Introduction
The problem of autism is not so much in autism itself as in discrimination from society. In countries where work with autistic people is aimed at making the community more accessible to them, many autistic people can work, create families, and sometimes do amazing things. Vocational rehabilitation counselors are part of this effort with the job of assisting people with various disabilities to find employment. Adam from the video is too affected by the implications of Asperger’s Syndrome. He says that the issue is not only in his illness but also in how people react to it. These reactions, as Adam believes, might affect his academic performance. Opportunities, however, do exist for him and people with similar illnesses because how well they will do is only a matter of the environment where they are working.
Main body
Despite the suspicious and often hostile attitude of potential employers, workers with autism have many personality traits that are perfect for certain types of work. For instance, autistic workers often enjoy routine and permanence and can be extremely reliable. They often correctly recognize any phenomena and succeed in logical constructions, and they can usually remember instructions well, which is vital in urgent situations or emergencies. For these reasons, I believe that Adam is capable of working in many positions and should not be deprived of any opportunities. Furthermore, as Adam stated himself, while there are people that cannot talk properly because of autism, Adam has an excellent delivery. He is also capable of communicating with other people well because he has a sense of humor and speaks excellently. Hostility from other adolescents, however, could be the only challenge that is posing a hindrance. His pushfulness can be seen from the fact that he had a YouTube channel when he was only ten years old, where he talked about the implications of autism in his life.
There are several ways in which vocational rehabilitation counselors might help people like Adam. I would personally concern myself with his stress management skills, self-determination, and motivation. Because he is sometimes a subject to taunting and mocking, he needs to learn how to deal with it and manage it in a way it does not affect his life. Also, he needs to learn about many opportunities that are available to him. Some companies in the IT industry, for instance, have been welcoming candidates with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) for many years. Most autistic individuals, however, may not know this because they believe autism is an ultimate hindrance to employment. They spend so much time contemplating their condition that they let possibilities pass by unnoticed. That is why self-determination and motivation are crucial pieces to develop in people with autism.
Conclusion
The video leaves only positive emotions and even gives some inspiration. There are many who talk about Asperger’s syndrome, but only a few people speak about it as a matter of their personal experience. Adam’s attempt to sharing and chatting about his condition is a subject only for admiration. He, just like any other teenager, likes to play video games and be part of the community. He also expresses an interest in programming and extracurricular activities, which are excellent for his future employment and networking opportunities. This video opens a magnitude of problems related to how society perceives people with ASD and the need for collective action.