Five promising employment areas for people with autism. “My puzzle is complete”: How I worked with children with autism

One of the most famous people with autism in the world on how to properly prepare for employment

Having attended many conferences where autism issues were raised, I often heard about autistic people who successfully completed school and even received higher education, but couldn’t get a job after that. Some autistic people become lifelong students because they enjoy the emotional stimulation that university provides. Many capable people with autism spectrum disorder describe university days as the happiest days of their lives (Szatmari et al., 1989).

I would like to draw attention to the importance of a smooth transition from getting an education to starting work. I'm currently developing equipment for livestock farming, and behind it is an old childhood fixation that I used as motivation to become a livestock care expert. The equipment I created is used in all major livestock farms. Additionally, I have pushed the industry to understand the importance of treating animals humanely. When I was at university I visited local farms and slaughterhouses. This way I was able to learn a lot about this industry.

Like me, many successful people with autism have chosen their career paths based on their old fixations. I was fortunate to meet Tom Rohrer, manager of the local Swift slaughterhouse, and Ted Gilbert, foreman of one of the farms. They allowed me weekly visits to their factories and, recognizing my abilities, were willing to tolerate my eccentricities. They became mentors for me and played important role in my life. Teachers of autistic children should seek out similar mentors in the business world. While earning my master's degree from the University of Arizona (my master's thesis was on livestock handling and stall design), I also worked as a freelance journalist for the Arizona Farmer Ranchman, which helped me gain additional in-depth knowledge of livestock production.

The next step was getting my first job in a large company that built livestock farms. Emil Winniski, the construction manager, noticed my design abilities. He also became a mentor to me, but in a social sense, forcing me to comply with certain social norms, instructing his secretaries to go with me to the store to buy decent clothes and telling me quite directly that I would have to observe certain rules of hygiene, e.g. deodorant. At first I despised him for this, but today I realize that he helped me a lot. I had to change. Therefore, I was very interested to read in one of Kanner’s works about what distinguishes autistic people who have been able to successfully adapt to life in society: “Unlike most other autistic children, they are uncomfortably aware of their differences and make conscious efforts to to achieve change” (Kanner et al. 1972).

Emil was a rather strange guy himself, which is probably why he hired me. However, six months after I got the job, he was fired. I continued to work, but after about a year I also left the company when management wanted to drag me into very dubious matters. But during my work, I learned drawing from Davy, a wonderful draftsman, a modest and reserved person who drew amazing drawings. We hit it off right away. With the contacts I made while working for the company, I started working as a freelance engineer. I opened my own company, where I provided both consulting and design services. Capable people respected, so pretty soon they started talking about me as an expert. Although the business grew slowly, I had enough money that I didn't have to work at McDonald's to pay the bills.

Freelancing has helped many people with autism spectrum disorders become successful and realize their talents. It also helps avoid some of the social problems associated with working in an office: I get a task, complete it, and leave the company before I find myself in any unpleasant situation. There are many freelance programmers among autists; in addition, since many people with autism have an absolute ear for music, artistic talents and are good with technology, they are well suited for professions such as piano tuners, designers or auto mechanics, which also involve the opportunity to work for themselves.

Lack of understanding

I soon became a well-known expert in my field in Arizona, but got into trouble due to communication difficulties. I caused a lot of trouble for Tom Rohrer too. I didn’t understand what pride was, and that for many it was more important than the prosperity of the company. I naively believed that all Swift employees always act solely based on the interests of the employer. It seemed to me that if I acted in the best interests of the company, I would be rewarded. The other engineers despised me. Sometimes they installed the equipment incorrectly, but they never asked me for advice. They didn't want some weirdo like me telling them the ropes.

I embarrassed Tom Rohrer by writing a letter to the company president about improper installation of equipment that resulted in animal harm. The president was very upset that I discovered shortcomings in the work of his company. I thought he would be pleased that I told him this fact, but instead he felt threatened by me. Technically, I was right. Socially, no. He asked Tom to get rid of me. Luckily, Tom managed to keep my seat.

As the years passed, I learned to be more tactful and diplomatic. I learned not to contact higher authorities without obtaining permission from immediate management. Through experience, I have learned to avoid situations in which I might be exploited or my employers might feel uncomfortable. I learned diplomatic communication by reading about international negotiations and using them as a model.

Mastering the profession itself is not difficult. But many autistic people are familiar with problems arising from the social aspects of work. Many autistics expect that everyone around them is a good person, and it is a difficult realization that some people are bad and may try to take advantage of them, but every autistic person who wants to live independently has to go through this. People with autism who work in the workplace should work side by side with people who are trained in how to help an autistic person and what autism is in general. Autistic people who engage in mental work can avoid problems by concentrating on work. One autistic person, who had been successfully working in a laboratory for five years, found himself in an unpleasant situation when he went out for drinks with his colleagues. As a result, he was fired. To avoid getting into trouble, I communicate with my clients exclusively on business. If I try to flirt or go on a date with anyone from the companies I work with, it will only lead to unnecessary problems.

Research among autistic adults

There have been two large studies of successfully socialized autistic adults. Szatmari et al. (1989) described six autistic adults who were college educated and living independently. One of them became a “perpetual student” (autists tend to become “perpetual students” because universities combine intellectual stimulation with a structured routine), and the other five found jobs.

Two participants in Szatmari’s study found themselves in trade, and two more work in the library. The fifth became a physics tutor. The good thing about this job is that it doesn't require teamwork, and autistic people are often good at teaching something they are good at. Jason Utley of Kentucky, for example, became an Eagle Scout—the highest rank in Cub Scouts—and was very popular with other kids because he taught them how to tie knots. Teaching and trading involve communication with other people, but this communication is usually one-directional, in which the autistic person needs to convey the necessary information, but does not require him to understand all the intricacies of social interactions.

Kanner et al. (1972) described nine cases of successful adaptation of people with autism. Of these, five had jobs: a bank teller, a laboratory chemist, a worker at an agricultural experimental station, an accountant, and a library employee. One of them quit his job due to problems with communication in a team, while those who succeeded took jobs that did not require complex social interactions. Communication between a bank teller and clients involves simple, repetitive operations.

The girl, a laboratory assistant in a chemical laboratory, was a nurse before getting this job. Her inability to be flexible turned out to be a disaster. Having read in a textbook that a mother should breastfeed her child for twenty minutes, after this time she abruptly took the children away from the mothers nursing them in the maternity ward. This infuriated the women. After that, she went to work in the laboratory, where her colleagues could appreciate her knowledge of chemistry. A person working as an accountant was fired from his previous job after being promoted to a management position. I know of another sad case involving the promotion of an autistic employee. A draftsman who had worked successfully for many years in an architectural office was fired when he was promoted and his new position began to involve interaction with clients, which would not have happened if he had continued to draw.

