacturing jobs are perfect for them, as the repetitive movements and ordered environment keeps their brains fixed on the jobs they’re given.
Manufacturing jobs could include anything from working on cars and computers to working on special-made items that are essential to people’s lives. It’s definitely an option to consider.
- Science-Related Fields
Autistic adults and children tend to pay attention to every single detail of whatever is laid out before them. For this reason, they’re very good at unraveling the mysteries so that they can figure out how something works, down to its barest bones.
Because of this, autistic individuals are well-suited for science fields. There are strict criteria and procedures involved in the process, which they would fit well in. They’re not going to miss any details either, comparing the results of different experiments until they’ve found the answer that they’re looking. Great jobs in this field could include researchers, lab technicians, or scientists.
The world is already set up to not be in favour of those who are different from the norm. Autistic individuals are already ridiculed for the way they behave, and it’s even more difficult for them to find employment in the future. But by focusing on what you or your loved one are good at, it’s easy to see that there are paths you can excel in. It just requires you to take the first step and seek assistance to see what would fit.
Find a mentor or a live coach to help steer you in the right direction so that you don’t have to endure this burden all by yourself.