These tools allow the student or young adult to recognize his/her strengths in these focused areas: academic skills, self expressions (multiple intelligences), personal preferences, and self awareness. In conjunction with the MSCI©, the Power Practice Curriculum© (PPC) walks the student through an engaging career exploratory process, to discover methods that ease anxiety, and a process to identify solutions to manage and minimize challenges in order to maintain and enjoy a job/career. 

1. Jackie M. Marquette Ph.D.
www.marquettestrengthsindex.com
drjackiemarquette@gmail.com
Getting Students and Young Adults
Hired who have Autism

2. Table of Contents.
1. School Transition to Getting Hired.
(Slide 3).
2. What Students with Autism and their
Parents Say. (Slide 8)
3. The Rainbow Tree Analogy (Slide 12)
4. See Sarah’s MSCI Strengths and Career
Options (Slide 18)
5. Experience the Discovery of Your
Strengths and Job/Career Options. (Slide 23)
6. How the MSCI is different from Popular
Assessments (Slide 29)
7. Use SAFETY WORKS to PROMOTE JOB/
CAREER and Choice and Effectiveness
(slide 31)
7. Use SAFETY WORKS to Solve Work Place
Adversity. (Slide 32)
8. SAFETY WORKS Aligns with WIOA (slide
40)
9. Discover Your Job/Career Options that
Match your Strengths Using SAFETY WORKS
(Slide 44)
10. The End (Slide 46)

3. School Transition to
Getting
Hired!

4. Look at some talents, skills, and strengths
people with autism are contributing to a career.

5. Of 100 individuals with autism,
only 15 get employed

6. When unemployment
takes away human
value the price is too
high.
Say when the price is too high

7. There is much more we can do.

8. I want to have
a job I am capable
of doing. But I don’t
know what that is.
I love math. I want to
study accounting at
college, but I am afraid. I
may not be able to handle
it all. I have social
anxiety.
I don’t know what I
can do. I only know I
want to get paid and I
don’t want to sit home
all day.
What students say

9. Of 10 students or young adults with ASD,
7.5 see their strengths important for a job or a
career.
*Marquette, J. M. and McCabe, A. (2016). A Study Using the Marquette Strengths and Career Index with Individuals with Autism,
Parents/Advocates, and Special Education Teachers. Methodology included Inter-rater and validity with 90 individuals.
What do people with autism think about their
strengths?

10. What Parents Hope For
I am worried about
transition, but I am
hopeful because Sarah
has a creative talent in
visual arts. Yet I don’t
know how to guide her.
I see the desire and the passion to work
in my son’s eyes.
At times Derek, my
son, has obsessed on
things and is
compulsive. But when
he has a task that he
likes, he can do it. If
he had an employer to
understand him, I
know Derek could
have a job.

11. Of 10 parents or advocates, 9 see strengths for a
job or career as important.
What do parent/advocates think about strengths?
*Marquette, J. M. and McCabe, A. (2016). A Study Using the Marquette Strengths and Career Index with Individuals with Autism,
Parents/Advocates, and Special Education Teachers. Methodology included Inter-rater and validity with 90 individuals.

12. Introducing the
Rainbow Tree. A
beautiful tree that
thrives in tropical
climates.

13. You are like a
Beautiful Rainbow
Tree.

14. Just like the Rainbow Tree’s roots are the foundation to the tree
so are your Abilities, Academic Success, or Self Expression of
your Talents (Multiple Intelligences) the foundation to your
career.
abilities
Academic Success
Talents & Self Expression
unique view of the world

15. Recognition
of your
Personal
Preferences
Your willingness to
see strengths in
self awareness and to
develop more fully.
Just as the thick walled cells of the trunk bring up the water and
nutrients from the roots so do your personal preferences and
self awareness strengths draw upon your abilities and talents.

