WORK OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUMErnst VanBergeijk, Ph.D., M.S.W.

Associate Dean & Executive Director

New York Institute of Technology

Vocational Independence Program

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Work

Independence

Relationships

adulthood

• Civic involvement? Parenthood?• Spiritual development? Other?

WHAT CONSTITUTES A “GOOD” ADULT LIFE?

WHAT IS THE CURRENT NATIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATE? Approximately 5.1.% (U.S. Dept. Labor)

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WHAT IS THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES? According to the U.S Department of Labor, Bureau of

Labor Statistics, approximately 12.1% of people with disabilities are unemployed (BLS, 2015). This is for all disabilities Over the age of 16 and not living in institutions or in the

military

There are no systematically collected data by the government for individuals on the autism spectrum.

Range on the optimistic side = 44% (Source: ABC News) up to 65%

Anecdotal evidence suggests that the unemployment rate for individuals with ASDs may be around 90%

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SURGE IN THE ASD POPULATION

CDC 1 out of 68 children has an ASD

Early intervention & the application of empirically based treatment has led to better outcomes

Students with this diagnosis are coming of age

The growing AS population entering colleges and the work force bring unique challenges

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WHY IS THIS A ‘NEW’ ISSUE TODAY?Changes in labor economyMovement to a knowledge based economy has increased the educational requirements of entry level work

Education Matters!

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EDUCATION MATTERS

• Participation in any type of post secondary education (vocational education, college certificate program or even one college course) significantly enhances the ability of individuals with disabilities to secure meaningful employment (Getzel & Wehman, 2005)

• Students with disabilities who earn a B.A. degree obtain subsequent employment at almost the same rate as their neurotypical peers (HEATH Resource Center, 1998; OSER, 2000).

WEEKLY MEDIAN INCOME BY EDUCATION (2014)

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ter's

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ree

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lor's

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ree

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ate

Less

than

a h

igh

scho

ol d

iplom

a$0

$200

$400

$600

$800

$1,000

$1,200

$1,400

$1,600

$1,800

Source: Current Population Survey, 2014 Bureau of Labor Statistics

2012 MEDIAN EARNINGS FOR FULL TIME YEAR-ROUND

WORKERS BY EDUCATION LEVEL

Not a

hig

h sc

hool

gra

duat

e

High

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ate

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y no

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egre

e

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ter's

deg

ree

Docto

ral/p

rofe

ssio

nal d

egre

e$0

$20,000

$40,000

$60,000

$80,000

$100,000

Series 1

Source: Employment Projections program, U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012

EDUCATION AND LIFE TIME EARNINGS

Educational attainment Synthetic work-life earnings • None to 8th grade. 936,000 • 9th to 12th grade. 1,099,000 • High school graduate. 1,371,000 • Some college. 1,632,000 • Associate’s degree . 1,813,000 • Bachelor’s degree. 2,422,000 • Master’s degree. 2,834,000

• Professional degree. 4,159,000 • Doctorate degree. 3,525,000

Source: Work-Life Earnings by Field of Degree and Occupation for People With a Bachelor’s Degree: 2011

By Tiffany Julian. Issued October 2012. American Community Survey Briefs

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN PERCENTAGES (2015)

Source: The Economics Daily, Unemployment rates by educational attainment in August 2015

Doctoral degree

Professional degree

Master's degree

Bachelor's degree

Associate degree

Some college, no degree

High-school graduate

Less than a high school diploma

All Workers

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?

A surge of young people who need a different path to access work, relationships, and independence

All young people need to be as educated as possible to access the range of occupational choices

Without a college degree, jobs in the service sector are most available

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20 FASTEST GROWING OCCUPATIONS 2012-2022Occupation % Growth Median Annual

Salary 2012 Training Required

Organizational Psychologist

53 $83,580 Ph.D.

Personal Care Aides 49 $19,910 Short term OTJ

Home Health Aides 48 $20, 820 Short term OTJ

Insulation workers 47 $39, 170 OJT - Apprentice

Interpreters/translators 46 $45,430 BA + Short term OTJ

Diagnostic Medical Sonographers

46 $65,860 AA

Helpers – brick masons etc.

43 $28,220 Short term OTJ

O.T. Assistants 43 $53,240 AA + licensure

Genetic Counselors 41 $56,800 M.S. or Ph.D.

