Susan Senator

Nat has a job interview tomorrow, for a position of putting away shopping carts in a parking lot at a supermarket. I keep thinking about what that would be like; what is an interview like if the person is not comfortable with speaking, or with open-ended questions? And what about the psychology test that is part of this particular interview? What the…?

I got to thinking, what would Nat’s resume look like? I know the people who work with him have probably put one together, but I was thinking more like what would Nat’s resume say about him as a whole person, not only tasks he can accomplish?  Here’s what I would write for him. I think it is a rewarding and satisfying experience writing up one’s resume, thinking about what one has done in concrete categories. You get to see a pattern of what you do when you take on a job — what you do well.

If we all sat down and wrote up our autistic child’s resume, thinking hard about achievements, special skills, talents, and interests, we might see our child in a new light. And later in life, this kind of list may help our child figure out what he could do with his life, and what he’s already done to be proud of.

Nathaniel Isaac Batchelder

Objective:  To work at a job with at least one well-defined task, preferably having to do with organizing and storing.

Education: May Center, Randolph, Massachusetts. Graduated 2011 with distinction.

Experience

November 2011 – Present: Stockperson, CVS Drugstore. Duties involve stocking all coolers with drinks, keeping area clean of spills.

2009 – 2011: Coupon Messenger and Package Assembler, Papa Gino’s Pizza. Responsible for disseminating advertisement flyers throughout local neighborhood. Also in charge of assembling large volumes of pizza and entree boxes and stacking them up when finished. Worked with very few breaks.

2007-2011: Delivery, Office, and Cafeteria Assistant, May Center. Multiple responsibilities include carrying messages from school to corporate employees; entering data into PCs; taking snack orders for classrooms, assembling orders, and delivering to the classrooms; setting up and wiping down counters and tables before and after lunch.  Took joy in completion of all tasks.

2006-2007: Delivery Assistant, Meals on Wheels. Responsible for carrying meal trays into homes of elderly and disabled. Friendly and professional demeanor maintained at all times.

Other Relevant Experience: Sorting, washing, and folding laundry; partial vacuuming; emptying and loading dishwasher; raking leaves; entry-level lawnmowing; baking (breaking eggs, using mixer, setting temperature, greasing pan, measuring, putting ingredients away, using oven mitts to remove hot things). Any lifting, carrying, gathering. Willing and able to bring anyone anything.

Other Interests and Skills: Walking fast, biking, basketball, swimming. Keeping track of schedules, ascertaining arrival and departure of those in the home, keeping track of the location of items, putting everything away, letting people know what is wrong or needed with a modicum of language. Creating singlehandedly an original language to keep my thoughts private from others. Remaining calm under pressure.

References Available Upon Request, from practically anyone I have ever met.