I am still working on the Prospects entry, but I wanted to share this really great handbook I found that is published by The National Autistic Society (NAS) in the UK (the organization that largely funds the Prospects program). The paperback version is 60 pounds (sorry, I haven’t figured out how to do the pound symbol in this program), but I found that the digital version is 20 pounds (which I linked to below). I purchased and downloaded the digital version and am VERY impressed. It is an excellent resource for individuals on the spectrum going into the job market.
I pulled out Roger Meyer’s Asperger Syndrome Employment Workbook and Gail Hawkin’s How to Find Work that Works for People with Asperger Syndrome, quickly reviewed them, and found that while all three books have their strengths, if you only have time/resources for one, I would suggest the NAS book, especially since it is not solely focused on Aspergers. It is aesthetically pleasing with illustrations and boxes that break down the text and it has examples of what employers are looking for and has fill-in sections to help guide you along the job-seeking process. It does use slightly different workplace vocabulary than what Americans may generally use (like “roles” vs “positions”), but it shouldn’t be a problem. Another plus is that the digital version is downloaded as a pdf, so it is easy to print. That said, it is almost 240 pages, so you may want to only print certain pages. The book includes information about choosing, applying, and interviewing for positions, communication and social skills, managing anxiety, preparing for the workplace, and additional tools.
Employing the Spectrum 