However, despite such cases, we see that the transition from school to work is not an insurmountable obstacle for an autistic person, and many successfully cope with it. The following factors should be taken into account:

1. Smooth transition to work- first acquaintance with labor activity should happen while still studying.

2. Employer support— parents and teachers should help a person with autism find an employer who will be willing to support such an employee.

3. Mentors— autistic people, especially those with high intelligence, need a mentor who can support and help them develop social skills. It is best if he and the autistic person have common interests.

4. Educating employers and colleagues- employers and colleagues need to know what autism is to be able to support autistic people. They should understand that complex social interactions are difficult for autistic people and help them avoid such situations so that they do not lose their jobs.

5. Freelancing- freelancing for an autistic person with narrow skills in computers (programming), music (piano tuning) or drawing is often the best way earn a living. However, an autistic person needs someone to help them in the beginning and perhaps educate clients about autism.

6. Creating a portfolio- Autistic people are valued for their skills, not their personality. Your works should be combined into a portfolio: an artist can make a photocopy of his paintings, a programmer can make a demo disk. The portfolio should be presented to specialists in the relevant departments of the companies. Since autistic people have a hard time getting interviews, it's best to avoid HR departments, but professionals will appreciate your abilities - which is how I got the job.

Links

Kanner, L., Rodriguez, A., and Ashenden, B. (1972). How far can autistic children go in matters of social adaptation? Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia (New title: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders), 2: 9-33.

Szatmari, P., Bartolucci, G., Bond, S., and Rich, S. (1989). A follow-up study of high functioning autistic children. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 19: 213-225.

Revised February, 1996. An earlier version of this article appeared in The Advocate, Summer, 1992.

Thanks to Vladislav Tushkanov for the translation.

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Among the behavioral characteristics of autistic people, the most common are the following: the desire to limit contacts with the outside world, high degree focus on your interests, the desire to subordinate your life to a solid routine and the need to perform the same actions. It is believed that autistic people are ineffective in cooperation, that teamwork is clearly not their purpose. However, it would be a serious mistake to believe that people of this type are completely helpless in areas related to social activity: often autistic people demonstrate significant advantages in attention, memory and the ability to find non-standard solutions to a wide variety of problems.

Often the IQ of autistic people is much higher than average. Exactly these behavioral characteristics, which are traditionally believed to prevent autistic people from adapting to society, can become prerequisites for their successful professional implementation.

Science is an extremely favorable field for a person with autistic traits. Close attention to detail and the need to strictly adhere to routine are those character traits that contribute to the successful career of a scientist of any rank - from a junior researcher to an eminent professor.

Among talented programmers you can find a large number of autistic people Working outside of a group, one-on-one with a computer, is ideal for people who want to limit contact with the outside world. Programmers often work from home, and these are precisely the conditions in which people who seek self-isolation feel great.

Oddly enough, this is another area in which a person with little inclination to communicate can find himself. Due to certain behavioral characteristics, namely the desire to structure and analyze reality, an autistic person can very well develop the ability to present facts in an unbiased manner.

The tendency to perform stereotypical, repetitive actions is also characteristic of many autistic people. It is thanks to this that, without much psychological stress, they can perform work that most people find monotonous and therefore exhausting - for example, doing assembly line work.

Working with animals

Autistic people can also successfully realize their potential by dedicating themselves to working with animals. They can make excellent veterinarians. Farming is another area where people prone to loneliness have good opportunity apply your efforts successfully.

Remarkable potential and missed opportunities

Above were just some of the possibilities that can be used to solve the problem of social adaptation of this group of people. Since the spectrum of this type of behavior is very wide, that is, vulnerability to autism can manifest itself in varying degrees, and each autistic person exhibits only certain behavioral characteristics, no one area of ​​​​activity should be excluded as inappropriate in this case. Autistic people, as a rule, make highly qualified and very responsible workers, provided that the area of ​​application of their efforts is chosen correctly. Apparently, in our society there is still little awareness of the fact that the potential of people with autistic behavior can be extremely useful, because autism is generally considered a pathological state of the psyche. It remains to be hoped that as society becomes more aware of the potential this type of behavior carries, the opportunities for professional fulfillment for autistic people will increase.

When applying for a job, you can often hear the question: “How will you be useful to our company, what new can you offer us?” To answer correctly, you need an accurate understanding of your strengths and weaknesses. An employer is a mindful person, and with his story the applicant shapes his idea of ​​himself as an employee, and “something new” often means a fresh look at the familiar. It happens that this view is so unusual that it is not used. Success in the profession strongly depends on the ability to convey information to people with different types of thinking, perception of the world and emotional intelligence. This task has additional difficulty for people with autism spectrum disorder.

Like any person, an autistic person has weaknesses and strengths. Many autistic people differ not only in the form of the disease, but also in their skills. For diagnosis, an IQ scale is used, which identifies low-, medium- and high-functioning autism. There are syndromic and non-syndromic autism, the first is characterized by severe and extreme forms of mental retardation. People diagnosed with ASD vary in a wide range of skills, abilities, and interests. Among the individual manifestations of the disease in adult autists are muteness, mental retardation, incessant hand waving, reticence, and narrow interests. Social skills are not their strong point, but they do have a number of advantages, such as memory.

High-functioning and low-functioning autistic people have excellent long-term memory, which makes it difficult for them to multitask. Temple Grandin, a world-famous autistic person, says the following about her memory: “Using computer terminology from 1999, I have a 1000 gigabyte hard drive and a 286 processor. U ordinary people there may only be 10 gigabytes of disk space on the hard drive and a Pentium as a processor. I can't do 2 or 3 things at once." For a person with autistic disorder, the most important thing is to correctly identify their talents. In the work environment, they have to compensate for low social skills with greater success in the profession. This is the only way to force people to buy a manufactured product, writes T. Grandin.

High-functioning and low-functioning autistic people have excellent long-term memory, which makes it difficult for them to multitask.

Several conditions are important for comfortable work: the boss’s understanding of social restrictions, a good portfolio and the ability to sell your work, not yourself. Problems can arise with bosses, especially in Russia, largely due to the stereotypes that accompany people with ASD.

For diagnosis, an IQ scale is used, which identifies low-, medium- and high-functioning autism. There are syndromic and non-syndromic autism, the first is characterized by severe and extreme forms of mental retardation.

