Authored by: Michelina DiBacco<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Autism Spectrum is a neurodevelopmental condition that effects behaviour, interests, and learning and social skills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While the experiences of living with Autism are similar, it also varies in each person. Especially when it comes to special interests, certain needs and supports. Different strokes for different folks, in other words, what may be right for one person with Autism, may not be right for another Autistic person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I spoke with two other people who are on the Spectrum. Their names are Sarah and Jeanie. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sarah: <\/strong>\u201cMy dream job is data entry with computers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jeanie:<\/strong> \u201cI wish I could help people out, with going places and where they want to go.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Along with dream jobs, there are also barriers too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sarah<\/strong>: \u201cI find that in our world, people pick their favourites and we feel excluded a lot, especially in the job world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jeanie:<\/strong> adds \u201cPeople have problems with the way the world is designed, such as the fact it\u2019s hard to get jobs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, there is a silver lining. Prescott has helped with skills and fair wage paying jobs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sarah:<\/strong> \u201cIt has helped me a lot, learning a lot of skills.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jeanie<\/strong>: \u201cThey helped me with paying jobs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n To advocate for more inclusion in the mainstream workplaces and to express other talents, here\u2019s some of the other things Sarah and Jeanie said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sarah:<\/strong> \u201cYes, for people in the big world to have training in their jobs to have more knowledge to work with people on the Spectrum and be more supportive and less strict.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Jeanie<\/strong>: \u201cIt would be nice if workplaces were more inclusive for people with Autism and other disabilities by coming up with accommodations or adaptations.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sarah:<\/strong> \u201cI would like to see more improvement in the future for people on the Spectrum.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Jeanie: <\/strong>\u201cMy talent is to knit and do crafts like that.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Along with some feedback from the two people I interviewed, I am also on the Autism Spectrum. My dream job is to present the weather and maybe even the news on TV. However, the barriers I face is that you need to be either a meteorologist or journalist, and that requires post secondary education. Also, TV Stations are unionized which can mean they aren\u2019t able to easily make new jobs with fewer requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thanks to Prescott, I went to Global News on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 for a tour and I also did a trial weather broadcast with the producer talking to me through a headset and holding a clicker in front of a green screen. As soon as the intro music stopped and the producer said \u201ccue\u201d I presented the weather. After the trial weather broadcast, Rhonda Brown, the journalist from Global News, said \u201cWell done, you are a natural!\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What I think would be a way to make broadcasting more inclusive to those on the Spectrum and those with other disabilities is to provide \u2018Presenter Spots\u2019 where the person can help read the weather or news headlines on the tv once the info is set up for them by people who did go to college. In other words, structured and supportive broadcasting spots along with creation lunchtime news and pre-recorded broadcasts, alongside breakfast or evening news. I think these ideas will create more flexibility and accessibility in the newsroom. <\/p>\n\n\n\nDream Jobs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Supportive opportunities<\/h3>\n\n\n\n