Autism Services: Making the Grade for Schooling and Employment

I originally started this post as a comment on a facebook group, but I decided it was good enough to post on my blog. I find there are more services for children with AS than adults. Still, our province (Alberta) has some good programs for adults such as AISH (a disability system separate from welfare where individuals with disabilities who are unable to work full time can receive assistance and still earn some additional income). They also have employment training services such as onsite placement that works with people with disabilities in finding employment (including helping place those with university degrees in a program appropriate to their education). I would like to see more services specifically for high functioning adults on the spectrum though such as friendship or social skills groups. I would especially like to see services specific to university students and professionals with Asperger Syndrome as they are a growing group.

Alberta has some excellent children’s autism programs ranging from autism specific classrooms (often with the goal to integrate children back into mainstream classrooms by junior high school), social skills and early intervention groups provided by places such as the Glenrose rehabilitation hospital, and others. However, some parents are still concerned (as I mentioned in an earlier post and I tend to agree with this) that some of the services are too cookie-cutter to meet a child’s specific needs as every child on the spectrum is different. Also, it may be difficult to integrate a child who has been in a special education setting for years back into a mainstream classroom. For instance, a student with average to above average intellect may not receive academics appropriate to their intelligence level in a special education classroom even if the desperately need the help with communication or social skills. Also, an autism spectrum specific classroom may not necessarily address a child’s other potential challenges such as if they have a learning or physical disability in addition to being on the autism spectrum.

I would like to close by saying Alberta has better services than most of the provinces in the country and that some families move here specifically for autism services. However, like everywhere, there is still room for improvement.