Do you have a passion for working with children? Are you even more interested in jobs working with children with autism? If so, you’re in the right place! At Talisman Camps, we have offered jobs to adults working with children with autism for over 40 years. At Talisman, not only do you get the fantastic opportunity to land jobs working with children with autism, but you also get to experience camp life. Many of our applicants have the same question: What are you looking for when you hire? This is such an important question!

Ideal qualities needed to land jobs working with children with autism:

Willing to learn
Many of our applicants have never worked with children with special needs before- and that’s completely fine! At Talisman, we offer both unpaid and paid training so that new staff members can become educated about working with children with ADHD, Aspergers, and autism. If you want to find jobs working with children with autism, the most important quality to have is willingness. If you are willing to learn how to be a stellar camp counselor, then you have what it takes to excel at Talisman.

Responsible
Responsibility is crucial if you are employed in jobs working with children with autism. Your campers may need a different level of supervision depending on their age, but regardless of which Talisman program you are a part of, it’s important that you are responsible and trustworthy. Remember that campers' parents trust camp staff to take care of their children, give them medicine on time, attend to their dietary needs, and supervise them during all activities.

Understanding
Many jobs working with children with autism require staff members and counselors to be understanding. Chances are, the campers learn and behave differently than you did at their age. After attending the mandatory training sessions, you’ll have more knowledge about how to interact with children with special needs. However, you need to be understanding from the start. You must be aware of the differences between yourself and the campers.  Understand that difference isn’t bad - it’s simply an opportunity for you to learn about a variety of people.

Experience
While experience is not mandatory to apply for jobs working with children with autism, it can help your chances. If you have ever volunteered, spent significant time with, or have experience working with children with autism, ADHD, or Aspergers, you would be a great candidate for Talisman staff member. Even if you simply have experience working in a camp setting or with kids in general, you would stand out from other candidates.

Contact Talisman today to learn more about our exciting employment opportunities!

Many people think that they need to have superhuman skills to excel in jobs working with children with autism. But that’s not the case! While it always helps to have prior experience working with children with autism, it’s not necessary to get a job at Talisman. If you are energetic, responsible, exhibit strong leadership skills, and have a willingness to learn, then you may qualify! Remember- the most important part about jobs working with children with autism is the children themselves. If you are able to give them the love, care, and guidance that they need, then you might just be a natural born camp leader for special needs children!