16. Just as the leafage of the Rainbow Tree is abundant, so are your
career options and possibilities.
self
employment
certification
careers
college
degree
careers
hobbies
Volunteer
Pursue College
Studies
HS diploma
jobs advanced
college careers
part time
job

17. Receive
career options that
match your strengths
in 9 categories. They
are similar to the
bountiful leafage of
the Rainbow Tree. Find
your career options —
in the Marquette
Strengths & Career
Index (MSCI).
D. Self Emotional
Awareness
C. Personal
Preferences
Discover and name all
your strengths, interests,
& abilities. They are your
foundation (roots)
to a job/career.
See your personal
preferences & self
awareness strengths.
They are your
strengths to a career
just as the trunk is to
the Rainbow Tree.
A. Abilities, Academics
B.Self Expression Talents & Strengths
Volunteer hobbies
part time
job
HS diploma
jobs
certification
careers
college
degree
careers
advanced
college careers
self
employment
Pursue College
Studies

18. See Sarah’s MSCI
Strengths and Career
Options

19. Marquette Strengths and Career Index
Sales manager for a toy store
Automotive Mechanics
Game Developer
Human Rights Advocate
Blogger to guide tween girls: safety, protection
against bullying, self worth, and positive
affirmations.
Volunteer: Campaign she supports
Sarah's Ability
and Academic
Career Options

20. Marquette Strengths and Career
Theater: Actor
Sarah's Self
Expression
Career
Options
Costume Designer
Blogger for young teen girls
Photographer
Singer

21. Marquette Strengths and Career Index
Motivation to Achieve: Seeks a College Degree
Structure and Environments:: Quiet Settings, Work Indoors
Patterns in Learning: Journal Writing: Does Self Talk
to Ease Stress
Patterns in Learning: Likes to Watch a Video
Connected to Others: Relies on
Someone to Have Her Back in
Difficult or Confusing Situations
Patterns in Learning: Color Coding, using I-Pad and
I phone
Environments, People,
Structure: Small group of
coworkers
Sarah’s
Personal
Preference
Strength
Findings

22. Marquette Strengths and Career Index
Self Emotional Awareness: Gather
information before making a decision.
Trustworthiness: You help someone
who relies on your assistance.
Adaptability: You find other
ways to solve a problem.
Empathy: You listen to a friend’s
talk about their difficult situation.
Service
Orientation:
You can convince
someone with
reasons why to
buy something.
Self Confidence: You say yes to a
good opportunity that can positively
effect
Initiative: You explore, study, or
read about careers you are
interested in.
Building Bonds: You show
gratitude when your teacher or
supervisor grants you a favor.
Political Group Awareness: You
see yourself interested in working
for a cause you care deeply about.
Sarah’s Self
Awareness
Strength
Findings

23. Hop online and
take this fun and
engaging career
assessment, the
MSCI. Select items
that are most like
you or your
interest. (177
items)
Experience the Discovery of Your Strengths and
Job/Career Options.
1

24. 2
Receive an
immediate printout
of jobs and careers
that match your
interests strengths,
personal
preferences and
self awareness
strengths.
Receive Your Own Printout

25. With ‘Power
Practices’ Explore
Your Job Career
Options, with a step
by step guide.
The process will lead
you to narrow down
your choice for a
career direction.
3
Explore Your List of Job/Careers
POWER
PRACTICES

26. 4
With ‘Power Practices’ you
will learn how Your Personal
Preferences reveal safety cues.
Safety cues create
predictability and ease. Safety
cues promote feelings of
confidence to do your job.
Know your Safety Cues for Career Success?
POWER
PRACTICES

27. With ‘Power Practices’
develop your self awareness:
a. to create ease,
b. on-the-job capabilities,
c. minimize anxiety and
manage daily hassles, and
d. move through adversity into
favorable situations.
5
Emotions drive everything we do.
POWER
PRACTICES

28. When you take the Marquette Strengths and Career Index
(MSCI) you will Discover All Your Strengths
Self
Awareness
(SA).
Personal
Preferences
Self
Expression
of your
Talents
Academics,
Cognitive Abilities

