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[toc]October 2016
Autistic and seeking a place in an adult world | The New York Times
Justin Canha, a young artist with autism, prepares for life as an independent adult. >> read more
September 2016
You’re autistic. You know you can do a good job, but will employers listen? | The Washington Post
“I think understanding and the willingness to work around an individual’s strengths and weaknesses– those two things will lead to the greatest success not just for autistic people, but for the workforce at large,” says self-advocate, Joel Carver. >> read more
Cause Cafe gives employees with autism a place to call home | Today
Cause Cafe owner Stacy Wohl is on a mission to break down barriers and inspire others to do the same in the process. >> read more
This hotel designed for people with autism is one of the first of its kind | upworthy.com
The Vault, a new hotel in Gateshead, England, accommodates the needs of the autism community and is even staffed by people with autism spectrum disorder. >> read more
Mark Jessen is the face of business beyond bias at SAP | SAP SuccessFactors Youtube
We commend businesses, like SAP, who are stepping up to create opportunities for adults with autism. This is an untapped population with an array of skills and talents to contribute. >> read more
Microsoft wants autistic coders: Can it find them and keep them? | fastcompany.com
Job interviews can be especially hard if you’re autistic. A Microsoft effort aimed at a wider spectrum of the workforce wants to solve that. >> read more
NeuroVersity preparing young adults with autism for the job world | ksl.com
One Utah program is helping young adults with autism find friends and jobs. >> read more
McDonald’s worker in Needham retires after 32 years at the french fry station | The Boston Globe
When Freia David began working at McDonald’s through an innovative program to place adults with cognitive disabilities in community jobs, her mother worried. What if the work was too hard? What if she didn’t fit in? >> read more
August 2016
Inclusive disability hiring: autism program | SeattleChildrens Youtube
Great presentation on Microsoft’s Inclusive Hiring Autism Program: what are they doing, and why are they doing it? >> read more
Meet Ben, a photographer with autism | Youtube
“He can’t talk, and even has trouble moving, but he is fascinated by the world around him. See how his family and support workers have helped him become a photographer.” >> read more
Employee Spotlight | Adam “AJ” Jones: Thinking Out-Loud | Madison Fields
Madison Fields Barn Attendant, Adam Jones, has been riding and working with horses for 12 years. Adam is hard-working, diligent and extremely consistent. He also has Asperger’s Syndrome. >> read more
July 2016
The Hollywood job that makes autism an asset | scpr.org
The Exceptional Minds vocational school trains young adults on the autism spectrum in visual effects and animation. In this detailed work, they have an edge. >> read more
How can we help young adults with autism thrive in the workplace? | Spectrum News
“With the proper training and accommodations, people with autism could become productive and indeed sought-after employees in the workplace, making them truly independent.” >> read more
Education, jobs, friends a reality for adults with autism | differentbrains.com
Today, when families hear “autism” or other disabling conditions for their children, they can also imagine futures that include lifelong education, jobs, homes, friends and a supportive community- a much different future worth working, saving and living for, thanks to the work of the Phoenix-based Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center (SARRC) and its sister nonprofit, First Place AZ. >> read more
What to know when coworking with someone with autism | bostinno.streetwise.co
Interesting piece on employment. >> read more
June 2016
‘It’s changed his view of life’: Companies find hiring autistic employees has vast benefits | Chicago Tribune
With the help of a company called Autism Workforce, the 130-year-old suit manufacturer, Hart Schaffner Marx, has “retooled everything from its employment applications to the signage on the factory floor to fit how people with autism live and think, rather than expecting them to adapt to the ‘neurotypical’ world.” >> read more
May 2016
Individuals with autism can get work experience at Ford through new FordInclusiveWorks pilot program | Automotive World
Ford Motor Company today announces it it collaborating with Autism Alliance of Michigan on a pilot program that aims to provide individuals who have autism with an opportunity to gain work experience with the company in an on-the-job training program funded by the alliance. >> read more
Autism can be an asset in the workplace, employers and workers find | NPR
