What’s Autism Entrepreneurship?
School’s over (and not just for the summer) and your child has aged out of services. What’s next? And what happens when it comes time for a career? Yes, a career and not just a job but doing work that is meaningful where your child can contribute their talents and abilities to the world. THIS is the question that my friend Sharon Cummings and I have been asking ourselves as our children move into adulthood. And our solution to the lack of job opportunities for our guys? Become entrepreneurs and start our own companies!
We know we’re not alone as many parents, siblings, and extended families are diving right in and doing the same. Could we inspire other families who are searching for meaningful work for their adult spectrum and special needs children? Could we inspire autism entrepreneurship?
Lucy Beadnell, Director of Advocacy for The ARC of Northern Virginia, thought so! So Jonathan and I packed up our bags and headed out to Virginia to participate in “Creative Paths to Employment” panel on July 16, 2014.
Jonathan and Jodi Murphy, Ellen and Cameron Graham, Sarah Noble, Sharon Cummings
Photo by Conner Cummings
The panel included:
- Jonathan and I from Geek Club Books and Jonincharacter
- Ellen and Cameron Graham from Cameron’s Chocolates
- Sarah Noble from Mom on a Mission
- Sharon and Conner Cummings from Conner Cummings Photography and Conquer for Conner – My Special Love
We all briefly shared our stories and then opened up to the audience for questions—2 hours zoomed by and we concluded with the message to start small, test the waters and then take the leap!
Lynn Ruiz, Director of Community Relations sent us this message:
Each and everyone of you deserves a huge thank you for your excellent presentations. It was wonderful to hear the conversations around the room after this was all over. You got each and everyone of them thinking more creatively and out-of-the-box.
Mission accomplished! The panel was booked to capacity and there was a waiting list to attend—evidence that families are hungry for alternative solutions for their adult children. The ARC wants to do it again in the fall. Another chance to see our friends Conner and Sharon? Another opportunity to share and interact with other families? Our bags are already packed…
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Hi,
A one-page handout gives an idea of what you covered in your workshop. However, it doesn’t say anything else. How many people attended? Did the four of you just talk about your businesses and how you started them?
We certainly are interested in creative employment ideas in the Yahoo group I run, as well as what I hear in other parent groups I attend. We are in the Philadelphia PA area and would like to hear how to set up such a panel in our area.
Thank you, jim
Jim, there were about 45 which was the capacity of the room and a waiting list about as long so ARC is going to repeat it again in the fall (date to be confirmed). Yes, each of us shared how we started and why and some of our adult children were there to tell their side of things. The idea was to have an open dialog about the possibilities and to inspire others to think ‘creatively’ too. Our solutions are as unique as our children. Send me an email at geekclubbooks@gmail.com and I’ll see what I can do to facilitate a similar panel in your area.