Cross Posted at the Autism College Connection Newsletter
When should career planning start? When should we start talking to our kids about careers in medicine, business, or car repair? The trend for all kids — neurotypical and neurodivergent — is to begin in middle school.
Are 14- and 15-year-olds ready to commit to a career path in law enforcement, food services, or entertainment? Many say no. I certainly wasn’t ready at that age to make a major life decision. Kids need time just to be kids before the stressful high school years begin.
In the United States, students get a similar academic education and specialize after high school. The European model, in contrast, tracks students much earlier for college and careers. So, thinking too early about careers might seem odd to American families.
While we should not force anyone down one path or another at such an early age, we can start discussions about employment and interests in middle school. In a complicated, competitive world, we all need to increase our knowledge about employment.
Read more at the Great Leap, the autism newsletter
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