Work for young adults with DS

[Guest guest]

I looking for ideas from some of you experienced parents about finding some meaningful work for my 19yo son.

Background:

He graduated from school last May. We have done about 1 1/2 yr of job training through our state's department of rehabilitation services. Those services were terminated when it became evident to them that he would not be able to work independently. Their services were designed to send a job coach for a limited amount of time and then expect him to handle the job on his own.

He receives SSI and lives with us, so 'earning significant income' is not my biggest concern for him right now. He participates in Challenger League sports and church activities, but he needs to have a job--even if it's 3 hrs a day.

I'm aware of the sheltered workshops, but want to look first at other opportunities.

My questions:

What have you learned? What should I avoid? How should I approach prospective employers?

Sheltered workshops pay the workers VERY little income....one friend told me her son received about $20 for two week's work. They get away with paying very low.....can grocery stores, fast food stores, or any private company get away with paying lower than minimum wage? I'm thinking that he would NOT be as valuable as the average worker who gets minimum wage (although I wonder otherwise on that one :-). I wondering if he would be more valuable to a prospective employer if he could be paid $3-$5 per hour...something that would benefit both the employer and the employee?

Please give any other advice/ideas that you all have.

Thank you so much.

Shirley--mom to Josiah, now 19yo