A big surprise for “people who know everything about this disease” is the fact about the emotionality of autistic people. They are emotional in their own way, and even more sensitive than ordinary people regarding some things. Criticism becomes unpleasant and difficult for both parties - the autistic person and the boss. The former do not perceive nonverbal signals well; it is difficult for them to determine why a person is dissatisfied. The boss, like an ordinary person, can transfer his own experiences and problems to criticism, but autistic people find it difficult to determine the line between the constructive and subjective components. In addition, criticism provokes "aspies" (people with Asperger's syndrome) to a stream of new questions that they are forced to ask an already irritated boss. They cannot correct their work in any other way and find out what the mistake is.

The Workplace Accommodation Organization, which advises employers on making accommodations for people with a variety of disabilities, provides information on how to help an employee with autism. People with ASD may experience difficulties at work due to:

• Inability to manage time. This problem can be solved by using a timer, calendar, or organizer.
• Communication problems. You can avoid them by allowing the autistic person to come with a friend or colleague to an important meeting, having worked out a list of topics that will be discussed in advance.
• Atypical body movements. Such movements help people with ASD to calm down, but cause the opposite reaction in other employees. If this problem exists, it is necessary to provide the employee with a private place to work or short breaks during which the employee with autism will engage in physical activity that is enjoyable for him.
• Reduced concentration. Using noise-cancelling headphones, sound-absorbing partitions, and providing a private work area are excellent ways to reduce stress and improve the quality of work of a person with ASD. At first, some organizations may invite a tutor to accurately understand what kind of difficulties and how to compensate for them. It also helps to connect with colleagues and expand the autistic experience.

Character and psychological state play an important role when choosing a profession. Specialties that require an emphasis on many details or person-to-person communication are immediately eliminated. For those with an aptitude for music, mathematics, or factual work, the following options include: Laboratory Technician, Proofreading Editor, Taxi Driver, Statistician, Tuner musical instruments. People with low verbal skills will be comfortable working in landscaping, copy machine, or janitor jobs.

Surprisingly, autistic people reveal themselves in creativity, many of them famous writers, artists and musicians known as geniuses. The book “Autism Drawn” contains stunning drawings by outstanding artists and children with ASD, these works demonstrate not only their talent, but also the characteristics of autism spectrum disorders. The uniqueness and unusual atmosphere of the drawing is an opportunity to visually “feel” the world of other people.

Among the individual manifestations of the disease in adult autists are muteness, mental retardation, incessant hand waving, reticence, and narrow interests. Social skills are not their strong point, but they do have a number of advantages, such as memory.

Moscow recently hosted an exhibition of work from workshops where people with autism work. The products were provided by students of the Anton Is Near Center, which is located in St. Petersburg, and Special Workshops. Moscow Technological College No. 21 has created a structural unit “Center for Social Adaptation and vocational training» for young people with mental disabilities. Here students learn professional skills in craft workshops: pottery, carpentry, sewing and weaving and art printing.

Autistic people find it difficult to determine the line between constructive and subjective components

Nowadays, all kinds of syndromes, mental illnesses, and disorders are taken more seriously. Recognition was followed by an understanding of the need to unite people with neurological disabilities. Organizations have emerged that help people find work, establish contact between “two worlds,” and provide social assistance. There are foundations in Russia whose activities are aimed at improving the lives of autistic people and their families and training specialists to work with autistic people.

Just 2 years ago, autism in Russia was not officially recognized, so work on the adoption of state programs for social adaptation and correction, development of methods early diagnosis and therapies are just beginning.

Photo in text: from open sources

Foundation News: “Not a limitation, but an advantage”

A round table was held dedicated to the digital future of people with ASD

On April 6, Mail.ru Group hosted a round-table “People with Autism in the Digital World: Education and Profession,” where the Exit Foundation took part as an expert partner. In addition, with the support of the foundation, an online manual will be developed dedicated to the education of people with ASD in the IT field.

Foundation news: Round table in Voronezh on the topic 18+

An interdepartmental government meeting with the participation of federal experts was held at the Department of Social Protection

The meeting was attended by heads and employees of departments social protection, healthcare, education, labor and employment, culture, physical culture and sports of the government of the Voronezh region. The hosting party was the Department of Social Protection. In addition, the member of the Council for Trusteeship in the Social Sphere, Director of the Center for Curative Pedagogy, A.L., took part in the round table. Bitova, expert of the Council on Trusteeship in the Social Sphere E.Yu. Zabolotskis, representatives of the parent community and the “Vykhod” foundation. The round table was moderated by the foundation's organizing consultant A.M. Berkolaiko.

Vera Shengelia and Lyubov Arkus about the boundaries of the norm in life and art

As part of a parallel program to the exhibition “People Should Be Different” in Tsaritsino, a public talk was held, during which a journalist, public figure Vera Shengelia interviewed the president of the “Exit in St. Petersburg” foundation, the creator of the “Anton Is Near” center, Lyubov Arkus.

Interview. Carol Schell: "Many people with autism can work"

Interview with a specialist in the field of helping adults with autism, one of the speakers at the II International scientific-practical conference"Autism. Choosing a route", which took place on October 6-8, 2016 in Voronezh

Dr. Carol Schell is a psychologist, educator, director of the Virginia Autism Resource Center, professor at Virginia Commonwealth University (USA). She has been helping adolescents and adults with ASD for over 30 years as an educator, administrator, researcher, and consultant. One of the main authors of the SEARCH model for employing young people with ASD in competitive jobs, which has demonstrated high effectiveness, and which she spoke about at the conference.

Autism and society. In Hollywood, autistic people work on the Game of Thrones series and the Avengers films.

Graduates educational program Exceptional Minds for Autistic Adults has worked on the computer effects of many famous projects, including The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Ant-Man, Avengers: Age of Ultron and the Game of Thrones series.

The program is highly regarded by both graduates and their families, primarily because many students, once enrolled in Exceptional Minds, begin to live independently, make friends for the first time, and begin to communicate with other people. For most parents of children with ASD, this was a pipe dream.

Autism and society. People with autism are now in demand in the Israeli army

As part of a special program, young soldiers with autism are analyzing satellite images of suspicious objects

Most people with autism have communication difficulties and other problems that make it difficult for them to find employment. However, they may also have characteristics that can be advantageous in the workplace, including the uniqueness of their thinking and memory. To harness these abilities, the Israeli army is implementing a special program that recruits young people with autism to analyze satellite photographs.

To specialists. Life skills for successful employment with autism

Employment is not just about earning money to survive. Employment is an opportunity to contribute to society. Work maintains a person's self-esteem. How can we best support adults on the autism spectrum who want to work?

Question answer. How can we help young men and women with autism and Asperger syndrome find employment?

Experience of a project to employ young people with ASD in the American organization Chapel Haven

Chapel Haven employees decided to get creative, reconsider the methods used to evaluate job openings, and put more emphasis on building relationships with local employers. And this approach paid off.

