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I have a request from a local college that caters for children aged 12 upwards with Aspergers to have one of their pupils on a work experience for a term, he is 17 years old and lives in a shared house close by the college....I have been to meet him, he is lovely and I am assured by the college that he will be noproblem with the children and this is the career he eventually wants to work with young children.......I can't help feeling a little worried....he is such a lovely boy and I think i am letting the fact he has Aspergers worry me too much.....I guess I need someone else out there to reassure me and say what you would do, I desperately want to give him this opportunity......he has no outbursts of any sort the only 'problem' he deals with alongside his aspergers is self harm which he will do if he gets depressed......comments please........ :oxD

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I think I would. You have assurances that he is 'safe' to be with the children. Presumably he wont be left alone with them anyway, and will be supervised. I understand that one aspect of aspergers can be an inability to socialise, this could be the making of him.

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I would and I have :o

We had a 17 yr old girl with aspergers and she was delightful. It was a case of knowing of anything or any situation she found difficult or was unable to do - we had all that in place before she started - it was only a temporary placement but we were all sorry when she left xD

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Fabulous......I knew it seemed right....I have just phoned him to tell him to start next week and we would love to have him.....and he is chuffed to bits...thanks again.... :oxD

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i think it would be a benefit all round so long as you have the time to support and the children are not compromised

good luck and let us know how it all went

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Good for you. Am so pleased you said yes. Just to note that individulas with asd and aspergers often find it much easier to interact socially with younger children than thier own peer group, so could be a fantastically positive experience for him.

 

It is so important that we practice what we preach when it comes to equality and diversity. I bet you have an equal opps policy that totally embraces the decision you have just made.

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Guest Spiral

I think thats brilliant!

 

Sometimes we only need to volunteer for a week or two in a role to find out for ourselves that we are or are not suited to the post. Wish I'd have had that kind of thought and opportunity when applying for some of my previous posts when I was younger.

 

Aspergers can really help some people develop in other areas - it is quite fascinating and can open your eyes wide - did mine and I know loads about transport, trajectory lines and mathematics now!

 

Have fun and remember that there is advice and help on the aspergers charity website (UK, not USA as their terms and practice is very different),

 

Spiral

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Hey good thinking Batman - oops I mean Gingerbreadman! :oxD

 

 

:( Thanks Sunnyday.

 

I think its a fabulous opportunity for all sides...and for the setting to show they are truly inclusive and learn. I think it will give another viewpoint and as Spiral mentioned a firsthand, insight into Schemas etc because unlike the children we care for he'll probably be able to give an explanation for why he does what he does.

 

 

Digressing slighlty now: Did anyone see the documentary, years ago, on the single mum from Blackpool who had several children, and if i recall correctly all her boys had Autism, and her eldest had Aspergers and had written many books. Inspriational woman, was also studying for a degree at the time if memory serves me right (and it often doesn't!) Would love to see it again if anyone can remember the title??

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It's wonderful that you are giving this young man an opportunity to use his talents. If you have time to read some of the information on the NAS site it might be of use.

 

http://www.autism.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1937

 

The document at the bottom of the page for employers is very helpful in understanding how you can work successfully with someone on the austistic spectrum.

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Shirel, I think it is wonderful that you are opening a door for this young lad :) Having worked with a number of chiildren on the spectrum over the years I have always worried about their future when they have to start making their own way in the big wide world. You have warmed my heart and given me hope that there will be more people like you out there, willing to see the person behind the label and give them a chance which, maybe, the rest of us would take for granted. Thankyou!x

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