Awareness, Support & Sustainable Futures event hosted by TR Autism Behavioral Centre last Saturday 17 January 💙🌈
What stood out most wasn’t just the information shared, but the honesty of the conversations. Especially the dialogue with Peggy Lam Ivy Philip and Dianne Geoffrey on preparing neurodivergent individuals for employment and life.
🗣 Communication is the #1 skill for self-advocacy. The second is flexibility; the ability to adapt and navigate change.
💼 What do employers see?
There is a wide spectrum of abilities. For those with lower support needs, KPIs and value to the company still matter but success isn’t just about meeting targets. Social adaptability is equally important.
🤝 Employment at every capacity matters.
There are roles that meet both employer expectations and what candidates can meaningfully do.
💙 Loyalty and honesty are strengths that stand out. These qualities employers often overlook but deeply value.
🧠 As Peggy shared, skills are not the issue because many individuals are incredibly smart. What they need support with are social-emotional and executive functioning skills: timeliness, planning, emotional regulation, and social awareness. This is where transition programmes are critical in preparing them for work.
Ultimately, it’s about empowering our children. Not just for employment, but for the world.
And one simple reminder from Ivy that stuck:
💬 “Have you asked them?”
Ask how they are feeling. Ask how they are doing.
Sometimes, change starts there.