Notes from an autistic person. Transitioning from school to work for autistic young people

One of the most famous people with autism in the world on how to properly prepare for employment

Having attended many conferences where issues of autism were raised, I often heard about autistic people who successfully completed school and even received higher education, but could not find a job after that.

Question answer. How to create an autism-friendly workplace?

More and more more companies, especially in the technology sector, are recognizing the benefits that autistic people can bring to their organization and are hiring them. However, in order to harness the unusual strengths and talents of autistic employees, it is necessary to create an autism-friendly work environment.

How can an autistic person survive in this world? – Rules of communication

Today the world dictates strict rules for life in it: success, beauty, health, grooming. Young looking, smiling and sociable are the ideal members of society today. But what if you or your loved ones do not fit into these frameworks? Of course, you can take care of yourself, visit a cosmetologist and hairdresser, and don’t forget about visits to doctors, but... what to do if the problem lies in the area of ​​communication? How can an autistic person interact with other people?

Ivan is 20 years old. He speaks little and reluctantly. He sits at home all the time and has no friends. Ivan’s favorite hobby is arranging cubes and other small objects in an order known only to him. He can do this activity for hours.

Ivan doesn’t like changes in his life - he always eats from the same plate, goes for walks in the same place, doesn’t like guests, doesn’t like when dad or mom go somewhere - he protests and demands to come back. He gets hysterical if furniture is rearranged at home or something new is bought.

Ivan has been suffering since childhood autism. What does this term mean?

The term " autism» was introduced into science by the Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler in 1910. This word is based on the Greek ". ", which translated means "himself." With this concept, the psychiatrist designated “the autistic withdrawal of the patient into the world of his own fantasies, any external influence on which is perceived as unbearable intrusiveness.”

Briefly autism characterized by a lack of interaction with society, limited interests and stereotypical movements.

What causes autism?

Scientists have not yet reached a consensus on this matter. Some believe that the occurrence of autism is due to a gene mutation, others - a failure in the development of the embryo during the period from 20 to 40 days of pregnancy. This failure, according to scientists, occurs due to bad habits pregnant women.

How does autism develop?

This disease makes itself felt in the first three years of a child’s development. Children do not speak for a long time, do not pay attention to others, do not make eye contact. They may have difficulty developing motor skills - a hobbling gait, holding their hands in an unusual way, or poor coordination of movements. They do not notice the emotions of others, it is difficult for them to express their emotions.

If you notice the disease in time and start treatment, in adulthood it will be easier for such people to interact with the outside world.

Research by British scientists has shown that autism occurs to one degree or another in every hundredth adult.

Classification of adult autism

The first group includes practically incurable patients. They do not interact with the outside world, they live in their own world, access to which is closed to everyone. They don't know how to speak. Their level of intellectual development is low. They do not know how to take care of themselves, they constantly need outside help and attention. They should never be left alone.

The second group includes withdrawn patients. They know how to talk (but have problems with speech) and can communicate with others on strictly defined topics. The content of their conversation may seem absurd and illogical to ordinary people, “as if from the world of fantasy,” etc.

Such people can sit for hours doing what they love, forgetting about food, sleep and natural needs. They do not like innovations, they actively, sometimes aggressively, protest against any changes (for example, parents change the wallpaper). Their movements are monotonous and monotonous.

The third group includes patients with certain skills and abilities. They do not accept the views of society. They can contact others, but do not pay attention to anyone.

The fourth group includes people who are difficult to distinguish from the ordinary mass. They are smart, but not independent, cannot make decisions, give in to problems, and are overly touchy. Obedient, follow the rules. Only a psychiatrist can identify such autistic people among ordinary people.

The fifth group includes people whose intelligence is above average and high. Scientists believe that autism with high intelligence leads to genius. There are many talented people among them. Such autistics They realize themselves well in mathematics, physics, programming, and writing.

Have any celebrities suffered from autism?

It is believed that many scientists suffered from autism to one degree or another. For example, Albert Einstein was a lonely child, did not speak for a long time, threw tantrums at any changes, and until the age of seven he mindlessly repeated sentences spoken by others (by the way, echolalia - uncontrolled automatic repetition of words heard in someone else's speech - is one of the symptoms of autism).

Isaac Newton was so absorbed in his favorite pastime that he forgot about eating and sleeping. He was practically indifferent to his few friends, and sometimes even intolerant of them. He loved his science so much that if none of the students came to his classes, he lectured in front of an empty audience.

Other characteristics of autistic people

They have difficulty learning nonverbal skills social interaction. For example, ordinary children can understand and repeat gestures and facial expressions at a young age, while autistic children cannot learn non-verbal language. They do not look a person in the eyes or look at a person as if they were an inanimate object. It is difficult for them to share joy, grief and other feelings with their interlocutor, which is why they seem cold and insensitive to outsiders.
They are distinguished by limited sets of interests.
They persistently follow specific, impractical rituals (for example, when traveling in a car, they are always asked to pass through the same fountain, even if it is not on the way).
Autistic people are characterized by stereotypic movements (twirling a finger, twirling a palm, slamming a palm on a table, making aimless strange body movements).
They have delayed cognitive development and may lack self-care skills.

Life difficulties of people with autism

For autistic those with average and above average intelligence are characterized by such qualities as egocentrism (self-centeredness) with little or no desire to communicate with peers. Thus, they can easily fall out of the team and become outcasts. They can choose to communicate with one or two people about whom they have a high opinion.

Due to underdeveloped speech skills, the inability to perceive conflicts and respond to mistreatment with dignity, people with autism often become victims of bullies and abusers - both in adolescence and in adulthood.

Autistic people They are distinguished by social naivety, truthfulness, and feel awkward when making comments. Therefore, many people brazenly “take advantage” of such people for their own benefit.

Because people with Blaler's disease have difficulty learning social norms, they may inadvertently offend others, further alienating team members.
Patients do not recognize “sign language”, do not know how to read “between the lines”, therefore they do not understand others well or take it literally, for example, having heard the phrase “Call any time”, they can call at 3 am. For the same reason, humor is not understood or difficult to understand.

Autistic people They do not feel bodily boundaries and can hang over their interlocutor, causing him irritation.

In their hobbies, people with autism can be very talented and possess valuable knowledge. Due to the inability to communicate, present themselves correctly, and due to the inability to present valuable information, they find themselves unrecognized, “burying their talent in the ground.”

Many autistic people with good intelligence strive to have romantic relationships, but are faced with a lack of social knowledge. They can see that everyone around them is talking about love, but they don’t understand that they themselves should feel what this feeling looks like? They have nothing to compare it with, since most have no attachment to other people.

