Ernst VanBergeijk, Ph.D., M.S.W.
Associate Dean & Executive Director
New York Institute of Technology
Vocational Independence Program
adulthood
Relationships
Work
Independence
•Civic involvement?
•Spiritual development?
 Parenthood?
 Other?
2
 Approximately 5.1.% (U.S. Dept. Labor)
3
 According to the U.S Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor
Statistics, approximately 12.1% of people with disabilities are
unemployed (BLS, 2015).
 This is for all disabilities
 Over the age of 16 and not living in institutions or in the military
 There are no systematically collected data by the government
for individuals on the autism spectrum.
 Range on the optimistic side = 44% (Source: ABC News) up to
65%
 Anecdotal evidence suggests that the unemployment rate for
individuals with ASDs may be around 90%
4
 CDC 1 out of 68 children has an ASD
 Early intervention & the application of empirically based
treatment has led to better outcomes
 Students with this diagnosis are coming of age
 The growing AS population entering colleges and the work
force bring unique challenges
5
 Changes in labor economy
Movement to a knowledge based
economy has increased the
educational requirements of entry
level work
 Education Matters!
6
• Participation in any type of post secondary education
(vocational education, college certificate program or even
one college course) significantly enhances the ability of
individuals with disabilities to secure meaningful
employment (Getzel & Wehman, 2005)
• Students with disabilities who earn a B.A. degree obtain
subsequent employment at almost the same rate as their
neurotypical peers (HEATH Resource Center, 1998; OSER,
2000).
$1,800
$1,600
$1,400
$1,200
$1,000
$800
$600
$400
$200
$0
Source: Current Population Survey, 2014 Bureau of Labor Statistics
$100,000
$90,000
$80,000
$70,000
$60,000
$50,000
$40,000
$30,000
$20,000
$10,000
$0
Source: Employment Projections program, U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012
Series 1
Educational attainment
Synthetic work-life earnings
• None to 8th grade.
• 9th to 12th grade.
• High school graduate.
• Some college.
• Associate’s degree .
• Bachelor’s degree.
• Master’s degree.
• Professional degree.
• Doctorate degree.
936,000
1,099,000
1,371,000
1,632,000
1,813,000
2,422,000
2,834,000
4,159,000
3,525,000
Source: Work-Life Earnings by Field of Degree and Occupation for People With a Bachelor’s Degree: 2011
By Tiffany Julian. Issued October 2012. American Community Survey Briefs
All Workers
Less than a high school diploma
High-school graduate
Some college, no degree
Associate degree
Bachelor's degree
Master's degree
Professional degree
Doctoral degree
Source: The Economics Daily, Unemployment
rates by educational attainment in August 2015
0
5
10
 A surge of young people who need a different path to access
work, relationships, and independence
 All young people need to be as educated as possible to access
the range of occupational choices
 Without a college degree, jobs in the service sector are most
available
12
Occupation
% Growth
Median
Annual Salary
2012
Training Required
Organizational
Psychologist
53
$83,580
Ph.D.
Personal Care Aides
49
$19,910
Short term OTJ
Home Health Aides
48
$20, 820
Short term OTJ
Insulation workers
47
$39, 170
OJT - Apprentice
Interpreters/translators
46
$45,430
BA + Short term OTJ
Diagnostic Medical
Sonographers
46
$65,860
AA
Helpers – brick masons
etc.
43
$28,220
Short term OTJ
O.T. Assistants
43
$53,240
AA + licensure
Genetic Counselors
41
$56,800
M.S. or Ph.D.
P.T. Assistants
41
$52,160
AA + licensure
Source: Occupational Outlook Handbook 2014-2015
Occupation
%
Growth
Median
Annual Salary
2012
Training Required
P.T. Aides
41
$23,880
Short term OTJ
Skincare Specialist
41
$28,640
Postsecondary non-degree award
Physician Assistant
40
$90,930
M.S. + licensure
Segmental Pavers
40
$33,720
Moderate term OTJ
Helpers- Electricians
38
$27,670
Short term OTJ
Information Security
Analysts
38
$86,170
B.A.
