job title:Direct Support Professional for Autistic Adult
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This job will be largely based on a personality fit for the client and DSP.
- Must be radically pro trans and anti racist to be in our home.
- We also have two kids and 5 dogs so you will spend a lot of time with them.
- Must have a strong understanding of autism.
- You must continuously be emotionally regulated, warm, kind, and respectful.
- You shouldn’t get embarrassed or offended easily. You will be working with a middle aged autistic man who does not express tone or facial expressions in a traditional way. He often appears to be angry and is not.
- You need to have a drivers license and a clean driving reccord.
- You need to be able to pass an in depth background check.
- You will be expected to keep all of your interactions with our family and the client completely confidential.
- The client is your supervisor. Don’t let his presentation confuse you into thinking he is a child.
- You must be comfortable with the job demands shifting quickly. He can go from no needs/low needs/ fully masked to high needs in a moment.
- Must be comfortable with non verbal communication. He is often fluently verbal but does need large breaks from this and when overwhelmed becomes unable to speak. Sometimes this escalated to not being able to read or write either.
- You will have to be able to handle crises independently. The point of the job is to allow the client to separate his care from his personal relationships. Family should be contacted in emergency health situations.
- You should be comfortable and excited about long periods of info dumping from the client.
- You will often be asked to present as a friend or a personal assistant when the client is around others.
- You cannot be shy or nervous.
- You don’t have to have experience as a DSP if you can do the job.
- There will be an interview process in person with him and his wife.
Some of the things you two will do in a day:
- Grocery shopping. He loves cooking.
- Errands. He will want to drive most of the time.
- Chores. He likes the house to be clean and organized for the family.
- Manage household staff and renovation crews.
- Go swimming. We have a pool.
- Be social with him, his friends, family and often people in public.
- Relay his needs to others when he is non verbal. This does not mean speaking on his behalf or deciding what he needs or wants. It means finding ways to communicate with him and being the verbal one.
- Care for our 5 dogs. They aren’t high maintenance. We have a yard and pay someone to scoop the yard and walk them. Our oldest daughter is in charge of feeding them.
- Care for our two kids. He loves being a dad and telling dad jokes.
- Going to the gym/physical therapy.
- Singing karaoke. No need to be “good” at it. Everyone should enjoy singing.
- Going for walks and hikes.
- Hanging out in coffee shops, bars, and restaurants.
- Gardening.
- You will often be a person for him to talk to. Whether it’s to socialize with or to ask for you to interpret social situations. He is very literal.
- You will have to adapt to a shifting landscape of what regulates his emotions. This might be headphones, weighted blankets, talking about his feelings and being reassured, a quiet and isolated space, offering food or something to hydrate. It could also be lots of other things.
- Advocate for people to treat him with respect. Unfortunately the world can be fairly cruel to people with disabilities.
Some of his interests:
- His family
- Cooking
- Gardening
- Swimming
- Community building
- Civil rights
- Karaoke
- Photography
- History
- Science
- Animals
- Nature in general
- Travel
- Quirky humor and dad jokes. So many dad jokes.
- Art
- Organizing
- Planning events
This job will start as part time and may turn into full time work if we find the need and fit is there.
Though no experience is required, those with with experience are encouraged to apply.
Pay will be between $15-$30 an hour.
Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.