Helping those with autism find employment

A foreign language stood between Joe Obergfell and a high school diploma. Obergfell, who was diagnosed with autism at age 8, knew that language wasn't his forte.

But Mooresville High required students to pass at least one language class for graduation. A counselor intervened, and Obergfell was allowed to fulfill the requirement with a programming class.

For Obergfell, the decision was life-changing. He majored in computer science in college and is employed in the field.

"I understood that technology was something that comes easy to me," said Obergfell, who works in information technology for Indianapolis Public Schools.

Obergfell knows he's fortunate. Employment for a person with autism, even one considered "high functioning" like Obergfell, is not a foregone conclusion.

People who have autism may have a difficult time picking up social cues, such as knowing when to end a conversation. They may have a difficult time fitting into a workplace culture.

On the flip side, adults with autism — particularly those who are high-functioning or who have Asperger's syndrome — may have skills that mesh well with an employer's needs. They tend to arrive to work on time and be detailed-oriented, says Tommy Guest, who runs a program through the Autism Society of Indiana that helps people find employment.

This weekend the Autism Society is holding its 45th national conference in Indianapolis. Many of the sessions focus on helping those with autism find employment. Obergfell spoke on a panel Friday.

Those in the autism community — from experts to parents to teachers to those with autism — are paying more attention to the issue. One in 88 individuals is thought to have autism.

About 74 percent of individuals with autism say they have potential to be employed if given a chance, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Indiana autism society also is trying to help find answers. It recently started the CareerAlly project in Fort Wayne that employed Guest to help those who are high functioning or who have Asperger's to find jobs.

"These are people that tend to fall through the cracks in all other areas," Guest said.

Jobs programs, such as Goodwill, exist to help those with more severe disabilities find employment, but there is little assistance for those on the higher end of the spectrum, Guest said.

Many had tried the other programs and felt they just didn't work for them, he said.

"One individual said I felt like they were treating me like a child," he said. "These are extremely capable people, but their issues are more social."

The program starts by using software that matches would-be employees with potential area employers on factors such as skill set, the need for special accommodations and more. Guest visits area employers to assess their willingness to participate.

Sometimes he finds misconceptions about autism. One potential employer asked whether he should expect the employee to "freak out." Another asked whether an employee would hand-flap much?

"I just kind of chuckle," said Guest, who was diagnosed with Asperger's as an adult after his son was diagnosed. "Part of what I do while I'm working with them is to make sure they understand this is in no way a disability, that along with this comes some advantages."

Guest, who has held the position since January, works with eight to 10 people at a time and has helped several dozen people find employment. Most of those he helps are young adults, but he has helped individuals as old as 55.

The CareerAlly program has been deemed so successful that the Autism Society of Indiana hopes to expand it to the Indianapolis area.

The assistance doesn't end once the client finds employment. Many of those Guest has helped have fewer problems finding jobs than keeping them.

It's a common problem, said Obergfell, who founded the group Indianapolis Adults on the Spectrum, which meets weekly.

Many members share stories of difficulties at work.

"It's not due to the fact they're difficult to work with, but sometimes the employer doesn't want to follow along with their mindset or because they seem difficult to the employer, even though they're just being who they are," Obergfell said.

Over the years, Obergfell has had a problem or two, but he has taken great pains to make autism a non-issue when it comes to employment.

During college, he went to the career center weekly, knowing he needed help with interview skills. Career counselors commented on his dedication rather than his diagnosis.

Two years after being hired at the Indianapolis Business Journal in information technology, Obergfell was downsized.

For the next eight months, he searched for new employment. It was the height of the recession and jobs were hard to come by. Still, Obergfell scheduled at least four interviews a month during those eight months. Eventually he found a position working for the Indianapolis Public Schools district.

Rarely during interviews did Obergfell volunteer that he has autism, afraid it would be a strike against him.

"I never said autism, but I talked about my autistic skill set as an asset, not a liability," he said.

Call Star reporter Shari Rudavsky at (317) 444-6354. Follow her on Twitter @srudavsky.