Though many young adults on the spectrum are considered high-functioning, recent research shows 40 percent don’t find work- a higher jobless rate than people with other developmental disabilities experience. >> read more
Family founds granola production company to employ young adults with autism | The Island Now
“Luv Michael Granola, a gluten-free, organic and nut-free granola production company, aims to fight the problem and provide jobs for autistic young adults, Kessaris said.” >> read more
April 2016
Long Beach program prepares young adults with autism for jobs and self-sufficiency | Los Angeles Times
“Alexander Ryan considers himself ambitious, and he’s proud that he recently achieved a long-standing goal: landing a part-time job at T.J. Maxx and getting there on public transportation.” >> read more
Van Hollen congressional office fosters the “unique strengths” of interns with autism | Madison House Autism Foundation
Recently, Congressman Van Hollen has made the decision to hire adults on the spectrum as interns for his Congressional office. >> read more
For autistic adults, a chance to come home | Hartford Courant
“In its largest project in its history, Chapel Haven, already considered an economic engine in the Westville neighborhood, is poised to start a $41 million transformation of its campus- one that will include 30 assisted-living apartments so graduates from 30 and 40 years ago can return to the place that set them on the independent course in the first place.” >> read more
Man with autism finds rewarding career with West Loop Tech Company | ABC7Chicago
Infiniteach is an education technology company that develops products and services aimed at helping the autism community, and they’re doing fantastic work. >> read more
Helping adults with autism live more independent lives | azfamily.com
At the First Place Transition Academy at Gateway Community College, adults with autism are learning about living independently, basic life skills like managing bank accounts, finding a job, and figuring out public transportation. >> read more
March 2016
Evanston bakery owner honored for autism inclusion | Chicago Tribune
Jean Kroll of Sugar and Spice Extraordinary Sweet Treats was recently honored for the workforce training and employment opportunities she has provided to individuals with autism. >> read more
Hiring employees with autism, lawn care and landscape business | Top Notch Lawn Care, Youtube
Watch one dedicated dad and his autistic son, Tyler, run a landscaping business. >> read more
Governor Cuomo announces $2.4 million in funding to support employment of individuals with disabilities | governor.ny.gov
100 disability employment organizations receive funding as part of the Employment First Initiative. >> read more
Crossing guard with autism stopping traffic and helping kids | WCSH6
“It’s an important job to me because, think about it, if I don’t show up, who’s going to keep the kids safe?” said Lowe. >> read more
Restaurant sticks up for server with autism after customers refuse service | Mashable
“Our staff are our foundation and this is our way of standing up for them.” >>read more
Families of disabled adults find hope in Santa Cruz housing project | Santa Cruz Sentinel
“An alliance of 11 families from around the Bay Area have purchased a 7-acre parcel near the Pogonip open space that will serve as both a working farm and as affordable housing.” >> read more
Autism without fear: Don’t get TOO excited about autism employment initiatives | Huffington Post
Michael John Carley, Founder of GRASP, outlines six issues (or warped expectations) that he believes plague the autism employment universe. >> read more
Owners of one Nevada pizzeria make it a point to hire workers with disabilities | ABC News
“We decided to open a pizzeria… and we are doing this all on our own dime. Everyone always thinks that other people will take care of people with disabilities,” Owner, Gloshinski said. >> read more
For transition-age students, mock store offers job training | Disability Scoop
A true-to-life replica of a CVS pharmacy is serving as a training ground for students with developmental disabilities to learn valuable employment skills. >> read more
February 2016
A legacy for special needs | conejovalleylifestylepubs.com
“[Special needs young adults] have the same needs as any typical young adult. They require a sense of accomplishment, socialization, physical activity, and opportunities to grow and have a secure, dignified quality of life.” >> read more
Exceptional Minds: Movie magic | Parade
Exceptional Minds is a visual effects animation studio in Hollywood that is also a nonprofit, providing vocational training for young adults with autism. >> read more
Federal proposal calls for disability hiring quota | Disability Scoop