They don't understand the gestures that accompany romance. They are not interested in kissing, since they do not see any benefit in it. They perceive hugs as an incomprehensible attempt to limit movement. They may experience sexual feelings, but because autistic people have few friends, they have no one to discuss their desires with and nowhere to get information.

Therefore, often in a courtship situation they take their knowledge from movies. Autistic men like to act like pompous macho men or theatrical heartthrobs, and after watching enough porn films, they can act like rapists. Autistic girls take their knowledge from soap operas, not realizing that such behavior does not correspond to modern life. As a result, they become victims of violence.

How can we help autistic adults?

If autistic severe form of the disease, close people should provide care and medical care for the patient throughout his life. You also need to choose a program that the patient will study.

Autistic people with a milder degree of the disease need correctional classes, in which they can learn with the help of intelligence social norms- for example, say hello when meeting, nod your head in agreement, learn to express your feelings, ask your interlocutor about his feelings, and not be afraid of strangers. And since many autistic people can work, they are taught communication skills in the workplace.
Treatment uses behavioral psychotherapy, homeopathy and diets.

On June 3, the premiere of the play of the inclusive family theater “i” took place in Minsk, in which children with autism played along with professional actors. Every year the number of such children in our country, and throughout the world, is growing. According to some data, every 68 inhabitants of our planet have such a feature. We found out who they are - people with autism - from the tutor of one of these guys, Yulia.

- Julia, tell us what the essence of the tutor’s profession is?

You know, unfortunately, there is no need to talk about profession yet. For our country, the topic of autism is still quite new, so there are a lot of unresolved organizational issues. One of them is the title of our position. IN this moment, you are officially talking to the teacher's assistant, in job responsibilities which does not include interaction with children at all (laughs). But in fact, I do the work of a tutor: I am next to the child in all lessons, accompany him to the dining room, help him both in his studies and in the process of socialization. And the word is so strange, because it is foreign - from the English “tutor” - mentor.

- You know about autism firsthand. Please tell us what this is and how it manifests itself?

Autism is a mental condition in which a person is immersed in himself and contact with the outside world is not easy for him. The cause of its occurrence is called the most disparate factors: from ecology to gene mutation. Autism manifests itself in different ways and is more common in the form of autistic disorders.

It is quite difficult to identify this feature at an early age. However, there are a number of peculiar “bells” that should alert parents. For example, the baby does not respond to his mother’s smile or plays exclusively with one toy all the time. Growing up, the baby does not respond to his name and often behaves as if he does not hear simple requests. His speech may suffer: he starts talking late, has serious problems with pronunciation - speaks quietly, indistinctly.

Such a child will also have special games: arranging objects in a row, or according to various characteristics (color, size). He will be ready to do this for hours and it is almost impossible to distract him with something else.

The sensitivity threshold in children with autism can be either very low or very high, so they can unexpectedly react sharply to sounds that are common to us, simple touches. Our special second-graders, for example, sometimes walk through the noisy corridors of school wearing special headphones.

So-called rituals can also play a large role in the lives of many children with autism. For example, it is important for him to go for a walk along the same route and eat the same dish for breakfast. Changes for such children - severe stress. And rituals are peculiar islands of safety.

- It turns out that their problems with socialization are connected, among other things, with the inability to tolerate contact. After all, contact with another always brings uncertainty and change.

Yes, many people assume that a child with autism does not want to interact. This is wrong. He is happy about the contact, but in his own way. Contact with him is possible through joining, through showing keen interest and respect for what he does. For example, a child sculpts. You can spend all your energy trying to distract him with mathematics - and you will achieve nothing. Or you can sit nearby and watch. So, gradually, trust is built and, perhaps, the child will soon open up. Of course, there is no guarantee. But sometimes, after many unsuccessful attempts, sudden progress occurs. This depends on many factors: on upbringing, development, the depth of the disorder, even on the situation. For example, one of our students reads and counts perfectly with his mother, but without her the results deteriorate significantly. That is why adaptation is so important for such children - only in a familiar environment can they express themselves. School helps you get used to people, to society; and to facilitate the adaptation process is a tutor. At the same time, you need to be very careful and control yourself, because one wrong gesture or tone of voice - and the child can shut down again.

- It must be very difficult to always control yourself?

Without a doubt. It takes a lot of strength and patience. And you can learn this throughout your life. But nothing will work out differently. The main thing is to always remember that a child with autism perceives reality differently and acts based on his perception. He really wants, but cannot always behave as is accepted in society. Due to its vulnerability, among other things. Therefore, he may suddenly scream loudly in class or on the bus. Our society, of course, reacts poorly to such behavior: the mother may be bombarded with comments about the child’s bad manners or spoiled behavior. But the child does not do this on purpose, not out of spite. People should think about this before taking out their irritation on such children and their parents. It’s not easy for them anyway, believe me.

“It’s very difficult for parents of such children. On the one hand, such a difficult child; on the other hand, a non-accepting society. And fear for the future. Perhaps they are exhausted by such a life?

You know, we have a boy, Kostya, who sculpts beautifully. He notices the smallest details, all the nuances, and reproduces them with a bang. For example, would it occur to you to sculpt a shadow when creating a plasticine helicopter? And he got it! We even organized an exhibition of his works, and people did not believe that a child had done this. His mother was happy for her son, proud of him. And recently I also became interested in sculpting... And it turned out that Kostya’s talent is hereditary. From polymer clay she makes incredible crafts. So by chance, thanks to her son’s passion, my mother discovered something in herself that she had never suspected.

Raising children with autism is undoubtedly not easy. But thanks to them, some parents manage to discover completely new facets of their personality. In our country, parents do a lot for their children, because, due to the instability of the state system in this matter, almost everything falls on their shoulders. The list of their difficulties can be endless. But they are great - they don’t give up.

- I know that parents of children with autism strive to unite to solve the problems of their children together. What about the community among the children themselves? How does communication work within your small group?

In our second class there are three students with autistic disorders (9-11 years old), and their entire educational process takes place in a separate, specially equipped classroom. They additionally come to the general class for mathematics, drawing, labor and physical education. We, tutors, of course, strive to unite them, but the feeling of a team is alien to them. There is contact between two children if both good mood: They can run and play together. We support such initiatives in every possible way, because it helps children relax and relieve tension. But, unfortunately, a good mood does not always happen.

The feeling of a team is not alien to the guys, but it is given in different ways: for some it is easier, for others it is more difficult. For example, Maxim - he really loves communicating with other children. On general lessons he simply runs, and often initiates contact with his usual classmates.

- How do schoolchildren react to his initiative?

