Since the start of the pandemic he has been home. Now we see that his skills are deteriorating and have started teaching him HTML/CSS and Python. Later on, thinking of introducing Selenium. May be a long road, but the intention is to get him started on software testing. If practiced enough, he picks up on patterns.
Has always liked and built complex legos like architecture. We assume that is because of the clear instructions that comes with it.
Looking for suggestions on how we can help him. Any opportunities where he can be exposed to the work like environment and build his confidence. Any jobs that would involve math calculations but not much social interaction? We fear he may not have focus for a long time for work, although he has taken exams that have been four hours long with breaks.
Would appreciate any suggestions or advice. Thank you.
Some states (say, Nevada) have wonderful programs and can assign you a social worker or other advocate who can recommend organizations that might help. Other states (say, South Carolina) are more bare-bones, or require you to fill out a 100-page application to be put on a multi-year waiting list before you can access the state's impressive resources. If you don't already know where your state fits on that continuum, you might want to ask your county health department or local school district (even if your son has aged out of their programs, they should know who to talk to).
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/diversity/inside-microsoft/c...
As you said your son likes Lego and based on his skills, I believe there are a lot of good ideas to make some game or product that would satisfy Lego fans (I’m also a big fan of Lego). Here is one idea that maybe could be interesting and I would pay for it: if you remember the game ‘Gearhead garage’ (http://www.gearheadgarage.com/), I would be happy to get some famous Lego packs (like Batman 1989) which has some mistakes and then virtually fix these mistakes to finish the Lego set. Also, it could be a game where I’m just solving Lego sets virtually.
As you receive Social Security checks, and based on skills you have as a family, I believe you can create some amazing product. I would be happy to help with marketing. And I would be happy to see updates on this.
Maybe take a different approach and give structure to what he already does naturally instead of trying to force a more typical academic or professional life. You say he likes legos; think "lego artist" or "lego youtube channel" versus software developer. Or maybe there are other interests that he takes to naturally that have far more potential but are overlooked due to being unconventional.
- things I think would have helped me during my own 'development'; pursuing and finishing side projects of various ambition levels, networking (non formal) or looking for mentorship (even on a little project). Understanding that it's ok to contact strangers / organisations outside of professional interaction, to ask them a few questions. Doing things for fun and involving others.
- If he is good with instructions, maybe it's an idea to have small flow charts in a small notebook to help with things like communicating or decision making? The flowchart could direct him to a templates asking for help, signaling discomfort etc. (just like so many people could use some help in writing effective emails).
- maybe he can keep an online notebook, to journal his activities / learnings, projects. to practice his communication, sort his thoughts. As a reference for communicating with others.
- Kinda meta, but perhaps there is value in involving or stimulating him to have informal (slow and spaced) interactions with people around the topic of your post. Just talking to people in the professional (or hobby) field. You can set up questions or talking points together, or even a plan, get some insights, meet people, practice interaction .. no pressure, no strings attached. Just make sure the other person understands the goal and keeps it positive / light. I'm sure there are people open for this and they will have more to offer than me haha.
- ... and then of course you can wrap all this up in a project supporting people with autism in computerworld. (I don't mean this condescending! I'm just reasoning that your family is the most suited to address this topic, and it's a worthy thing to work on. Granted it might be draining to work on.)
Years ago, I read about a vitamin therapy protocol that was helpful for kids with autism and I put my son on the parts of it I could find, which was some B vitamins and magnesium. After a few months, his handwriting improved and so did his social skills.
He's in his thirties and a lot more functional than I ever thought he would be. To this day, when he starts making me too crazy the solution is "he needs B vitamins." (I typically try to get some steak into him at that point so he stops being weird and difficult.)
(See also: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25051738)
Are there any people in the past he has gotten along with and might be able to follow up with for long term mentorship or friendship?