“The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said this week that it is proposing a rule that would require federal agencies to work toward a 12 percent workforce representation rate for people with disabilities and a 2 percent representation rate for those with targeted or severe conditions including intellectual disability.” >> read more
Carleton Place cafe serves up jobs, confidence for employees with autism | CBC News
At the Owl Cafe, the aim is to give young people with autism jobs, skills, coping mechanisms, and other support services they need to find success. >> read more
Why entrepreneurship holds the key to solving the autism employment crisis | Huffington Post
“My father and I founded Rising Tide Car Wash as a means of creating a community for Andrew and showing the world just how capable people with autism really are.” – Tom D’Eri >> read more
Judge orders back pay for sheltered workshop employees | Disability Scoop
A judge has ordered Seneca Re-ad Industries Inc. to pay more than $54,000 in damages and back pay after ruling that the sheltered workshop wrongly set subminimum wages for three of its employees with disabilities. >> read more
The successful bakery that hires adults with autism | Good
Puzzles Bakery, in Schenectady, New York, decided to hire people with autism, and it’s been working out very well. >> read more
Learning disability employment rate ‘unacceptable’ | BBC
“…the employment rate of those with learning disabilities continues to drop and currently stands at just 6% in England. Minister for Disabled People Justin Tomlinson says this is “unacceptable”. >> read more
Autism Breakthrough of Knoxville allows adults to live independent lives | WBIR
“We provide community living, community services, community recreation, and community employment. So we provide a full range of service for adults with Autism.” >> read more
January 2016
A Community Smiles: building hope for adults with autism | differentbrains.com
“Matt launched SMILE Biscotti, his Phoenix-based baking business in 2013, to further his independence.” >> read more
The dirty truth behind unemployment in the autism community | The Mighty
“A startling truth has hit me this political season: America doesn’t understand that unemployment in the autism community can be largely caused by institutional discrimination.” >> read more
Making a living: Northampton dad seeks to give children with autism a brighter future | Courier Times
Crafter for Life, which began as a program in the Council Rock School District, aims to create a future for young adults with autism by providing them with a trade. >> read more
Kessler Foundation grants $401K to develop and implement a healthcare workforce inclusion model for people with disabilities in St. Louis | kesslerfoundation.org
“In this exciting project, Mercy will develop best practices that spark a shift in workplace culture as organizations recognize abilities before disabilities.” >> read more
Are autistic individuals the best workers around? | BBC
Firms are increasingly hiring employees on the spectrum. Here’s why. >>read more
Duo become first reporters with Down Syndrome at local news station | The Mighty
Two Special Olympics athletes are now the first reporters with Down syndrome to work at Denver7News, and ABC affiliate. >> read more
The Israeli army unit that recruits teens with autism | The Atlantic
“Many autistic soldiers who would otherwise be exempt from military service have found a place in Unit 9900, a selective intelligence unit where their heightened perceptual skills are an asset.” >> read more
December 2015
Twins with autism building up their wrapping paper business | CBS Philly
This holiday season has some local brothers putting their skills to work- creating handmade wrapping paper that’s for sale. >> read more
Marriott opens hotel school for people with disabilities | Yahoo
Courtyard by Marriott and the state of Indiana are doing their part to support people with disabilities by opening a teaching hotel geared toward workers with special needs. >> read more
Young adults with autism get employment boost through new program at Hewlett-Packard | ABC AU
A young Queensland man with autism is on his way to his dream job as a software developer after scoring a position with Hewlett-Packard. >> read more
November 2015
Should we be pushing people with autism to work in tech? | qz.com
An estimated 90% of adults on the autism spectrum are unemployed or underemployed. >> read more
Sai bakery: a mother’s sweet gift to her autistic son and his differently abled friends | The Better India
It is not just a regular bakery, but a it’s a place where adults with learning disabilities can come, work, learn, and spend a respectable and productive day. >> read more
Rutgers announces initiative to launch center to support adults with autism | news.rutgers.edu
Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services’ vocational and residential programs aim to integrate adults with ASD into university community. >> read more
Roses for autism: How a farm was saved and a vital need filled | modern farmer
When a fourth-generation owned Connecticut rose farm faltered, it was given new life thanks to an innovative partnership. >> read more
October 2015
Applebee’s to pay employee with autism who worked hundreds of hours for free | Pix 11
Applebee’s officials say they will pay a Rhode Island man who worked at a restaurant for about a year and never received a paycheck. >> read more
Applebee’s employee with autism reportedly unpaid for a year | The Mighty
Caleb very much enjoyed his job at Applebee’s, but, after a while, his parents began to wonder why he wasn’t getting compensated as promised. >> read more
Program helping adults with autism succeed in the workforce | WHNT News
Through his ‘Open Door’ program, David Stidger provides one-on-one job training at places like the Huntsville-Madison County Library where his clients learn the skills they need to succeed in the workforce. >> read more
Hiring people with disabilities benefits employer, employee and community | Minn Post
The unemployment rate for people with disabilities is reportedly at least twice the unemployment rate of the general population. >> read more
Plans brewing for D.C. coffee shop that trains students with autism | wtop
Independent Grounds Coffee House will serve as a vocational training site for adolescents with autism. >> read more
Women launch rural program for adults with autism | Daily Republic
Jeanine Stanley and Pamela Hale Mitchell hope to answer the question, “What happens to adults with autism when they turn 22 and there are no more school programs for them?” >> read more
September 2015
Starbucks largest roasting plant offers job training for people with disabilities | Starbucks Newsroom
Starbucks Inclusion Academy Program provides a foundation for on-the-job success for workers with disabilities. >> read more
School partners with employers to hire young adults with autism | Central Penn Business Journal
“Created in 2002 to prepare autistic children for public school and eventually the workforce, Vista serves more than 90 children with autism spectrum disorder from the ages of 3 to 21.” >> read more
Internship program for adults with autism creates meaningful impact at Safelite AutoGlass | prnewswire.com
Safelite AutoGlass is benefiting from internship programs made possible by MassGeneral Hospital for Children’s Aspire program, which helps children, teens and adults with a high cognitive autism spectrum disorder or a related social profile make social connections and develop independence. >> read more
Report warns ‘tsunami’ of adults with autism are struggling to find work | Calgary Herald
Out of Canada: “With public schools facing a 300-fold increase in students with autism, researchers are warning a lack of support for adolescents and young adults is making it harder than ever for graduates to find work.” >> read more
August 2015
Piece by piece | timesunion.com
Sara Mae Hickey’s bakery and cafe allows people with disabilities to find a spot in the workforce. >> read more
Opportunity knocks: Young adults with autism learn job skills at Ontario camp | CTV News
A Canadian camp that helps young adults with autism disorders develop job skills and find their place in the working world is seeing success, only two years after its inception. >> read more
‘Miami is kind,’ says macaroon maker who will soon employ young adults with autism and other disabilities | Miami Herald
“Young adults with autism can excel in the workplace and can make the companies they work for profitable.” >> read more
Autism Home Business: The Chocolate Spectrum | youtube
The Chocolate Spectrum Chocolatier Training and Employment Program trains adults with developmental disabilities in the art of chocolate-making. >> read more
Young adults with autism flounder in face of service gaps | spectrumnews.org
“Approximately one in four young adults on the autism spectrum…receive no services that could help them become employed, continue their education or live independently. More than one-third are ‘disconnected during their early 20s,’ the researchers found, meaning they never get a job or continue education after high school.” >> read more
What they don’t tell you about working with adults with disabilities | themighty.com
“But they don’t tell you about the fact if you do it right, you’ll never be the same.” >> read more
July 2015
This accessible hotel is staffed by people with disabilities | themighty.com
In the Italian city of Asti is a hotel staffed by people with disabilities. It’s called Albergo Etico. In English, it means “Hotel Ethics”. >> read more
