ABU DHABI // A disability service is calling on employers to give young people with autism a chance to prove their abilities.
Adam Griffin, who works for Stepping Stones Centre for Autistic Spectrum Disorders in Dubai, said they were working with businesses and the chamber of commerce to provide work opportunities.
“One of the main barriers to the success of people with autism in the workplace is people’s preconceived notions of their abilities,” said Mr Griffin, an occupational therapist and vocational educator.
“Once they give our students the opportunity to demonstrate their skills they can see how, with a small amount of support, they would be a valuable addition to the workforce.
“All our students require is the chance to show what they can do, not what they can’t do.”
Stepping Stones, which has its base in California and was established in Dubai in 2007, provides therapies and educational services for children, teenagers and young adults with autism.
It started a programme last year in Dubai that gives teenagers skills to help them integrate into the community.
"It's a transitional service preparing students with disabilities, mostly autism, to transition from the minimum responsibility in the supported environment of school age into the more challenging responsibility and demanding environment of either a workplace or adult life," Mr Griffin said.
The programme was set up to fill a gap in services for teenagers and young adults with disabilities, which is a problem around the world.
"There are a lot of services for children with disabilities but it tends to fall away a bit as the children get older and into their teens, and more responsibility is expected of them," Mr Griffin said.
The skills they learn on the year-long programme are tailored to the abilities of each child.
Domestic tasks are tackled and some are taught to manage their finances, hold a bank account and use public transport.
Other topics include how to follow a schedule, teamwork, how to take criticism and what would be expected of them in a job.
Practical activities include making a shopping list of ingredients for a specific meal, buying them and preparing it.
Work placements are also organised, including two weeks at Dubai’s Jumeirah College.
“The students had been very well prepared and approached the experience with mature attitudes,” said Sian Rowles, vice principal of the college.
“After making a positive first impression during their preliminary visit, our interns continued to impress by completing meaningful administrative tasks, which were matched sensitively to their skills, with great success.”
For many parents of autism sufferers, the big concern is not about passing exams but what happens as they get older, said Mr Griffin, from Ireland.
“A big hope is that the child is going to be as independent as they can be, and be as safe and happy as possible as an adult, and that’s the main driving force,” he said.
Five pupils between the ages of 14 and 18 took part in last year’s course and this year’s programme will be at the Stepping Stones offices in Dubai Healthcare City.
The centre is working with students between the ages of 16 and 21, and is talking to more families each week.
Mr Griffin would like to hear from companies that can provide work opportunities for the teenagers.
“The work placements would be supported fully by Stepping Stones,” he said.
“I want to give our students the opportunity to pursue their own interests in the workplace. If they are doing something they are genuinely interested in then their performance is massively increased.”
Mr Griffin said a range of roles could be suitable, including those with social contact.
The UAE will hold its first international disabilities and special-needs conference next year to share expertise and discuss ways of increasing inclusion in schools and workplaces.
ABILITIESme takes place at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre from March 24 to 26.
“One of the big parts of the conference is about integration into the workplace and that’s what we are fighting for this year for our vocational programme,” Mr Griffin said.
“We want to get commitments from large companies, large multinational companies even, to get them to open their doors to the idea of employees with disabilities.”
Dr Bassel Shaaban, a paediatrician at Abu Dhabi’s Al Noor Hospital, said young people with autism had a lot to offer employers.
“Some of them even have advantages in certain areas,” Dr Shaaban said. They included music, maths and memory.
But “it’s not the same in all children”, he added, stressing that autism had a broad spectrum of symptoms.
"Each and every child with autism has a different presentation," Dr Shaaban said. "He might be having some weaknesses in such areas and he might be having strengths in other areas."
Companies interested in offering work placements should email agriffin@steppingstonesca.com.
ecleland@thenational.ae
