“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” - Chinese proverb

The challenge continues as children with autism become adults. Although the Magna Carta defines their right to employment, the reality is individuals with autism need more equal opportunities to work.

The Magna Carta for Disabled Persons or Republic Act 7277 defines the rights for employment of persons with disability (PWD). Its parameters:

• No PWD shall be denied access to opportunities for suitable employment
• Five percent of all casual, emergency and contractual positions in all government offices that are engaged in social development shall be reserved for PWD.
• The Department of Social Welfare and Development shall design and implement training programs to enable PWD to engage in livelihood activities or obtain gainful employment
• State shall establish sheltered workshops to provide employment
to PWD who are unable to find jobs through open employment.

At the 11th National Conference of Autism Society Philippines, two speakers presented some best practices for providing work opportunities and creating programs for small and medium-sized companies to employ individuals with autism (PWA).

SHELTERED WORKSHOPS AND SELF DIRECTED EMPLOYMENT

Teacher Archie David, founder and executive director of Independent Living and Learning Center (ILLC) in Mandaluyong, explained that in sheltered workshops, social enterprises are established to create jobs and opportunities for PWD.

There are several local schools that have sheltered workshops which provide vocational programs to prepare them for future employment. ILLC, for one, operates Abelardo Diner which employs PWAs, including a chef! ILLC’s laundromat also has PWAs as employees.

Other ILLC students undergo training in the sheltered environment until they are ready to join the mainstream workforce. Some are already employed by establishments in food service. Others are trained with computer and clerical skills. Regular consultations are provided by ILLC staff.

Teacher Archie presented a series of steps that vocational therapists follow to ensure that the a PWD will be able to sustain the enterprise that he/she will invest in. Among the business models that maybe considered to assist the PWD entrepreneur are: a business cooperative that provides a central philosophy and marketing/purchasing capacity; or a subsidiary corporation/ franchise that allows small operations to begin under the protective umbrella of a larger and fiscally astute organization.

SUSTAINABLE WORK-LIVE-PLAY PROGRAM

ASP Laguna Chapter president Rizalinda Cansanay shared the sustainable work-live-play training program for young adults with autism and their families in Barangay Batong Malake, Los Baños.

Aside from training these young adults, the chapter networks with member schools, families, local government units and community groups in Laguna, advocating for PWA-friendly mechanisms in the form of environmental adaptations, volunteer networks, educated populace, and institutionalized programs.

This hometown program is involved in enterprises that meet the demands of the residential subdivision within the university community.

Business includes simple food service for seminars or big group activities, paper bag making using old magazines (Los Banos has strictly regulated the use of plastic bags in business establishments), ice making (in plastic packs) - both retailing or delivery to small canteens in the area, packing rice and retailing, typing and printing, dine in food service, photocopying and binding, plastic lamination, production of meatballs and all-meat burger patties with no preservatives, chip board box assembly, arts and crafts for gift items (their best seller is their angel charms).

LET PWAS SHINE IN WORK PLACES

There is an ongoing research now being spearheaded by the Let It Shine Foundation which will identify what job descriptions, employee roles and responsibilities, and performance levels are to be expected of PWAs.

Maria Rosario G. Joaquin or Teacher Bunny, co-founder of Shine Special Education Center, called attention to the need for more research to gather information on all possible suitable jobs for persons with autism.

“The responsibility does not end at providing vocational training, but also in seeking placement for them by providing work opportunities and creating programs for small and medium sized companies to employ individuals with autism,” said Teacher Bunny.

Teacher Bunny stressed that the information to be gathered in the research will be shared with:

• All schools who offer vocational training, so that they can design curricula that will equip adults with autism with the essential skills necessary to qualify for employment.
• Potential employers, so they can be guided by information on the skills and potentials of PWAs to facilitate job placement in their companies.

“It’s not all about mere social corporate responsibility,“ Teacher Bunny emphasized, “it is also about advocating that persons with autism have skills that can benefit companies.

There lies a need to acknowledge their unique capacities to be productive members of society and providing them access to the equal opportunity to apply for a job and to be part of the work force of as many companies as possible.”

To raise funds for this laudable research, Let It Shine Foundation hosted its very first charity run called Race and Shine last Nov. 21, at The Fort. Funds raised will be used for awareness campaigns and support the creation of programs for small and medium sized businesses to employ individuals with autism. This will include providing training programs for any business owner and assistance to determine how their businesses can create these work opportunities.

For details, log on to www.shineintervention.com.

Dang U. Koe is the national president of Autism Society Philippines (a not-for-profit family support organization with 42 chapters nationwide, and almost 6,000 family and professional members who are working together to create an environment that helps persons with autism spectrum disorder to become, to the best of their potentials, self-reliant, independent, productive and socially accepted members of society. She is a sought-after seminar and conference speaker on autism. Her son Gio, diagnosed with autism, propels her to be a passionate autism advocate.