Watching your child transition from school into adulthood can be both joyful and challenging, especially when guiding your child with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) into the workforce. You may wonder: How can I help my child find a job that suits their strengths and interests? What resources are available?
It’s about more than employment—it’s about finding a place where they can shine and contribute to their community.
Many families have faced this journey, and in this guide, we share how they implemented practical steps and resources to help their children find meaningful employment.
How to Help Your Child with IDD Find a Job
Here are five key steps to help your child find a fulfilling job that aligns with their passions and strengths:
- Explore Interests and Strengths
- Find Career Guidance
- Prepare for Interviews
- Support Your Child with Job Training
- Advocate for Reasonable Workplace Accommodations
Each of these steps is crucial in helping your child navigate the job market and find a role that matches their skills and interests and provides them with a sense of accomplishment and pride.
1. Explore Interests and Strengths
Let’s start with the basics: what does your child love doing? They may have a knack for organizing, enjoy helping others, or are fascinated by technology. These interests can point you toward potential career paths. Look beyond academic achievements and explore:
- Activities: Spend time exploring various activities with your child. Is there something that makes them light up? Discovering what they naturally enjoy can be the first step in identifying their strengths.
- Reflect on Past Experiences: Consider any volunteer work or part-time jobs they’ve done. These experiences can reveal skills and preferences that guide future career choices.
Lynn and her daughter Katie, a young adult with Down Syndrome, discovered Katie’s love for animals through her volunteer work at a local shelter. Combining this passion with her organizational skills, they explored roles in animal care, such as pet grooming, pet sitting, and administrative positions at a humane society.
2. Find Career Guidance
Navigating the world of career options for your child with IDD can feel overwhelming, but you’re not alone. There are plenty of resources to help both you and your child discover potential career paths and make informed decisions together. Here are some starting points to consider:
Aptitude Assessments
Choose assessments appropriate for your child’s age, abilities, and needs. Options include:
- Interest inventories: Identify careers that align with your child’s likes, dislikes, and values. A popular example is the Strong Interest Inventory.
- Skills assessments: Focus on specific abilities relevant to various careers, such as the WorkKeys National Career Readiness Assessment.
- Work simulations: Hands-on approach by providing simulated work environments where your child can explore different roles and uncover areas of interest.
Career Guidance Resources
- Vocational rehabilitation counselors: These professionals provide personalized guidance and support tailored to your child’s unique strengths and challenges. You can find them through your state’s vocational rehabilitation agency.
- Disability support organizations: Organizations like The Arc or the National Down Syndrome Society offer career guidance programs for individuals with IDD.
- Online career exploration tools: Websites like O*NET OnLine help assess interests and skills while exploring potential career options.
While many individuals with IDD thrive in traditional employment settings, private options can also be a great way to gain experience and build independence. These might include:
- Pet sitting: This option allows individuals passionate about animals to offer companionship and care for pets in their homes.
- House cleaning: Individuals with strong organizational skills who enjoy being physically active and are great at attention to detail can find success in providing house cleaning services.
- Errand running: Helping clients run errands, such as grocery shopping, dry cleaning, prescriptions, or to-go meals at local restaurants, can be a flexible and rewarding option.
For example, when Lynn was exploring career options for her daughter Katie, she contacted their local chapter of The Arc. They connected her with a vocational rehabilitation counselor who walked them through various assessment options. Together, they decided to start with an interest inventory, which provided valuable insights into Katie’s strengths and preferences.
Similarly, talking with your child’s school counselor or the Individualized Education Program (IEP) team can be a great way to access resources and support. They may have already established partnerships with vocational rehabilitation agencies or disability support organizations that can offer guidance and assistance.
3. Prepare for Interviews
Once your child identifies suitable job options, it’s time to prepare for interviews. Interviews can be intimidating, but with practice and preparation, your child can shine. Here are some tips to help get you started:
- Practice Interview Skills: Conduct mock interviews at home to build confidence. Use role-playing scenarios to practice responses to common questions and highlight your child’s strengths.
- Resources for Interview Preparation:
- Mock interview apps or websites: Your child may find Interviewing.io or Big Interview helpful. These applications offer interactive mock interviews and feedback platforms that help your child prepare for a real-life interview.
- Career counseling services: Many vocational rehabilitation counselors or career coaches offer interview preparation guidance and practice sessions.
- Disability support organizations: Some organizations might offer workshops or resources on interview preparation for individuals with IDD.
- Mock interview apps or websites: Your child may find Interviewing.io or Big Interview helpful. These applications offer interactive mock interviews and feedback platforms that help your child prepare for a real-life interview.
When Michael, with autism, landed his first interview at a local computer repair shop, his parents knew they needed to prepare him effectively.
They found online resources with common interview questions and practiced role-playing various interview scenarios, focusing on clear communication and highlighting Michael’s problem-solving and detail-oriented nature.
Additionally, they contacted the hiring manager beforehand, explained Michael’s autism diagnosis, and requested any reasonable accommodations that might be helpful during the interview. The manager was incredibly understanding and even offered to provide the interview questions in advance to allow Michael additional time to prepare.
This open communication and collaborative approach helped create a more comfortable and successful interview experience for Michael.
4. Support Your Child with Job Training
Once your child secures a job, the next step is providing support through onboarding. A smooth transition and continued encouragement can help them succeed long-term.
- Pre-employment training programs: To help your child gain the necessary skills to work at their chosen job, consider vocational training programs or specific skill development courses to close employer-identified skill gaps. Your child will feel better prepared and have greater confidence and success.
- Smooth onboarding and support: Work with employers to create a personalized onboarding plan, including accommodations and support tailored to your child’s needs.
David, a young adult with Down syndrome, pursued his dream of working in the culinary field through a pre-employment training program.
Through collaboration with his vocational rehabilitation counselor, David enrolled in a pre-employment food service training program for individuals with disabilities. The program gave him valuable hands-on experience, focusing on knife skills, food preparation techniques, and kitchen safety procedures.
This experience built his confidence and prepared him for a rewarding job at a local restaurant.
5. Advocate for Reasonable Workplace Accommodations
Ensuring your child has accommodations can make all the difference in their work experience. Advocate for their needs and collaborate with employers to create an inclusive environment, including flexible breaks, assistive technology, or modified duties.
Jessica, a young woman with Cerebral Palsy, thrived in her new receptionist role thanks to a personalized onboarding plan and supportive staff.
Her vocational rehabilitation counselor collaborated with the manager to develop a personalized onboarding plan. This plan included allowing more time to complete tasks and providing assistive technology solutions to make computer work more accessible.
The staff also received sensitivity training to understand better and support Jessica’s needs. This collaborative approach ensured a smooth onboarding experience for Jessica, allowing her to feel confident and capable in her new role.
By taking these steps, you’re not just helping your child with IDD find a job—you’re helping to open doors to independence, boost their self-confidence, and enable them to make meaningful contributions to their community.
Celebrate each success, no matter how small, and remember that countless resources and organizations are ready to support you. With your unwavering support, your child can achieve a fulfilling and successful career path.
As you continue to explore options for your child’s future, don’t miss out on our related articles that can provide even more guidance:
- Vocational Training vs. College for Students with IDD: Discover the pros and cons of each path to help make an informed decision.
- Vocational Training for Teens with IDD: A Guide for Parents: Learn how to support your teen in finding the right vocational training program.
