How To Get On Fast Path To Employment

Some Kids Want to Go Straight To Work

College isn’t the right path for everyone.

That might sound like a heretical statement from someone with the word “college” in the title of their business. However, I don’t just talk to parents about the opportunities in higher education for students with autism. I also talk to them about options outside college. Some students are tired of the classroom or don’t have the right skills to thrive on a college campus.

Beyond my little world of autism families, I believe that all students — typical and neurodivergent — should know about all their options after high school and not be steered to one common outcome. Sadly, they don’t always get that information.

In 2019, I wrote an article about a report that found that guidance counselors weren’t telling students about community colleges. Experts told me that school staff were stretched too thinly, not trained to talk about colleges, and were pushed by administrators to send everyone to a four-year college.

So, let me provide a quick tutorial on vocational job training.

What Is Career and Technical Education?

First, let’s define our terms. What is Career and Technical Education, aka CTE, vocational education, or “the trades?”

In the old days, vocational education prepared students for plumbing, electrical, or automotive repair work. These jobs typically attracted the type of guys who were football jocks with an undiagnosed learning disability. But that’s not how it works anymore.

Now, CTE prepares students for jobs in a wide range of fields. Students can train for jobs with computers in IT and Cyber Security. They learn how to operate technical equipment and care for patients in a hospital. They can get training in office management, as well. Here’s a sample of the majors at a local private technical school.

CTE isn’t just for strong dudes anymore. It’s for all types of people. Jobs are located both behind the desk in an office and outside in the field. Some jobs involve interaction with the public, while other jobs, like medical billing, are done in quiet cubicles.

While these schools may not specifically offer programs for students with disabilities, they give everybody a shot. An admissions guy at a private technical program told me that they had a ton of guys with Asperger’s in their cybersecurity program. All their courses have small class sizes, lots of support, and few written assignments. They expect students to have learning differences or come from substandard schools.

What’s the commonality between these new vocational careers? These are jobs that don’t require a BA but do require some sort of training. The training is typically 14 months or less. In general, these are high-demand jobs.

A vocational education enables students to start earning money quicker and save on college tuition. A four-year college degree can cost over $300,000 over four years. Keep in mind that only half of all students finish in four years, so those costs can be higher. During those four (or six years) that student won’t be earning money.

In contrast, a 14-month HVAC degree at a private vocational school might cost $40,000. After graduation, students will start at $52,000 and quickly earn a six-figure salary. Not only did they save $250,000 in education costs, they could have an additional $150,000 in the bank.

Where Should Students Get the Right Training: 18-21 Transition Programs

Students with IEPs might be eligible for an 18-21 Transition Program. These programs commonly provide students with internships at local businesses. Others offer support with resumes and interviews. They also can help improve soft skills, so the student will be better prepared for work.

18-21 Programs are offered in local public schools, private schools (commuter and residential), and colleges. The local public school programs may not have extensive offerings, but they typically provide support for internships at local businesses. It’s good for the community to see these young adults with disabilities working at local shops. They also benefit students who need to stay close to home for various reasons.

Private programs vary widely in cost and score. Here are some examples:

• The Y.A.L.E. school in New Jersey is a private program that collaborates with public schools. It has several campuses, which enables them to put similar kids together. They offer vocational training in a wide range of fields and support kids as they take classes at the local community college.

• The Thames Program at Mitchell College helps college-bound students improve their academic and social skills, so they’ll be ready for college or work. It’s residential, so the students live in special dorms on the campus where gain independent living skills.

• Other great private programs include CIP, Riverview, and Alpine.

Vocational Rehabilitation

Another possibility for students with milder disabilities is to register students with the state’s Vocational Rehabilitation Department. Nearly every state has a VR department. In New Jersey, it’s called the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS).

In my state, DVRS provides job exploration and job coaches to support students in real jobs in their community. They also assist with work readiness skills. In some cases, they will help pay for job training and college.

The department outsources job training and coaching to third parties of various quality. One interesting program at Rutgers partners with DVRS to help students with disabilities get jobs on campus.

Local Community Colleges and Private Technical Schools

In New Jersey, students can get vocational skills at magnet high schools, if they apply by eighth grade. Near me, we have Bergen County Technical Schools, which prepares students for jobs in animal care, cosmetology, automotive repair, environmental design, programming, cybersecurity, and strategic asset management. Some of their campuses are aimed at strong students, who want to focus on their career choice early.

Later, students can train for careers in automotive repair, hospital technology, and cyber security in high school or later at their local community college and private technical schools. Generally speaking, community colleges are less expensive, while technical schools say they have a better employment track record. In recent years, both types of schools say that have opportunities for students with disabilities.

To get a degree at a community college, students must pass an Accuplacer exam if they want to go straight to academic classes. They may need to take a remedial class if their scores are poor. Community colleges offer support for students with disabilities, but students must ask for that help.

Increasingly, community colleges are setting up special programs for students with disabilities. Mercer Community College, for example, has two programs: The Center for Adult Transition and the DREAM Program.

Private technical schools do not offer formal support for students with disabilities. However, those schools are less picky about academics. They won’t ask for proof that a student can write an essay or pass algebra. Lincoln Tech in Moorestown, NJ trains students in nursing, HVAC, and computer networking.

Final Thoughts

For the right kids, college is a wonderful place where they can gain knowledge, be exposed to new ideas, meet people, and become more independent. I love telling parents about all the new opportunities on college campuses for students with disabilities. My son is thriving on a college campus.

However, other young people thrive outside the classroom. They prefer hands-on training for employment to history exams. They want to dive into careers that leverage their creativity, charm, or computer skills.

These options aren’t appropriate for every student, of course. Some offer a great deal of support, others less. Parents must research their local programs to determine the right option for their child.

There are not enough jobs for all young people. Even with all these opportunities for training, too many students with disabilities remain unemployed. We need support from the government to create more meaningful work opportunities for young adults with disabilities.

Work is the end goal, regardless of whether a student attends college or not. Employment provides meaning and purpose to our lives. Let’s make sure that all young adults have this opportunity.