Mostly warm and interesting. This makes me happy. And even outside the school walls chance meeting they greet each other warmly. This, of course, is a huge support for parents of children with autism - to see that your child is accepted.

- But if the child’s socialization is fine, then what does autism have to do with it?

Autistic disorders can manifest themselves in sensorimotor hunger. For example, a child needs to constantly twist plasticine in his hands. And this is not a game for him. This is important for you and me to see. Without vision, we will lose all directions, become very frightened, and panic. And the same thing happens to him if you take away the plasticine from him. Or some children have a tendency to eat inedible things.

Yes, and contact with him is built differently. For example, during a conversation, a child may suddenly become self-absorbed: start saying something incomprehensible, or gesticulate.

Or here is an example of a dialogue:

- You are in the good mood?

Everything seems fine. But in fact, the child does not always understand what is being asked, but he answers because he knows that he must answer.

- You said that such children study in a specially equipped classroom. How does it differ from our usual learning space?

Our class is divided into zones (rest and study). If a child is overstressed, we let him go to a rest area where he can rest and calm down. Ordinary children, by the way, also really like this area when they come to visit us.

In our classroom, the desks are different, and, in general, the furniture is different. In order for a child with autism to concentrate, he needs to be “fixed”: on three sides of such desks there are walls and shelves, and the teacher sits not in front, but on the side. After the classroom was refurbished (there used to be regular furniture), learning went better: the children stopped being distracted and dispersed around the classroom.

One more point: for such children, visibility is very, simply extremely important. We have pictures posted all over the classroom with the main functions: calendar, lesson schedule, presence of classmates, etc. Cards are actively involved both in the educational process and in the reward system.

There is also a special sensory room for students. There are materials there to help children focus on different areas of sensitivity. There is nothing extraordinary in it: there is a mat, there are ottomans, there are several musical toys. For tactile perception - grain, millet, semolina, buckwheat. Children are very happy when they go there. We even use it as a reward if we want to motivate us to study. And working!

- We must constantly look for an approach, be alert, control ourselves. Being a tutor is probably very difficult. Do you regret your choice?

What do you! Firstly, we have time to switch: we don’t work all day, but until lunch. So I have time to rest. And secondly, I find it interesting. I like our children; their spontaneity and manifestation of autistic characteristics sometimes evoke warmth and tenderness. Of course, fatigue also happens. But it pays off. After all, I see the fruits of our labors: children learn better, understand this world better, and get used to the order at school. Mothers say that during the holidays the children look forward to going to school. And they go with joy. But this is very important for them.

- As far as I know, tutoring is not taught in our country. How did you get this job?

By profession I am a psychologist. And yes, you are not mistaken, in universities in our country they either do not talk about autism or talk about it very casually. No special training I did not have. But a few years ago I came across P. Szatmari’s book “Children with Autism.” The book was very impressive, and I became interested in this topic. And then I accidentally saw a vacancy and immediately responded to it. Probably, this was just the case when everything in life turned out the way it should have been. Now I understand that, despite all the difficulties and nuances, this job suits me.

During my work, I attended a lot of seminars and read a lot on this topic. But children are all different. Communication with a child, understanding the specifics of his character comes with time. And the parents provided enormous assistance in this process - they provided explanations, recommendations and comments. It helped.

Let's be honest, this work brings me moral satisfaction, but neither material stability nor social status there is no need to talk. It's a pity. The attractiveness and popularity of this activity is essential because children with autism need help. And the tutors here help you take the first step in Big world. But a very important step. And if there are not enough of them or simply not there, then there is no help.

I look at our children and realize with sadness that many things that are familiar to us are almost unattainable for them. And on how positively they perceive external world their future depends. After all, they still have to study further, look for work, their place in the world. And I really hope that society will learn to calmly accept such people and give them the opportunity to realize themselves.

According to world statistics, 70% of people with autism do not have friends, 95% of them do not start their own families; only 25 - 30% find work.

Unusual and strange, gifted child or adult. Among boys, autism is several times more common than among girls. There are many causes of the disease, but all of them have not been fully identified. Features of developmental deviations can be noticed in the first 1–3 years of children’s lives.

Who is this autistic person?

They immediately attract attention, be it adults or children. What does autistic mean? This is a biologically determined disease related to general disorders of human development, characterized by a state of “immersion in oneself” and withdrawal from contacts with reality and people. L. Kanner, a child psychiatrist, became interested in such unusual children. Having identified a group of 9 children for himself, the doctor observed them for five years and in 1943 introduced the concept of EDA (early childhood autism).

How to recognize autistic people?

Each person is unique in its essence, but there are similar character traits, behavior, and preferences in both ordinary people and those suffering from autism. There are a general number of features that are worth paying attention to. Autism - signs (these disorders are typical for both children and adults):

• inability to communicate;
• impairment of social interaction;
• deviant, stereotypical behavior and lack of imagination.

Autistic child - signs

Attentive parents notice the first manifestations of the baby’s unusualness very early, according to some sources, before 1 year. Who is an autistic child and what features in development and behavior should alert an adult in order to promptly seek medical and psychological help? According to statistics, only 20% of children have a mild form of autism, the remaining 80% have severe disabilities with concomitant diseases (epilepsy, mental retardation). Starting from a young age, the following signs are characteristic:

With age, the manifestations of the disease can worsen or smooth out, this depends on a number of reasons: the severity of the disease, timely drug therapy, learning social skills and unlocking potential. Who is an autistic adult can be recognized already at the first interaction. Autism - symptoms in an adult:

• has serious difficulties in communication, it is difficult to start and maintain a conversation;
• lack of empathy (empathy) and understanding of the states of other people;
• sensory sensitivity: normal handshake or touching stranger can cause panic in an autistic person;
• disturbance of the emotional sphere;
• stereotypical, ritual behavior that persists until the end of life.

Why are autistic people born?

In recent decades, there has been a surge in the birth rate of children with autism, and if 20 years ago it was one child in 1000, now it is 1 in 150. The numbers are disappointing. The disease occurs in families with different social structures and incomes. Why autistic children are born - the reasons have not been fully elucidated by scientists. Doctors name about 400 factors influencing the occurrence of autistic disorder in a child. Most likely:

• genetic hereditary anomalies and mutations;
• suffered by a woman during pregnancy various diseases(rubella, herpetic infection, diabetes mellitus);
• mother's age after 35 years;
• imbalance of hormones (in the fetus the production of testosterone increases);
• poor ecology, mother’s contact during pregnancy with pesticides and heavy metals;
• vaccinating a child with vaccinations: the hypothesis is not confirmed by scientific data.

