What do YOU want to be?
Updated: Jul 14
Do you remember being a kid and having an adult ask you “what do you want to be when you grow up?” If you answered in typical kid fashion, you probably said something like “an astronaut!” or “a rockstar!” or “a veterinarian!”
At such a young age, the possibilities were endless! But as you grew up the realities of high school and gasp college and GASP employment came into view; your career decision became more than just a dream but also a big responsibility. Now, most of us probably didn’t pick a job we hate, but something that we’re passionate about and good at! Our jobs are more than a means to keep the bills paid and put food on the table. Yes, work provides financial freedom and independence, but it also contributes to our sense of purpose and quality of life. And a lucky few of us may have even found friendship with our coworkers and enjoy social activities with them outside the workplace. All these benefits collectively contribute to individual quality of life.
The transition from high school to college and/or employment is often a difficult change for young adults to navigate, especially for those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Young adults with ASD may have the same aspirations as their peers – get a job that involves their personal interest, uses their strengths, and pays fair wages. These young adults are often more detail-oriented, trustworthy, and loyal than other applicants, making them great candidates for employment.
However, people with ASD also present unique social, communication, and behavioral characteristics as well as specific sensory-motor needs that may contribute to difficulty achieving higher education and employment opportunities. Occupational therapists can use purposeful activities, such as crafting, to help individuals with ASD develop skill sets that can be transferred into professional settings.
Occupational therapists (OTs) use crafting interventions as a “means to and end” for clients who experience challenges to everyday life participation, such as individuals with ASD. This means that crafts are used as purposeful tasks to teach these clients skills that can be applied to other areas of life, like work participation.
Most professional jobs require a level of planning and executing while using appropriate resources to do so. Similarly, each crafting project requires the client to come up with an idea, create a plan, and then execute that plan. This promotes client development of cognitive and problem-solving skills that will be required of them at a typical workplace. Throughout the project, the client uses materials and tools of various textures, shapes, and weight. This promotes the development of sensation tolerance, strength and coordination, to promote sensory-motor functions in clients with ASD. Clients must also learn the appropriate use of each tool and the safety precautions associated with them. These skills can be generalized to things like adherence to social boundaries, work-related protocols, and emotional regulation, all of which are important behavioral skills to use while on the job.
Anyone can benefit from taking up crafting as a hobby. For individuals with ASD, participating in crafting interventions brings meaning and joy to their OT sessions, and equips them with the skillsets they need to not only survive but THRIVE in future job opportunities. Through the support and services provided by OTs, young adults with ASD can be guided into a future that meets their aspirations, maximizes their potential, and promotes job success and independence throughout adulthood.
References
Lee, E. A. L., Black, M. H., Tan, T., Falkmer, T., & Girdler, S. (2019). “I’m destined to ace this”: Work experience placement during high school for individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 49(8), 3089-3101. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10803-019-04024-x
Schur, L., Han, K., Kim, A., Ameri, M., Blanck, P., & Kruse, D. (2017). Disability at work: A look back and forward. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 27(4), 482-497. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10926-017-9739-5
Leenerts, E., Evetts, C., & Miller, E. (2016). Reclaiming and Proclaiming the Use of Crafts in Occupational Therapy. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 4(4).