O.T. Aides
37
$26,850
Short term OTJ
Health specialist instructor
post-secondary
37
$81,140
Ph.D. or MS. Experience if in trades
Medical Secretaries
36
$31,350
High School. Basic computer.
Physical Therapists
36
$79,860
DPT + licensure
Source: Occupational Outlook Handbook 2014-2015
Occupation
# of Jobs
Median Annual
Salary 2012
Training Required
Personal Care Aides
580,800
$19,910
Short term OTJ
Registered Nurses
526,800
$65,470
B.S.N.
Retail Salespersons
434,700
$21,110
H.S. diploma or less. OTJ
Home Health Aides
424,200
$20, 820
Short term OTJ
Food Prep & Fast food
421,900
$18,260
H.S. diploma or less
Nursing Assistants
312,200
$24,420
Stated approved program
+ competency exam
Secretaries (general)
307,800
$32,410
High School diploma
Customer Service Rep.
298,700
$30,580
H.S. + Short term OTJ
Janitors & Cleaners
280,000
$23,320
H.S. <+ Short term OTJ
Construction Laborers
259,800
$29,990
Short term OTJ
Source: Occupational Outlook Handbook 2014-2015
Occupation
# of Jobs
Median Annual
Salary 2012
Training Required
Operation managers
244,100
$95,440
BA
Laborers, Stock
241,900
$23,890
H.S.<+ Short term OTJ
Carpenters
218,200
$39,940
H.S. + Apprenticeship
Bookkeeping, Accounting,
Clerks
204,600
$35,170
H.S. + Moderate OTJ
Truck Drivers
192,600
$38,200
Postsecondary nondegree award + Short
Term OTJ
Medical Secretaries
189,200
$31,350
H.S. Diploma + industry
specific training
Office Clerks, general
184,100
$27,470
H.S. Diploma + OTJ
Child care workers
184,100
$19,510
H.S. Diploma + OTJ
Maids, Housekeeping
183,400
$19,570
H.S. Diploma < + OTJ
Licensed Practical Nurses
182,900
$41,540
Postsecondary nondegree award
Source: Occupational Outlook Handbook 2014-2015
1. Verizon
2. GE
3. Google
4. Amazon
5. State Farm
6. Merck
7. Lockheed Martin
8. American Express
9.Boston Scientific
10.General Dynamics
11. Oracle
12. Boeing
13. Kellogg’s
14. Apple
15. Intel
16. KPMG
17. Honda
18. Comcast/Universal
19. GAP
20. Prudential
21. CSX
22. Nike
23. Hyatt
24. Ford
25. AT & T
17
 26. CVS
27. General Motors
28. Liberty Mutual
29. Johnson & Johnson
30. Genentech
31. Aetna
32. Phillips
33. Wells Fargo
34. Northwest Mutual
 35. EY
36. Marriott
37. Amgen
38. USAA
 39. PSEG
40. Ball Aerospace
41. BASF
42. Astrazeneca
43. CA Technologies
44. Century Link
45. Grant Thorton
46. T. Rowe Price
47. Reynolds America
48. Life Technologies
49. Owens and Minor
50. Capital One
18
1. U.S. Department of Justice
2. National Security Agency
3. National Credit Union
4. U.S. Department of
Education
5. Social Security Administration
6. Internal Revenue Service
7. U.S Department of Agriculture
8. U.S. Department of Commerce
9. NAVSEA
10. Naval Research Laboratory
11. U.S. Department of Health &
Human Services
12. U.S. Air Force
13. U.S. Department of Labor
14. U.S. Patent & Trademark
15. U.S. Department of State
16. U.S. Coast Guard
17. FBI
18. NAVAIR
19. Military Sealift Command
20. U.S. Marines
19