Rituals and obsessions of an autistic child

In families where such unusual children appear, parents have many questions to which they need answers in order to understand their child and help develop his potential. Why do autistic people not make eye contact or behave emotionally inappropriately or make strange, ritual-like movements? It seems to adults that the child ignores and avoids contact when he does not make eye contact when communicating. The reasons lie in a special perception: scientists conducted a study which revealed that autistic people have better developed peripheral vision and have difficulty controlling eye movements.

Ritualistic behavior helps the child reduce anxiety. The world with all its changing diversity is incomprehensible to autists, and rituals give it stability. If an adult intervenes and disrupts a child’s ritual, problems may occur. aggressive behavior, self-injury. Finding himself in an unusual environment, an autistic person tries to perform familiar stereotypical actions in order to calm down. The rituals and obsessions themselves are varied, unique for each child, but there are also similar ones:

• twist ropes and objects;
• put toys in one row;
• walk the same route;
• watch the same film many times;
• snapping fingers, shaking their heads, walking on tiptoes;
• wear only clothes that are familiar to them
• are eating certain type food (meager diet);
• sniffs objects and people.

How to live with autism?

It is difficult for parents to accept that their child is not like everyone else. Knowing who an autistic person is, one can assume that it is difficult for all family members. In order not to feel alone in their misfortune, mothers unite in various forums, create alliances and share their small achievements. The disease is not a death sentence; a lot can be done to unlock the potential and sufficient socialization of a child if he is mildly autistic. How to communicate with autistic people - first understand and accept that they have a different picture of the world:

• take words literally. Any jokes or sarcasm are inappropriate;
• tend to be frank and honest. This can be annoying;
• don't like to be touched. It is important to respect the child's boundaries;
• cannot stand loud sounds and screams; calm communication;
• difficult to understand oral speech, you can communicate through writing, sometimes children start writing poetry this way, where their inner world is visible;
• there is a limited range of interests where the child is strong, it is important to see this and develop it;
• the child’s imaginative thinking: instructions, drawings, diagrams of the sequence of actions - all this helps learning.

How do autistic people see the world?

Not only do they not make eye contact, but they actually see things differently. Childhood autism later transforms into an adult diagnosis, and it depends on the parents how much their child can adapt to society, and even become successful. Autistic children hear differently: the human voice may not be distinguished from other sounds. They do not look at the whole picture or photograph, but select a tiny fragment and focus all their attention on it: a leaf on a tree, a lace on a shoe, etc.

Self-injury in autistic people

The behavior of an autistic person often does not fit into normal norms and has a number of features and deviations. Self-injury manifests itself in response to resistance to new demands: he begins to bang his head, scream, tear out his hair, and runs out onto the roadway. An autistic child lacks a “sense of edge” and traumatic and dangerous experiences are poorly consolidated. Eliminating the factor that caused the self-injury, returning to a familiar environment, talking through the situation allows the child to calm down.

Professions for autists

Autistic people have a narrow range of interests. Attentive parents can notice the child's interest in a certain area and develop it, which can later make him a successful person. What autistic people can do, given their low social skills, are professions that do not involve long-term contact with other people:

• drawing business;
• programming;
• repair of computers, household appliances;
• veterinary technician, if you love animals;
• various crafts;
• Web design;
• work in the laboratory;
• Accounting;
• working with archives.

How long do autistic people live?

The life expectancy of autistic people depends on the favorable conditions created in the family in which the child, then the adult, lives. The degree of impairment and concomitant diseases, such as epilepsy, profound mental retardation. Accidents and suicide can also be reasons for shorter life expectancy. European countries investigated this issue. People with autism spectrum disorders live 18 years less on average.

Famous autistic personalities

Among these mysterious people there are super-gifted ones or they are also called savants. World lists are constantly updated with new names. A special vision of objects, things and phenomena allows autistics to create masterpieces of art, develop new devices and medicines. Autistic people are increasingly attracting public attention. Famous autists of the world:

Text: Yulia Tsymbalova

April is Autism Awareness Month. This feature manifests itself in different ways, and when talking about it, they often use the long term “autism spectrum disorder”, which implies a variety of forms. The diagnosis can only be made by a specialist, but the peculiarity can often be recognized already in childhood: the signals may be problems in communication and social adaptation, involuntary repetitive actions, and avoidance of eye contact. It is important for everyone to know general information about the signs of autism: according to statistics, 1 in 68 children are born with it. The sooner this developmental feature is identified in a child and they begin to work with him, the higher his chances of rich socialization in the future.

I was literally brought into work with children with autism by new shoes - and partly by cinema. Anticipating that the loafers I bought the day before would probably chafe, on the way to work I stopped at the pharmacy for a band-aid. A foreigner was standing in line with me, we got to talking, and it turned out that she works with children with autism. autism

I began to become interested four years ago, after I watched Lyubov Arkus’s film “” - I became interested in how such people are trained. I have a pedagogical education, but I knew nothing about this at all.

My new friend Sarah turned out to be a certified behavior analyst, told me a little about the method on which the training is based - applied behavior analysis - and advised me to contact the Belaya Vorona center, with which she collaborated in Moscow. I wanted to become a volunteer, but there was no such opportunity - the center turned out to be commercial. Around the same time, I watched the film “Walk” by Avdotya Smirnova - then I did not yet know that she was the president of the “Exit” foundation. Soon, at a lecture on autism, Avdotya recommended the same “White Crow” center to me. The symbol of autism is a puzzle: I felt as if my personal puzzle had come together, and I understood in which direction to move.

The symbol of autism is a puzzle: I felt as if my personal puzzle had come together, and I understood which direction to move in

The head of the center, Anna, offered me several options: I could undergo training before working, or I could do it at the same time, getting a job at a school with an inclusive program. I was not ready for the second, although I was thinking about changing my career: by that time I had been working for an international company for two years and realized that the office was not for me. At the same time, teaching and volunteering brought me much more moral satisfaction than another completed project, so I signed up for the course.

The training course is based on ABA (applied behavior analysis). ABA therapy is a scientific technique that is used in training people with autism. Its effectiveness is confirmed by research results, although some experts are skeptical about it. ABA therapy is based on an analysis of the reasons why

or other behavior. It is used in a variety of areas, but is best known for teaching people with autism. “White Crow” is not the only center where you can learn ABA therapy. Certified behavior analyst Julia Erts also conducts ABA training; The technique is taught at the “Our Sunny World” center, as well as at the Moscow Institute of Psychoanalysis.

The brains of children with autism work differently. As a result, they may have difficulty with social, communication and other skills - or may not be very interested in working on them. In order to teach children what they need, ABA specialists motivate them with things that interest them. The learning process must be successful for the child: in pedagogy, this principle is called creating a “situation of success.” The teacher must organize the educational process so that, firstly, the child becomes interested in learning something new; secondly, for the child to do the work to find out; and thirdly, the teacher must recognize the importance of the child's achievement and his independent work- praise him, give him a high rating.

