News and Knowledge

Aaron Greene is a senior at Beachwood High School in Beachwood, Ohio. He is active in the marching band and enjoys playing music in his free time. Aaron participates in many community activities and enjoys spending time in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, where he hopes to live as an adult. He aspires to work in the music industry field after graduation from high school.

Beth Thompson, MSSA, is the teen/adult services coordinator for Milestones Autism Organization and principal staff for The Roadmap to Adulthood Project. Thompson serves on the Regional Transition Advisory Committee for State Support Team Region 3 where she participates in countywide event planning for students with disabilities graduating from high school. She is certified as a customized employment specialist.

Aaron Greene has always been a good student, but it took learning different skills to prepare him to become a good worker. In the summer of 2011, Greene got his first chance to practice the vocational skills he had learned in a community-based internship with Milestones Autism Organization, located just outside of Cleveland, Ohio. As an intern at Milestones, Greene worked with Teen/Adult Services Coordinator Beth Thompson.

Greene credits his family, teachers, and friends for helping him prepare for his first internship and begin his path towards a productive vocational future. He in turn, wants to pass on the most important things he learned about being a successful intern to other young people on the autism spectrum.

1. No cell phones: Remember that using your cell phone to call or text friends during work hours is not okay. Sometimes using your cell phone at work is okay, but sometimes it is not. You can use calendars and picture schedules on your cell phone to help you do your job. Remember to turn off your cell phone if you are not using it for work tasks.
2. Ask for help: It’s okay to ask for help at work. When asking for help, be polite and clear about what you need help with. Your supervisor or job coach can help you figure out the right person to ask for assistance.
3. Dress appropriately: Check with your supervisor or job coach about what the dress code is at your job. When dressing for work, use pictures of appropriate clothing to remind you of what you should wear. I had to remember, “khakis, nice shirt, no sneakers” when I got ready for work.
4. Have good grooming skills: It is important to be neat and clean at work. Use helpful websites like Do2Learn/JobTIPS that have printable visual reminders to get you in the habit of good grooming skills.
5. Use a job coach: Work with your IEP team and your local vocational rehabilitation agency to get supplemental support if you need it.
6. Use good voice volume: Some jobs require employees to speak loudly while other jobs require employees to speak more quietly. Be open to feedback from your coach/co-workers when you are speaking too loudly or too softly.
7. Follow directions: Just like in school, it is important to follow directions at work. If you do not understand the directions, ask your supervisor or job coach for help breaking down your tasks.
8. Come to work on time: It is important to arrive at work on time every day. An alarm on your cell phone or other portable devices may help you get ready and show up to work on time.
9. Have good typing skills: Learning to type well can help in many jobs that require computer skills. Take classes in keyboarding or Excel to improve your typing.
10. Have good manners: It is important to be polite to others you work with. Remember to say “please” and “thank you.” Stay calm if you are upset about something and ask for help when you need it.
11. Computers are for work: It can be helpful to keep a list of activities that are okay to do at work on the computer by your desk. If you are unsure about what is okay to do at work, ask your job coach or supervisor to help you make a list.
12. Introduce yourself and get to know your co-workers: Introduce yourself to co-workers. Tell them your name and ask them their name. Think about and practice brief conversations you can have with your co-workers, such as asking about their weekend or about a hobby. Write down information you learn about co-workers on index cards to help you remember topics you can talk to them about.
13. Stay safe: Follow your work’s safety rules; ask if you do not know them. Always tell your supervisor if you get hurt while at work. Write an emergency or safety plan with your supervisor and job coach in case anything happens when you are at work, and make sure your co-workers know who to call in case of an emergency.
14. Clean up after yourself: Make sure you clean up after yourself wherever you are working. Put supplies back where they go. Put trash in the garbage. Wipe down the table where you eat your lunch or snacks. Check to make sure your work area is neat before you leave.
15. Make sure you have transportation: Develop a plan for getting to and from work. Talk to your parents or other family members about your options. If necessary, get training on how to use local transportation such as a bus or train.

Due to Greene’s use of appropriate accommodations and resources, he was asked to come back to Milestones after his designated internship ended. His growing independence made it possible for Milestones and Greene’s school staff to relinquish the job coach for the remainder of the summer. Following his successful experience at Milestones, he was accepted into an eight-week work-preparation program for transition-aged students with disabilities. He credits his first internship at Milestones for his continued success moving forward in developing a career path.

Milestones Autism Organization was founded in 2003 by parents to promote life-long strategies for success for individuals with autism, from childhood through adulthood. To improve the level of educational and therapeutic programming available for individuals with autism, Milestones focuses on training professionals, paraprofessionals, and parents in research-based interventions. For more information about Milestones, please visit www.milestones.org.