What I Do

An exploration of the range of employment/opportunities for people with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Due to the weather a number of people were unable to make the event in the Edinburgh City Chambers. The day did go ahead although it was a shorter programme.

You can now access some of the presentations below:

David Bain is Client Services Manager for Intowork, a voluntary sector organisation providing specialist employment services to people with disabilities. Based in Edinburgh, Intowork has been developing bespoke employability support for people with Autism Spectrum Conditions (and other disabilities) for more than 10 years and is now recognised as an experienced authority in this area, having delivered ASC training to organisations as far afield as Jersey.

David has been involved in supported employment for over 15 years, having previously managed the Real Jobs project, one of the first of its kind in Scotland.

Presentation:Finding Employment

Debi is a 32-year old aspie (person with Asperger Syndrome). She was diagnosed with AS three years ago and has since completed the Post-Graduate Certificate in Autism at the University of Strathclyde. Debi has a degree in physics, eight years of employment experience in various office jobs and currently works as an administrative officer. Debi also volunteers with a disabled childrens' activity group.

Debi is an experienced speaker and has given various lectures/ presentations about Autism for the University of Strathclyde and for the Autism Resource Centre, on a variety of topics such as communication, sensory issues, interventions, personal experiences, etc. Debi is available for other speaking engagements and can be contacted via: debi@aspiedebi.com.

Debi's other interests are trampolining, pottery, cats and singing.

Presentation:Employment and ASD

With over 20 years teaching experience as a Science Lecturer in Further Education and a counselling qualification I moved to Student Support and Guidance in Stevenson College Edinburgh. For the past five years I have worked as part of a small team of Student Support lecturers who provide support for students disclosing a variety of difficulties and disabilities. I recently completed an SQA Professional Development Award for Inclusiveness: Facilitating Strategies to Support Learners with Additional Needs from Stirling University in conjunction with the BRITE centre at Stevenson College Edinburgh and am a Disabled Students' Allowance Assessor. I have learned about students with a diagnosis of Aspergers mostly from the students themselves including this year's SQA Star Award finalist College Student of the Year.

Presentation:The Student Experience at College

David began his career as an engineer, making cutting tools for Rolls Royce engines. The road from there to Specialisterne has been an indirect one:- fisherman, fish farmer, civil servant, journalist, IT trainer, webmaster, martial arts expert to e-business consultant. David believes there is a logical link between all of these roles. Planning, design, information architecture and business management all play their part.

David's son was diagnosed as autistic in 2005. As with many parents this brought focus to career aspirations and family choices - sink or swim! His job at Specialisterne combines technology and business with real hope of a better working future for those with ASD. David is waving not drowning.

Presentation:Specialisterne Scotland

National Director Scotland - Autism Initiatives

Richard has a substantial background in development and service delivery for people with learning disabilities with a focus on autism at a senior level since 1994.

A regular presenter at national and international conferences on varied aspects of direct support services to people with autism. Interests include supporting adults with Asperger Syndrome, Housing options and employability for people with autism including Social Firm development.

Presentations:What I Do Introduction
                     IWORK4ME
                     Social Firms for People with Autism

Residing in Fife, Stella has been working in the field of Autism since 1994. Over the years she has supported over 200 families and numerous professionals from all disciplines. She has a child diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, and over the years has learnt that she also has the condition.

Representing service users and carers, she has been actively involved in addressing service provision and policy in a variety of setting; working alongside multi-disciplinary professionals at all levels, both locally and nationally. She is also a member of the course team for the Post-graduate / Masters courses in Autism, based at the University of Strathclyde; and works closely with the National Autistic Society and Scottish Society for Autism. With a wealth of experience and well-established network of contacts she was appointed Autism Coordinator for Fife in 2008, a joint Fife Council and NHS Fife post.

Presentation:What I Do! (Post-school transition)

Jim joined the Civil Service as a Band B in 1973 in the National Savings Bank in Glasgow. In 1977 Jim moved to London to Finchley Area Office. After several positions in London Jim moved to Edinburgh City Office in 1985. From 1988 there then followed a variety of mainly project roles based in Argyle House and Leith before Jim was promoted to Band E in 1999. At the formation of Jobcentre Plus Jim was the Regional Performance Manager. Jim was promoted to District Manager in 2006 and took over in Edinburgh, Lothians & Borders District in April 2009.

Presentation:Finding Employment

The Head of Conservation Data Management at RSPB, where she has worked for the last 15 or so years. Her role involves looking after the information they hold about birds and places of conservation interest in the UK, and managing the team of trainers and data and system managers who help RSPB staff to use all this information. She is a biologist turned data manager, but has also volunteered lots herself mostly for RSPB but also for BCTV and others. Volunteering gave her huge amounts of experience that she still draws on 15 years later, and has seen it bring opportunities to all sorts of people at all sorts of stages of their life, so she is a big fan of volunteering for what it can bring to both individuals and an organisations.

Presentation:Volunteering

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