Where Things Began
When a young autistic man with complex needs started working in a primary school canteen, the setup was heavily scaffolded. He worked one day a week with full 1:1 support throughout every shift. It was a start, but it wasn’t sustainable long-term.
His mum had clear goals. She wanted him to need less support in the kitchen so he could increase his working days and build a meaningful career. That’s where Sabeeqa, an occupational therapist at Avina’s Hurstville clinic, came in.
Sabeeqa’s Approach
Sabeeqa didn’t start with assumptions. She visited the canteen to observe the job firsthand. Some of the things Sabeeqa assessed included:
- What tasks were involved
- What was the environment like
- Where were the opportunities for independence, and
- Where might additional support be needed
From there, she worked closely with the young man, his mother, his support worker, the canteen support workers, and the canteen team leader to develop a plan. Collaboration was essential. Everyone needed to be working towards the same goals, using the same strategies.
Sabeeqa created resources tailored to the role and aligned to his goals. This included:
- Visual schedules
- Task breakdowns
- Reminders
- Visual safety prompts, and
- Step-by-step guides.
These resources helped him work through his shifts without needing frequent prompting or supervision from his support worker, creating a pathway to increase his working days.
Sabeeqa also provided hands-on training, working with him on job-specific skills like knife handling and food safety. She introduced self-regulation strategies to help him manage the sensory and social demands of a busy kitchen. These skills were practised first in the clinic, where the environment was controlled and low-pressure.
Once he was confident, these skills transitioned into the workplace. Sabeeqa also trained his support workers on how to use the resources effectively and how to gradually step back as his independence grew.
The Outcome
He’s more confident, significantly more independent, and has taken on more responsibility as his skills have developed. The employer has also noticed. They’ve confirmed that next term, he can start with reduced support, meaning fewer hours of 1:1 assistance and the opportunity to increase his working days.
This isn’t just about reducing costs or ticking a box. It’s about helping him achieve his goal of building a sustainable career where he can grow his hours and responsibilities with confidence.
What This Means for Families
Creating pathways into meaningful employment for autistic adults with additional supports is something Avina is passionate about. It may not happen overnight, but with the right support structure, and a collaborative approach involving the client, stakeholders and an occupational therapist, progress is achievable.
If your family is exploring employment goals, an OT can help pave the way to achieving workplace goals.
