Programs & Services
Supported Employment
Philosophy and Overview of Supported Employment Program
STARTED IN 1989 Number of Clients Placed in Employment: 187 |
Following the guidelines of the general philosophy of the TEACCH program, the mission of the Supported Employment program is to provide a stable and predictable work environment whereby the person with Autism can, as independently as possible, be a contributing member of the work force. These contributions allow the persons with Autism to increase their sense of self-worth, and at the same time, help to increase awareness and educate the public about autism. TEACCH firmly believes persons with Autism benefit from Supported Employment's ability to provide an individually tailored work environment.
The primary goal of the TEACCH Program is to prepare people with autism to live and work happily and productively throughout all facets of their life. Special emphasis is placed on individualized plans for helping people with autism and their families live together more harmoniously.
As individuals with autism grow into adolescence and adulthood, a priority becomes developing skills relevant to their abilities and interests, and that allow them to participate successfully in an appropriate vocational setting. Consistent with the TEACCH model, Supported Employment Staff consider the individuals with autism and their family members integral participants of an ongoing team. All vocationally related information is shared and is written with clients and families in mind.
In an effort to provide the most appropriate and individualized program possible for each client, Division TEACCH utilizes four different models of Supported Employment: the standard placement model, the shared support model, the mobile crew model, and the one-to-one model.
Within each of these models, there is an emphasis on utilizing individual strengths and interests, identifying appropriate jobs and settings, applying structured teaching techniques, collaborating with families, caregivers and employers, providing necessary long-term support services, and insuring the appropriate "fit" in which the employee, employer, and family/caregiver are satisfied.
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TEACCH staff rely on several key factors in the selection of appropriate vocational settings, including: jobs that are predictable and have potential for clearly defined work tasks, jobs which can be adapted to the individual's need for structure, employers and coworkers who are receptive to training and who are willing to create an environment where an individual is more likely to succeed, and job settings in which there is potential to utilize individual strengths.
In addition to these methods, the most important factor contributing to the success of Division TEACCH's Supported Employment Program is its emphasis on long-term support services. Such services involve frequent contact with the employee, the employer, and the family/caregiver to coordinate whole life support for the individual with autism. Long-term support services typically range from one to four hours per week.
The Vocational, residential, and social aspects of a person with Autism's life are complexly intertwined, therefore, TEACCH's assistance with the person with Autism's coordination of these areas is needed to help them maintain the consistency and predictability they need. In addition, long-term support services provide ongoing assessment and training of the employee at the job site, and support the employer.
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Other facets of long-term support include assistance to the family/caregiver with government benefits which can be affected by work, consultation with supported living services, and social and community skills training through individual and group counseling and activities.
TEACCH Supported Employment Staff are trained in the TEACCH model with an emphasis on collaboration with clients, families, and agencies. This emphasis encompasses a thorough understanding of the culture of autism, the unique nature of the individual, as well as ongoing assessments, structured teaching techniques, and the development of the client's strengths and interests.
Please note that not all of these services are available in all parts of North Carolina. Families should contact their local TEACCH Center to find out which services are available in their area.
For information in the Chapel Hill area contact Division TEACCH at (919) 966-2174
