Forward Motion Coaching Barbara Bissonnette, Principal

Forward Motion Coaching

Barbara Bissonnette, Principal

AANE Jody Acford Benefits Conference 1/11/20

Who I Am & What I Do

Copyright 2020 Barbara Bissonnette, Forward Motion Coaching

Private practice since 2006

Career development coaching for individuals with

Asperger’s/autism and NLD

Interview Intensive package

Consultations for parents

Training


Asperger’s/Autism Employment Coach Certification

Next cycle begins February 10

Training for organizations

Employer training, consultations and employee

coaching

Books


The Complete Guide to Getting a Job for People with

Asperger’s Syndrome (Gold Medal Winner, ForeWord

Book Awards)

Asperger’s Syndrome Workplace Survival Guide: A

Neurotypical’s Secrets for Success

Helping Adults with Asperger’s Syndrome Get & Stay Hired:

Career Coaching Strategies for Professionals and Parents of

Adults on the Autism Spectrum

Background


Coaching Certification, Institute for Professional

Excellence in Coaching (IPEC)

Graduate Certificate, Executive Coaching,

Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology

(now William James College)

Previous management career

My Clients


Range in age from 17 to 63

Across the U.S. and overseas

In-person, telephone, Skype

Entry level to VP/professional positions

Majority in competitive employment

Coaching for Individuals


Find a Job

• Right job/career

• Resume

• Job search plan

• Interviews

Keep a Job

• Performance: communica-tion/ EF

• Manage career

Disclosure

• Whether, when and how

• Accommo-dations

Coaching Process


Goals

Barriers

Strategy

Action Plan

Addressing Barriers


Resources

Action Plan

New Skills

Success in Coaching


The individual receiving services must:

Want coaching

Devote time & energy to action steps

Be willing to learn new skills/implement new

strategies

Commit for a reasonable period of time

Results: John


Master’s degree; transportation planner; laid off;

looking for 16 months

Previous job and internships: small offices;

concerned about managing in larger company

Job posts stressed multitasking, self-starter, ability to

deal with stakeholders; presentation skills, fast-paced

environment

Contrary to John’s profile

John


Shifted to more structured jobs logistics, cost

estimating, compliance; offer in 3 months

Results: Alex


Engineering degree; looking for 20 months

No internship or job experience (former is expected

in his specialty); GPA below 3.0

Interview questions; addressing GPA (made Dean’s

list last semester)

Basic networking: former classmate suggested a paid

internship; professor supplied lead; hired in 3 ½

months

Results: Melissa


Received DX as adult in her 30’s; several jobs either

asked to leave or she would quit

Interpersonal communication: told that she offended

colleagues with “hostile” emails; didn’t understand

why she was “in trouble” when others annoy her

Social Thinking resource; nonjudgmental language;

researching disclosure

Free Resources from Forward Motion Coaching


Guides

Workplace Disclosure Strategies

Getting Hired: A Primer for Individuals with

Asperger’s Syndrome & NLD

Employer’s Guide to Asperger’s Syndrome

Monthly Asperger’s & NLD Career Letter

Free 30-Minute Session


Prospective new clients

Situation

How coaching works

Answer questions

Contact Information


Barbara Bissonnette, Principal

Forward Motion Coaching

Greater Boston, MA

Tel: 617-690-2127

Email: Barbara@ ForwardMotion.info

Web: www.ForwardMotion.info

Documents

Forward Motion Coaching Barbara Bissonnette, Principal