Coaching Individuals on the Autism Spectrum: The Niche that Found Me
Sponsored post by Barbara Bissonnette, Principal, Forward Motion Coaching
My introduction to the autism spectrum – specifically, to Asperger’s Syndrome (1) – happened in the spring of 2006. I was midway through a graduate certificate program in executive coaching from the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology (now William James College). I had quit my job as Vice President of Marketing and Sales to pursue professional coaching. I was looking for a way to give back my business experience to people who could benefit from it the most. Coaching entrepreneurs and small business owners seemed the ideal way to do that.
Thumbing through the school’s continuing education catalog, I noticed a workshop about coaching people with Asperger’s Syndrome. It sounded interesting so I gave myself permission to take a Friday morning off to attend.
I spent the better part of four hours that Friday literally on the edge of my chair. What I heard was fascinating and familiar. I was certain that during my corporate career I had worked with people who had Asperger’s Syndrome. A few weeks later, I met with the executive director of the greater Boston Asperger’s association. She asked me a question that changed everything: “Have you thought about coaching people with Asperger’s?”
Could I? I began reading every book I could get my hands on. I spoke to educators, advocates, psychotherapists and neuropsychologists. I attended workshops and conferences. My decision to offer career development coaching was met with enthusiasm. “No one is doing much about employment,” I heard, again and again. Finally, I had found a group of people who could benefit from my business experience.
As of this writing I have coached well over 1,000 individuals on how to choose the right job or career, get hired, and succeed on the job. I also offer professional development training to career coaches and counselors, disability service providers at colleges and universities, vocational rehabilitation and workforce development specialists and staff members of non-profits.
The men and women I coach are smart and skilled. Many have college degrees. They are young people seeking entry-level jobs and adults in their 30’s, 40’s, 50’s and 60’s who have spent years in the workforce. For some, holding on to any job is a significant challenge. Others maintain steady employment but struggle to understand expectations and communicate with co-workers.
My work has given me a deep appreciation of how hard it can be for an individual to just get through the day. People say one thing but mean another. Helpful advice is interpreted as rudeness. One is assaulted by sights, sounds, smells and other sensory stimuli. Worrying about doing or saying the wrong thing all day is exhausting.
Sometimes simple accommodations can shift situations from failure to success. For example, the human resources manager not asking job seekers to describe a time when they showed leadership. Or a manager spending 10 minutes each day to prioritize tasks for an employee.
Working with this population can be challenging and also immensely rewarding. I’ve had to learn to use precise language when suggesting action steps to these literal thinkers. I expect that change will happen slowly, in small increments. It takes patience to explain the various nuances of the job search, such as why discussing skills and abilities at a job interview is not considered bragging. All worth it, of course, when clients get and stay hired.
1 Although Asperger’s Syndrome is no longer a distinct diagnosis, it continues to be used as a descriptor, often referring to individuals who have or are seeking competitive (not sheltered or heavily supported) employment. Additionally some individuals identify strongly as Aspie, Aspergian or Asperger’s.
Barbara Bissonnette is a certified coach and the Principal of Forward Motion Coaching. Since 2006 she has specialized in career development coaching for individuals on the autism spectrum (Asperger’s and similar profiles). She is the author of three books including the award-winning Complete Guide to Getting a Job for People with Asperger’s Syndrome.
Barbara also offers professional development training. The Asperger’s/Autism Employment Coach Certification is an 8-week program featuring live sessions over the Internet plus a 6-week supervised practicum. It qualifies for 20 CCE credits from the International Coaching Federation.