Autism Soccer: Five Jobs Autistic Individuals Are Perfectly Suited for

This condition is not considered a hindrance but an asset in these jobs!

More often than not, people that live on the autism spectrum might feel like there isn’t a place for them in the world. When everyone else is looking for career opportunities and college applications, it’s pretty normal that they feel lost or overwhelmed. Where do they belong? But being born this way doesn’t mean that they can’t find success or feel fulfilled in life. After all, it doesn’t really matter who we are, we all have to do the same if we want to understand where we are heading: we have to look into ourselves to find our strengths and use them in our favor.

It’s no different for autistic individuals. While it’s true that finding a stable job is harder, that’s changing every day. As we continue to raise awareness and destroy myths surrounding autism, we’re becoming a more inclusive society ready to value all the talents and potential that autistic adults can offer to the world! If you’re a parent, help your child explore their abilities and find out what they like from an early age, so there’s nothing that can’t stop them in the future.

Professor Grandin, from Colorado State University, explains that both high and low functioning autistic individuals have poor short-term working memory. This means that jobs that involve retaining important information for a short period of time might result very stressing for them. That way, jobs as a cashier, waiter/waitress, market trader, receptionist or ticket agent might not be a very good idea, as so many tasks would need to be handled at the same time and they would involve high levels of social interaction.

However, autistic adults do show a good performance in long-term memory, which opens a window for a whole other set of career paths. Grandin actually divides career opportunities based on three main areas: occupational choices for visual thinkers, non-visual thinkers and non-verbal people. With that in mind, here are five of the jobs that could go perfectly with autistic individuals!

Computer programming and software

Jobs involving technical knowledge on computers are perfect for both visual and non-visual people who are good at math and managing data. Programming has a lot to do with coding and working with algorithms, both of which require good logic abilities. By choosing a path on computer science, individuals can choose between working as a freelancer or with technology companies. It can even be self-taught, and it will satisfy the curiosity and intellect of people living on the autism spectrum.

Animal trainer or veterinary technician

It’s no surprise that autistic children find great comfort in the company of animals. This probably won’t change when they get older, so working with animals can alleviate stress and help them to stay calm. Possible occupation choices include pet groomer, dog trainer, veterinary technician, pet sitter, livestock caretaker on a farm or even an actual veterinarian. For people with poor verbal skills, this career path brings the benefit of not having to interact with too many people, only a lot of animals!

Journalism and Research

They say true objectiveness is one of the hardest, if not impossible, things to acquire in journalism. Autistic people’s pragmatic and methodical worldview is actually ideal for facts and news analysis. This is a great choice for non-visual thinkers and can also be done as a freelance. Thorough attention to detail may also make several types of research careers a good choice, such as statistician and textbook writer.

Drafter or Manufacturer

A great choice for visual thinkers. Drafters work doing engineering drawings, detailed technical drawings or plans for machinery, buildings, electronics, infrastructure, sections, among others. Then they can move up to become designing specialists. On the other hand, jobs in manufacturing are perfect for people who enjoy repetitive movements and an ordered environment.

Scientist or laboratory specialist

Who says your girl or boy can’t make a career in science? It will be highly competitive, but autistic individuals will find the quiet and full-of-knowledge world of science quite appealing. They can work in fields like mathematics, physics, and biology. People with high functioning autism would be comfortable in a work environment that focuses on using their technical skills rather than their conversational skills.

At Autism Soccer, we love to see our kids facing new challenges every day, developing new skills and finding themselves in the process! We’re here to support them in every step of the way so they can go on and have a healthy life full of rewards and happiness, surrounded by people who love them! That’s the real definition of success.