Intensive Support • Ages 14-16 • Goal 1:
Set Employment Goals
Action step 1.
Think about jobs and careers related to interests and skills.
What do you like to do most? What are you good at? What do you need help with? Even if you need support, you may be interested in certain:
- Topics, like art, history or science
- Places and activities
- Sensory experiences. These are things that stimulate (activate) your senses, including sight, smell, hearing, touch and taste.
Linking your interests and skills to a future job is a good starting point for employment.
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Words to know
Action step 2.
Include employment assessments and goals in the IEP transition plan.
Employment assessment is part of IEP transition planning that begins sometime between ages 14 and 16. Timing of planning depends on state law. You and your parents participate in transition planning meetings with the IEP team and help set employment goals. For many students, a job skills assessment is a first step in the transition process.
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Words to know
Intensive Support • Ages 14-16 • Goal 2:
Begin to Manage Money
Action step 1.
Learn basic money management.
Learning to manage money can be challenging. Budgeting and planning for expenses can be hard to understand. Hands-on, visual activities, like token systems and shopping in classroom stores, can help you understand how earning money, budgeting and buying things all work together.
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Action step 2.
Use supports to help with shopping.
Supports can help you learn to shop, place orders and buy things. The right supports can help reduce anxiety and make you feel more confident about shopping. Examples of shopping supports include:
- Using spoken, typed or visual scripts to practice ordering food or paying a cashier
- Using a visual schedule or picture cards to make shopping lists
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Words to know
Action step 3.
Start planning for Supplemental Security Income.
When you turn 18 you apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). SSI is money for people with disabilities who have limited income. You have to apply for SSI at age 18, even if you already had it when you were younger. It can take a long time to apply. So get started early, well before you turn 18.
Resources
Words to know
You’ve reached the end of the action steps for this support level and age group.
- To find services and providers in your area, visit our Resource Guide.
- For direct contact with a member of our Autism Response Team, call 1-888-AUTISM2 (1-888-288-4762) or en Español 1-888-772-9050.
- Send an email to: help@autismspeaks.org.
