I know, I know - there is need to be more regular on this page and so I shall. But we have not been idle in helping Adi in his growth towards an adult equipped with essential and life skills.
Along the way, we have seen maturing....yes, even as adults ....of our qualities of patience, empathy and acquired the magical ability of seeing the rays of the sun on the cloudiest of days.
Something magical started this week - Adi started work, yes actual work, at the neighborhood church. This work involves doing something essential for Sunday services - sorting pamphlets and handouts into appropriate categories to be given to worshipers. This is work that needs to be done, it cannot be automated, and my teenager of 16 years can do it and has started doing it !! For my wife and me, it marks an inflection point in our journey with Adi.
For special needs teenagers and adults, getting work is absolutely essential to dispel the despair and frustration that creeps in "when the school bus stops coming" which it does after they age out of High School at 21. Adi's mom (Sanju) is a High School Special Education teacher who has observed and empathized with this situation, and she is very determined to see that Adi gets the vocational training that he needs for getting into the laborforce at work age, and also identify work which he can do as he crosses 16. We see many examples of adults in the spectrum working in grocery stores, in libraries and elsewhere - doing beneficial work and keeping themselves engaged and yes, even getting paid for their effort. Salary is not the main objective here - though an important one - what is most important is that work provides a meaningful way for this workforce to remain productive, contribute to society and lead meaningful lives.
My wife deserves a lot of credit for her efforts to engage with churches and other centers to identify work that would match with Adi's capabilities. This success is leading us to start our own venture to help other families who may need guidance and vocational assistance on this. My wife has also started a blog where she looks at the challenges and initiatives of working with someone in the spectrum - both as a parent and an educator - You can read it here. Do check it out !!
Along the way, we have seen maturing....yes, even as adults ....of our qualities of patience, empathy and acquired the magical ability of seeing the rays of the sun on the cloudiest of days.
Something magical started this week - Adi started work, yes actual work, at the neighborhood church. This work involves doing something essential for Sunday services - sorting pamphlets and handouts into appropriate categories to be given to worshipers. This is work that needs to be done, it cannot be automated, and my teenager of 16 years can do it and has started doing it !! For my wife and me, it marks an inflection point in our journey with Adi.
For special needs teenagers and adults, getting work is absolutely essential to dispel the despair and frustration that creeps in "when the school bus stops coming" which it does after they age out of High School at 21. Adi's mom (Sanju) is a High School Special Education teacher who has observed and empathized with this situation, and she is very determined to see that Adi gets the vocational training that he needs for getting into the laborforce at work age, and also identify work which he can do as he crosses 16. We see many examples of adults in the spectrum working in grocery stores, in libraries and elsewhere - doing beneficial work and keeping themselves engaged and yes, even getting paid for their effort. Salary is not the main objective here - though an important one - what is most important is that work provides a meaningful way for this workforce to remain productive, contribute to society and lead meaningful lives.
My wife deserves a lot of credit for her efforts to engage with churches and other centers to identify work that would match with Adi's capabilities. This success is leading us to start our own venture to help other families who may need guidance and vocational assistance on this. My wife has also started a blog where she looks at the challenges and initiatives of working with someone in the spectrum - both as a parent and an educator - You can read it here. Do check it out !!
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