29. 1. Produces score/
standardized career test.
2. Examines functional abilities.
3. Emphasizes independent levels as
criteria for employment.
4. Informal interest checklists.
5. Needs’ based
assessments.
6. Outdated Picture
Assessments
Popular
Assessments
Marquette Strengths
& Career Index
1. Strengths Based Assessment
2. Self assessment or with assistance.
3. Assesses strengths in:
a. academics/cognitive
b. Self Expression (multiples intelligences)
c. personal preferences
d. self emotional awareness
4. Offers options for careers based on self
assessment findings
5. Offers Power Practice Curriculum to
Guide Student through Career
Exploration
6. Offers self awareness development,
for career effectiveness.
How the MSCI is Different from
Popular Career Assessments
VS

30. 1. Take the online Marquette
Strengths and Career Index
(MSCI).
2. Use Power Practices to
start your career exploration
activities. We will guide you.
3. In Power Practices,
develop your self awareness.
We will support you.
Its Easy, Engaging and Fun

31. Use SAFETY WORKS to PROMOTE
Job/Career Choice and Effectiveness
White Collars
Entrepreneurs
Blue Collar
Wage Earners
Job Holders
Apprenticeships
Companies
CounselorsHigh Schools
Universities

32. Solve Work Place Adversity
on Behalf of Company and Employees with Autism
Use SAFETY WORKS

33. We offer Autism Sensitivity Training for the Companies,
Managers, and Businesses

34. Sam felt
excluded
because he
was never
invited or
included in
workplace
team
meetings.
With
awareness,
management
now includes
Sam in all
workplace
team
meetings,
holiday
celebrations,
and employee
of the month.
Managing Workplace Adversity
Disagreement and strife
among coworkers- bullying

35. Disagreement
and strife
among
coworkers
was
disturbing to
Sarah. She
hid in the
bathroom
with high
anxiety.
With
management &
coworker
awareness,
Sarah now has
an on site
mentor/
coworker to
clarify the
changes & new
rules that were
causing
disagreements.
Managing Workplace Adversity

36. Management
now expresses
to John the
abilities and
strengths he has
and his value to
the department.
Management is
seeking other
options for John.
Managing Workplace Adversity
Management
emphasizesd
simple tasks
disregarding
John’s
abilities and
strengths.

37. Familiar
coworkers quit
or transferred to
other
departments.
Lisa relied upon
them. Since they
left, Lisa has
suffered extreme
anxiety.
Managing Workplace Adversity
The manager &
another
coworker
prepared Lisa
for the idea of
new coworkers
coming in and
introducing Lisa
on the first day.
Management
has assured Lisa
she will get
along with the
new employees.

38. Changes in work
schedules was a
big change for
Jason. His
anxiety
increased. Jason
is worried about
how he will get
to work.
Managing Workplace Adversity
Management
and Jason’s
parents
prepared Jason
for a new work
schedule and
assisted him in
finding
transportation
solutions.

39. Managing Workplace Adversity
Management
changed Emily’s
tasks. She did
not cope well
and had a melt
down. She
experienced
high anxiety
and talked
about quitting.
Management
explained to Emily
the new tasks and
the ease and time
she will have to
learn them.
Management
provided Emily time
to adapt to the
change and offered
coworker/
mentorship support.
Management
reassured Emily the
value of her work
to the team/
department.

40. Marquette
Strengths and
Career Index
(MSCI)
Power Practices
Curriculum (PPC)
Workforce
Innovative
Opportunity
Act
(WIOA)
+
SAFETY WORKS

41. 1. WIOA
2. Promotes
employment goal for
people with
disabilities – even
those with the most
significant or severe
disabilities –
3. full- or part-time
work.

42. WIOA affirms:
To address students aged
14 - 21 in
a. career preparation
b. employment services,
collaboration among
c. special education &
d. vocational
rehabilitation
professionals.

43. “Helping people to
find the right career
is really
important. Finding a
career that used my
abilities in visual
thinking and art
helped me to be
successful. The most
successful career
uses a person’s
strengths.”
~Temple Grandin
Temple Grandin with Trent Altman, 2013

44. Discover Your Job/Career Options that Match your Strengths
go to: marquettestrengthsindex.com
drjackiemarquette@gmail.com

45. Most of the images came from pixabay.com
The image of the Painting of the Rainbow Tree was created
by Trent Altman, artist.
The image of Temple Grandin with Trent Altman is mine.

46. Thank you for viewing
my slide share.
The End