Good Jobs for Adults With a Learning Disability
Adults with learning disabilities may struggle with reading, writing, listening, speaking, reasoning and solving problems. They may find themselves at a disadvantage in society when applying for jobs. A person with a verbal learning disability might have visual strengths, while someone with a nonverbal learning disability could have strong writing skills. Adults should seek jobs suited to their strengths rather than emphasizing their disability. With management's cooperation on a few changes to accommodate the learning disability, you can have job satisfaction.
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Job Shadowing
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A position which allows an adult with a learning disability to job shadow an experienced worker, is advantageous to learning new skills. It gives the adult opportunities to learn and assist to gain experience before settling into a new position independently. The adult gains exposure to the work environment as well as the industry. Working with a leader helps you assimilate with other employees and form associate relationships.
Opportunities for Advancement
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A good job for an adult with a learning disability is one with opportunities for advancement in the future. Leadership and supervisory roles can encourage growth. If you are unsure of what to expect when hiring an adult with a learning disability, it may not be fair to eliminate leadership roles from the position and assume that the roles are too challenging. Instead, during the interview you could speak to your employee and ask if she is open to leadership opportunities to develop skills for career advancement.
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Flexible Hours
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Adults with learning disabilities may suffer from Attention Deficit Disorder, ADD, which can be challenging for the employee when working in a bustling office with constant interruptions. To avoid the interruptions the adult may find himself coming in early and working late when the office is quieter. Instead, a good job for an adult with ADD may be one that allows flexible hours. Flexible hours allows a person with learning disabilities to be productive in the workplace without isolating and exhausting himself.
Types
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Adults with a verbal learning disability may have trouble with expression, speech or writing. However, you may have strong visual and listening skills. Therefore, you may be suited for jobs in commercial art, graphic design, drafting, photography or other visually-inclined jobs which do not place heightened value on verbal skills. Adults with nonverbal learning disabilities may do well in jobs that have an emphasis on spoken or written material. Good jobs may be in the field of accounting, computer programming or engineering -- with employment as a bank teller, file clerk, statistician, lab tech or other jobs which do not place focus on verbal requirements.
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References
- MedicineNet.com: Learning Disabilities
- Learning Disabilities Association of America; On the Job; Dale Brown, et al.
- Learning Disabilities Association of America;Meeting the Challenge of Conformity; Dale S. Brown
- Autism Research Institute; Find a Physician Choosing the Right Job for People with Autism or Asperger's Syndrome; Temple Grandin, Ph.D.; November 1999
Resources
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