Why I Changed and You Should Too!

Most work or help the younger kids with Autism or Intellectual disabilities, but I am at the
opposite end as a Speech Language Pathologist. Hence, I get to see teens graduate and
transform into adulthood, how exciting! Well at the end, at those final meetings when the
question is asked what is next, what do you want for your student or young adult it is
often said “ I would love for them to get a job of some sort.” As I sit there year after year,
often thinking hum…. I wonder what they will do or how that is going to happen. So, I then
reflect on some hard truths which are they had a different teacher every year or
sometimes did not have a teacher at all or just had substitutes half the time. As a result, that
statement bothered me because here we are at the end and the one thing that every
parent wants for their child which is the goal of school is to prepare for college or the
workforce.

Well, many of my students don’t have these adequate skills. After literally
over 15 years of hearing this, I started to reflect on my speech therapy sessions for my
older students and realized they need to start learning about social skills that will help
them join the workforce much earlier. I then started to do things differently by working on
job skills around the school. Consequently, the light bulb came on and I noticed so many social skills
that were needed for a job. I had students wandering off, scared to talk and I can’t forget
those silent but deadly smells that had everyone wondering “ Who Pooted?” and I am
just naming a few ah ha moments. Once I started a routine and explicitly taught social
skills as it related to job skills I noticed many improvements and even staff around the
school told me how they noticed gains with their social skills! From that moment on I
said I am going to work toward the final goal that almost every parent wants and that is
for their child to get a job and join the workforce.

Finally, after all of these years as a Speech Language Pathologist almost near the end of my career I found a better, more meaningful way to provide my Speech and Language services and feel like I am truly making a difference. Above all, I wanted to share this story of my change and the motivation
behind why I created an adapted Communication Job Skills Magazine. I truly believe as
Zig Ziglar said “You cannot perform in a manner inconsistent with the way you see
yourself.” and from that “You’re Hired” was created to plant the seed of what is possible.
This is why I changed and you should too, I challenge you to help with the ultimate goal of getting our
children and students Hired!!