Employment Activities

Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition that differs in social interaction, communication, and behavior. This may differ in each individual. The employment of individuals with autism spectrum disorder has become more important with increased social awareness. In addition to using their potential by employing individuals with autism, they are also allowed to contribute to society. We have employed 9 students as the SOBE Foundation in the employment of autistic individuals. The preoccupation, communication and hand skills of our students to be employed are assessed and determined. Our students are aimed to develop their existing skills by doing various activities in the workshop with the time determined according to the need and to reveal their potential in the best way. In order to determine the business line they are successful, they are tested in different types of work and they are provided to acquire concepts such as business discipline, responsibility awareness and teamwork during their time in the workshop. After the workshop process, when our students have access to sufficient equipment, we begin to work to determine the most suitable job sites for them. By contacting factories in the region, we are examining environments where individuals with autism can work safely and efficiently. By conducting interviews with employers, we determine the tasks that suit the skills of our students. Our students start their working lives with a business coach. Some of our students are provided with some support by the business coach and independently adapt to the working life. Our business coaches are a very important factor in the healthy operation of the process while ensuring that they adapt to their business processes, and also by communicating with employers and employees when necessary. In addition, we take care to introduce the strengths of autistic individuals by organizing awareness trainings in the institution where our students work and to explain how to communicate better with them. At the end of this process, our 9 young people with autism have now become a part of their business life. They began to earn money with their own labor and contribute to production. Their success in their workplaces has been a source of great pride for both their families and for us. Positive feedback from employers once again revealed how important this process is not only for individuals with autism, but also for the business world. This story is one of the best examples of how autistic individuals with the right support can be successful in business. We will continue our work without slowing down so that more individuals can gain employment and lead an independent life.