P.T. Assistants 41 $52,160 AA + licensure

Source: Occupational Outlook Handbook 2014-2015

20 FASTEST GROWING OCCUPATIONS 2012-2022…CONTINUEDOccupation %

GrowthMedian Annual Salary 2012

Training Required

P.T. Aides 41 $23,880 Short term OTJ

Skincare Specialist 41 $28,640 Postsecondary non-degree award

Physician Assistant 40 $90,930 M.S. + licensure

Segmental Pavers 40 $33,720 Moderate term OTJ

Helpers- Electricians 38 $27,670 Short term OTJ

Information Security Analysts

38 $86,170 B.A.

O.T. Aides 37 $26,850 Short term OTJ

Health specialist instructor post-secondary

37 $81,140 Ph.D. or MS. Experience if in trades

Medical Secretaries 36 $31,350 High School. Basic computer.

Physical Therapists 36 $79,860 DPT + licensure

Source: Occupational Outlook Handbook 2014-2015

MOST NEW JOBS 2012-2022

Occupation # of Jobs Median Annual Salary 2012

Training Required

Personal Care Aides 580,800 $19,910 Short term OTJ

Registered Nurses 526,800 $65,470 B.S.N.

Retail Salespersons 434,700 $21,110 H.S. diploma or less. OTJ

Home Health Aides 424,200 $20, 820 Short term OTJ

Food Prep & Fast food 421,900 $18,260 H.S. diploma or less

Nursing Assistants 312,200 $24,420 Stated approved program + competency exam

Secretaries (general) 307,800 $32,410 High School diploma

Customer Service Rep. 298,700 $30,580 H.S. + Short term OTJ

Janitors & Cleaners 280,000 $23,320 H.S. <+ Short term OTJ

Construction Laborers 259,800 $29,990 Short term OTJ

Source: Occupational Outlook Handbook 2014-2015

MOST PROJECTED NEW JOBS 2012-2022

Occupation # of Jobs Median Annual Salary 2012

Training Required

Operation managers 244,100 $95,440 BA

Laborers, Stock 241,900 $23,890 H.S.<+ Short term OTJ

Carpenters 218,200 $39,940 H.S. + Apprenticeship

Bookkeeping, Accounting, Clerks

204,600 $35,170 H.S. + Moderate OTJ

Truck Drivers 192,600 $38,200 Postsecondary non-degree award + Short Term OTJ

Medical Secretaries 189,200 $31,350 H.S. Diploma + industry specific training

Office Clerks, general 184,100 $27,470 H.S. Diploma + OTJ

Child care workers 184,100 $19,510 H.S. Diploma + OTJ

Maids, Housekeeping 183,400 $19,570 H.S. Diploma < + OTJ

Licensed Practical Nurses 182,900 $41,540 Postsecondary non-degree award

Source: Occupational Outlook Handbook 2014-2015

TOP 50 EMPLOYERS OF 2015 READERS CHOICE AWARDS OF CAREER & DISABLED MAGAZINE

1. Verizon2. GE3. Google4. Amazon5. State Farm6. Merck7. Lockheed Martin8. American Express9.Boston Scientific10.General Dynamics11. Oracle12. Boeing

13. Kellogg’s 14. Apple15. Intel16. KPMG17. Honda

18. Comcast/Universal19. GAP20. Prudential21. CSX22. Nike 23. Hyatt24. Ford25. AT & T

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TOP 50 EMPLOYERS OF 2015 READERS CHOICE AWARDS OF CAREER & DISABLED MAGAZINE… CONTINUED

26. CVS 27. General Motors 28. Liberty Mutual29. Johnson & Johnson30. Genentech31. Aetna32. Phillips33. Wells Fargo34. Northwest Mutual

35. EY36. Marriott37. Amgen38. USAA

39. PSEG40.  Ball Aerospace41. BASF42. Astrazeneca43. CA Technologies44. Century Link45. Grant Thorton46. T. Rowe Price47. Reynolds America48. Life Technologies49. Owens and Minor50. Capital One

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TOP 20 GOVERNMENT EMPLOYERS OF 2014 READERS CHOICE AWARDS OF CAREER & DISABLED MAGAZINE

1. U.S. Department of Justice2. National Security Agency3. National Credit Union4. U.S. Department of Education5. Social Security Administration 6. Internal Revenue Service7. U.S Department of Agriculture8. U.S. Department of Commerce9. NAVSEA10. Naval Research Laboratory

11. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

12. U.S. Air Force

13. U.S. Department of Labor14. U.S. Patent & Trademark15. U.S. Department of State16. U.S. Coast Guard17. FBI

18. NAVAIR19. Military Sealift Command20. U.S. Marines

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