If your teenager has learning disabilities or other special needs, you might think that a summer job is not in the cards. But, in fact, working at the right job might be the ticket to boost your child鈥檚 self-esteem and put him on track for a successful post-黄色app life.
Many kids in special education have spent much of their academic life with loads of adult support 鈥� tutors, aides, specialists, and special education teachers. They haven鈥檛 had much of a chance to step out on their own to try their skills in the real world. A job can serve as the first step toward breaking those supportive ties.
鈥淟ots of kids feel like they鈥檙e tethered to their tutor,鈥� says Jill Lauren, an LD teacher and author of , which profiles 15 people with learning disabilities. 鈥淲ork gives them an opportunity to embark on a new challenge and do it independently.鈥�
And those moments when they realize they can do things on their own is when they start to believe in their own accomplishments. That same summer job may also help kids find their ultimate career path and serve as a sort of apprenticeship.
Lauren鈥檚 book chronicles the victories work has offered to kids who found little to cheer about in 黄色app. Paul Armstrong, a musician with a learning disability, still could barely read when he got to high 黄色app. But he always loved music and started playing the piano when he was three.
鈥淚 wanted to go to college, but I was worried because reading music was still difficult. Instead, I began playing piano at restaurants, and I actually got paid for it,鈥� he relates in the book. He parlayed that job into a career 鈥� he plays in a band, teaches music to kids, and is a musical director.
While the right job could be the key to a child鈥檚 success, the wrong job could be a disaster. And even the right job might require lots of preparation to make it work. That鈥檚 where parents step in.
Get honest
The first step in finding an appropriate job for your child is to do an honest assessment of their strengths, weakness, likes, and dislikes, says Dr. Stephanie Mihalas, an adjunct professor at Pepperdine University and founder of the Center for Well-Being: Psychological Services for Children, Youth, and Families.
鈥淏e realistic,鈥� Mihalas says. If your child hates math, don鈥檛 look for a job as an actuary. Mihalas sees parents on both ends of the spectrum: those who think their child is not capable of doing any job, and those who disregard the assessment of experts and believe there are no limits for their child. For a child to have the best shot at success, it鈥檚 important that parents do an honest assessment of his or her skills.
Start by making a list of your child鈥檚 strengths and weaknesses, she suggests, and then think about jobs that might fit.
Some places to consider for jobs include:
- Office jobs: Mihala suggests thinking about extended family members who work in an office to see if they might have work for your teen. This has the added bonus of being a supportive environment for your child to try out new skills.
- Camps: Did your child go to summer camp? Check if he can serve as a councilor-in-training this summer.
- Tutors: If your child has skills in math, for instance, he might be able to line up some younger kids to help out. This mentor role is another self-esteem booster because kids with special needs are usually on the receiving end of tutoring.
Once you鈥檝e targeted some possible jobs, you may need to take the lead in finding opportunities, depending on your child鈥檚 skills and disability, Mihalas says. Contact each employer to ask for a visit and an interview.
Before you go in, do a mock interview with your child so he is comfortable with the range of questions he might face.
Advocate-in-training
Even if your child stumbles a bit on the job, never fear 鈥� it鈥檚 part of the learning process. Encourage your child to talk to his boss about problems he鈥檚 having and to be honest when he鈥檚 having trouble. Try role-playing with your child to help him with the meeting. Chances are he will discover that when he asks for help, people will lend a hand. And that鈥檚 a powerful lesson for the future, Lauren says. 鈥淢ost people don鈥檛 want their employees to fail,鈥� she adds.
A summer job is the first step in a process that will hopefully lead to full-time employment after high 黄色app or college.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a good time to take those first baby steps,鈥� Mihalas says.
