Autism and employment - Diane Zajac

As a parent you want to ensure that your bright child with Autism Spectrum Disorder will have a bright future! And you are not alone. According to an Easterseals survey, parents of children who have ASD were most worried about their children having independence in adulthood. Quality of life, fitting into society, and employment were also top concerns. Your knowledge of your child, your devotion and your many varied experiences with your child, make you the ideal coach. This book was written to help you, the parent, to raise your child with the foundational skills he or she will need for the future.

Lisa Tew graduated from Purdue University with a Master's degree in Speech and Language Pathology. For over 30 years, she has worked to improve communication and related functional skills of hundreds of children and young adults on the autism spectrum, in a variety of settings. Lisa currently works with middle and high school students, many of whom have Autism Spectrum Disorder. She is also a Transition Coordinator in schools, helping students with disabilities to make positive post-secondary transitions to independence, higher education and/or employment.

Diane Zajac earned a Master's degree in Social Work and a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Wayne State University. For 20 years she has worked in elementary and middle school settings, with hundreds of students on the autism spectrum, supporting their social communication needs. She also works to improve the employability skills of young adults with ASD as a job coach in her community.