A popular phrase among those who work with people with autism is “If you know one person with autism, then you know one person with autism.”

ABA therapy uses the same principle, but takes into account the characteristics of children with autism. They often have impaired social adaptation skills, and social encouragement, as a rule, means little to them - therefore, when performing tasks in ABA therapy, the child is motivated primarily by what he likes: toys or favorite snacks. The tutor encourages the child and praises him so that social encouragement becomes meaningful for him. A popular phrase among those who work with people with autism is “If you know one person with autism, then you know one person with autism.” It’s true: autism manifests itself in different ways, so you need to carefully prepare for a lesson with each child: carefully study the program, note what the child likes, what motivates him. The appearance of a new person is stressful for the ward, and this also needs to be taken into account.

Classes are conducted according to an individual program. First, the child is tested to find out what he already knows and what he will need to be taught during therapy. The opinion of the parents is also important - what, in their opinion, the child should be taught. For example, if a child at nine years old cannot take care of himself and does not know how to divide fractions, then he will first be taught self-service skills. The curator draws up a program in which he indicates suitable exercises, sequence of actions and methods of work - an instructor (tutor) will work with the child according to it. Parents must also follow the program's recommendations. Supervision is carried out periodically: the supervisor observes the progress of the lesson, tells the tutor what needs to be improved, and analyzes whether the program needs to be updated.

I am sincerely pleased that both women and men choose this profession. Some ABA specialists are parents who learned the technique to help their children and then continued to work in this field. We must give them their due: they did not give up and looked for an opportunity to improve the lives of their children, namely their

Thanks to the efforts of ABA therapy, it finally appeared in Russia. On the other hand, it helps to understand the scale of the problem in Russian society. Imagine: your to a loved one you need help, but first you are misled by an incorrect diagnosis, and then you have to learn a new profession yourself because there is no one else to help. Many parents had to go approximately this way a few years ago, when instead of autism, their children were diagnosed with schizophrenia: there was a catastrophic shortage of qualified specialists. There were about ten people in my group: parents of children with autism, those who were receiving education to work in inclusive classes, and those who planned to work as tutors in the center. The two-week course included online theory lessons and weekend practical sessions. In online lessons we studied terminology, watched video lectures, analyzed cases and tests.

Imagine, your loved one needs help, but first you are misled by an incorrect diagnosis, and then you have to learn a new profession - because there is no one else to help

Pedagogical education, of course, helped me: for example, knowledge about behaviorism, on which applied behavior analysis is actually based, made it possible to understand the mechanisms of ABA therapy. I don’t think that pedagogical education is absolutely necessary when studying ABA, but I am sure that knowledge of general and developmental psychology, pedagogy and teaching methods allowed us to better understand therapy methods. Fluent English is what is really important if you want to become good specialist. Applied behavior analysis originated in the USA more than fifty years ago, during which time a lot of literature and scientific research, but to understand them, you need to know the language. In Russia, this technique has recently become known: the Vykhod Foundation has translated several books, and articles and documents appear mainly through the efforts of activists of the ABA community and charitable foundations. There is still no uniform standard of Russian-language terms: for example, a specialist working with a child with autism using the ABA method may be called an instructor, therapist, therapist or tutor.

Thanks to my fluent English and a background in pedagogical education, the theoretical part of the course was easy for me. But the practical part - various exercises and the rules for carrying them out - had to be learned from scratch. It wasn't so much difficult as it was new. While practicing each exercise, the instructor must immediately record the results in a special table - while maintaining a fast enough pace so that the child does not lose interest. Giving a task and, if necessary, a hint, watching how the child completes it, encouraging him, immediately recording the result in a table, and then moving on to another task without slowing down is real multitasking. Moreover, each action must be performed according to the rules: for example, there are nine types of tips that are divided into two categories, and you must know which one you need to apply in a particular situation. We practiced the exercises with each other and discussed mistakes. At the end of the course it was necessary to pass exams.

After I passed the exam and received an ABA tutor certificate, I signed a combination agreement with the center. Before starting classes at the center, it was necessary to undergo an internship: attend the lessons of more experienced instructors, having previously received permission from the child’s parents. I started working with minimal

load: worked with one ward. It turned out that I worked seven days a week: in the office on weekdays and with the child on weekends. It sounds paradoxical, but while working, I rested - everything was compensated positive emotions. I worked this schedule because I knew why I was doing it: I wanted to understand whether I would like the work of an ABA instructor.

I think that everyone who works with people with autism begins to talk more about autism with others. Friends and relatives reacted differently to my work: some approved, others regretted it in advance. But the most unpleasant thing was to encounter the stereotype that someone is “to blame” for the child’s autism.

Many of the most everyday, familiar phenomena for us - the sound of a doorbell, bright light, touch - can be extremely stressful for a person with autism and cause almost physical pain.

Perhaps the hardest thing to realize was that people with autism experience the world differently. Many of the most everyday phenomena familiar to us - sound doorbell, bright light, touching - for a person with autism can be extremely stressful and cause almost physical pain. At the beginning of my work, it was sometimes difficult for me to understand why a child suddenly cried or screamed. Supervision helped to overcome this: the supervisor suggested what needed to be improved. This helped to learn to be more attentive and prevent sensory overload in a child in time.

In ABA therapy, it is important not only to teach the child, but also to ensure that the time he spends with the instructor is joyful. To do this, you need to monitor what children like, be aware interesting games. When I saw how a child was having fun with his next gaming discovery, it filled me with absolute happiness. When working with children with autism, every achievement is especially valuable: a look in the eyes, a request to play, a smile, a laugh, such everyday actions are a victory for the whole team - the child himself, the parents, the curator and the tutor. Yes, in this work, as in any other, there are difficulties, but supervision helps to overcome them. The feeling when the child I was working with made eye contact with me for the first time, looked me in the eyes, is impossible to describe. Successes, even the smallest ones, are important steps in a child’s path to socialization, and I felt proud and happy that I had invested a piece of myself in this.

Circumstances were such that I had to move and had to quit both jobs. It was especially sad to leave the center: although I worked there for only a few months, it was a very valuable experience for me. I realized that I wanted to work in education. In addition to ABA, I would like to master other methods of teaching people with special needs. Now I live in the USA, and there are a huge number of foundations, institutes and organizations involved in autism research. I applied to one of them to participate as a volunteer in a research project, and am still waiting for a response. I would like to teach at the university most different people, among whom there would be people with special needs. I haven’t decided on the subject yet - perhaps this will require another pair of new boots.