I want to work with kids with autism?

Question

i'm only a high school student but i'm thinking about colleges right now.

idk what i should major in, but i want to work with autistic kids; like kinda specialize in it. But idk what kinda jobs there are for this.

i was thinkin about being a pediatrician that specializes in helping autistic kids. or a speech language pathologist.

I DO NOT want to be a teacher.

what should i major in?

and what kind of jobs are out there for this?

Answer 1

Ocupational Therapists are in high demand and work a lot with students who are ASD on sensory and motor needs.  

Answer 2

While you are in college you can use your hours (you will need 60) and become a para-professional. You would work in the school district but not as a teacher, although you would be teaching. Many para's work with special needs children. You would likely have a setting of just a few children and not necessarily only autistic.

The advantage is that in becoming a para you can get hands on experience with autistic and other special needs children. This can help you determine where to focus the rest of your education. Since you can do this with just 'basic' hours or associates degree, if you change your mind it is easy to change your major.

Answer 3

you would want to be a developmental pediatrician

or pediatric neurologist

or developmental neurologist

schools also hire

physical therapists

occupational therapists

speech therapists

a degree in pychology/sociology will help you get a job in Social Services---but most jobs with children are part time---full time jobs generally help adults

another option is early intervnetion---you provide services to children under 3--usually in their homes--yuo need an education  or relagted degree or be a speech, occupational, or physical tehrapist