Making Dreams Into A Reality: Not Letting Autism Get In The Way Of Her Passions

Amber and her mother with awards she won from competing in the Special Olympics.

Meet Amber Firor: Accomplished Singer, University of Arizona employee, and Special Olympian star. At 23, she’s proving that autism won't stand in the way of her dreams. “It means that I get very emotional. It takes time for me to find my words and takes time for my tasks and it takes time for me to learn in any skill development,” she shares about her diagnosis.

Amber at her job working as a dinning service attendant.

With early support from the DES Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) and the Project Search program, Amber transitioned into a job with Core Plus at U of A, where she’s worked for the past four years as a dining service attendant. “It makes me feel confident and it also makes me feel good and mature,” explained Amber about her job.

Amber with her job coach, Kacy.

Outside of work, Amber enjoys concerts, traveling with her mom, and cooking. According to Lynda, Amber's mother, her Job Coach, Kacy, has been instrumental in her success and provides her with weekly training. “There's an extraordinarily high unemployment rate among adults with autism. It's crazy. But persistence is one of the things you have to do. I think that taking advantage of the services that Voc Rehab has to offer is important. It's been phenomenal. We're very grateful,” stated Lynda about her daughter’s experience as a VR client.