Employment Services for you kid

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Anybody on here have any experience paying for a private service that helps to guide your kid through a work environment? I've seen them on the internet and the one I am looking at is outrageously expensive!! I'm not talking about the state Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation. My experience with them is that they are too slow. Not someone that your kid has a working relationship with courtesy of the school system they are in either. I'm talking about a private service.

Reason why I ask is because I am looking into one for myself.

We have not reached that juncture, yet, but I have a feeling that there are a lot of unscrupulous businesses in this field, so I don't blame you for trying to get a recommendation and for trying to find something that is not ridiculously expensive.

I would not be surprised if the most legitimate sources are free or have some kind of sliding scale fee, as I think a bona fide organization designed for helping people on the spectrum as opposed to being designed to maximize profit would have a better success rate then a predatory company. (I am not saying they all are predatory, but they give me a sketchy vibe)

If you can't find any recommendations here, I would suggest looking at local organizations where you live ( either for autism or disabilities in general ) for guidance. They may have some very good knowledge of what assistance is available in your area.

Yeah there was one that I saw advertised in the Jessica Kingsley Publishers Catalogue. The cost of the job coaching itself in addition to the book is $115.00 per hour. You have two choices. You can either buy these hours in blocks of 3 or 5 per week. I have a phone call I must attend to tonight with a guy who offers his services on a sliding scale fee. I was told by one of the leading members of the Autism Society of Greater Cincinnati that he was an awesome resource.

Well the way I see it you have two options:


(A) Join a local support group. Now I've never joined one so I can't say this is a fact but I will give my opinion. That might be good for solidarity or meeting brothers and sisters in arms but I can't see that bearing much fruit....To me that would be like the blind leading the blind....Keep in mind I'm not saying that my opinion is fact! It most likely isn't.


(B) Pay thousands of dollars for a specialized job coach......Uuuuuuhhhh.....Yeah you could make this one work if you are crafty enough. Or if you have the money or know where to get money to pay for this. I have a thought. Join a support group, get as many friends as you can find with the exact type of disability that you have and see if you guys can't figure out a way to copay for the services. Though I am sure there are laws against it and if you do decide to take that route I don't want to know about it.


Those are the two choices society offers.


My rule of thumb is this: Whenever society in general offers you either option A or option B to help solve your dilemma, know that there is third option C hidden somewhere within the establishment specially designated to help you. This is usually the best option. But you must search for it.


Try contacting different people that you can within your cities' Autism Society and see if they have someone there that would be willing to work with you on you goals that has a sliding scale fee. Meaning they will charge you based on your income level. Tell them about your employment goals and see what they have to say.



"The will of the people must be maintained" (Sun Tzu, The Art of War)

Isn't there some SSI budget that can pay (part of) that service?
The netherlands offer a 'backpack' or 'personal budget', which can be used to pay for just this kind of services, in addition to any therapy that you need but isn't covered by 'general' extended health insurance

My plan is to find some type of job my son enjoys and talk to the manager of the place so that we can both be hired...hehe then I'll help him and either get paid or do it as a volunteer, I don't care.