Autistic adults find job skills, and life skills, on a south Jersey farm | CBS Philly
A South Jersey farm has become a job training site for an unlikely group of growers: adults with autism and other intellectual disabilities. >> read more
June 2015
School helps adults with autism find jobs in central PA | abc27.com
The Vista School in Dauphin County is helping adults with autism find jobs in central Pennsylvania. >> read more
Roses for autism: from an abandoned farm, to providing valuable work experience for adults with autism | greenwichfreepress.com
“The farm functions, with some state funding, as an opportunity for people with disabilities to have meaningful work.” >> read more
BBC job search for people with autism and Tourette’s | The Telegraph
“The BBC is to make a ‘groundbreaking’ programme in which people with neurological disabilities- from autism and Tourette’s to ADH and Down’s Syndrome- attempt to find jobs.” >> read more
Here’s the hourly wage you’d need to afford a 2-bedroom rental in every state | someecards.com
Out of Reach is a program from the National Low-Income Housing Coalition that has focused on the problem of rent (un)affordability since 1989. >> read more
Autistic coders get jobs as Microsoft, SAP Woo Software sleuths | Bloomberg
“They have a real passion for detail,” Mark Grein, executive director at Specialisterne, said in an interview from Stamford, Connecticut. “They tend to be very good at following a process, improving a process, optimizing a process.” >> read more
10 Tips to help young adults with autism transition into the workforce | Huffington Post
Finding employment is difficult for anyone, but the challenges that young adults with autism face are magnified. >> read more
May 2015
Man with developmental disabilities opening coffee shop | WIVB
George Augstell is living out his dreams. The 27-year-old has down syndrome and will own and operate a new coffee shop in Niagara Falls. >> read more
How a Danish company is helping people with autism get jobs in IT and tech | slate.com
“In many cases, people with autism may actually have more to offer companies than the average worker, especially in the world of tech.” >> read more
Woman with autism finds world of possibilities in new job | The National
An outstanding woman working for a company that understands the unique value that individuals on the autism spectrum provide in a work setting. >> read more
Anxiety over “aging out” of autism services | CBS News
In the next decade, half a million young adults with autism will need jobs and a place to live. >> read more
Young adults with autism face big challenges | vagazette.com
After graduating from high school, young adults with autism are far less likely than their peers to find paid employment, according to researchers. >> read more
April 2015
Parents decry proposed cuts to services for those with autism |ctpost.com
Like many 20-year-olds, Jessica Zangrillo stands at the cusp of an uncertain future. But, unlike others her age, Zangrillo isn’t about to move from college into the professional world. >> read more
Adults with autism find few services after school ends | The Baltimore Sun
What can families do today to help create better futures for our autistic adult children and loved ones? >> read more
Young Adults With Autism More Likely To Be Unemployed, Isolated | NPR
“Starting in the early to mid-1970s, there’s been a historic shift in the balance of jobs in the manufacturing sector to the service sector. And those types of jobs, which require lots of social interaction, are exactly the types of jobs that people with #autism have difficulty with.” >> read more
The One Thing About Autism the Media Didn’t Talk About, Until Now | Vanity Fair
The innovators: matching autistic people with jobs needing special skills | theguardian
Where often the normal recruitment process can fail, Specialisterne helps place people with autism into firms that need workers with a keen eye for detail >> read more
Feds Take Aim At Sheltered Workshops | Disability Scoop
The Obama administration is proposing new regulations that would sharply limit people with disabilities from entering employment situations where they earn less than minimum wage. >> read more
Hollywood’s New Up-and-Comers? Autistic Young Adults | LA Magazine
Detail-oriented and technically skilled, young adults with autism are finding surprise careers in the film and television industries >> read more
March 2015
6 ways to get the best on-campus jobs | USA Today
Getting a job that won’t make you schlep off campus will give you experience, an hourly salary and flexible schedule. Here are six ways to do it. >> read more
For adults with autism, a lack of support when they need it most | Washington Post
Bundled up in a puffy green coat, Moore, 35 and sandy-haired, doesn’t stand out in the crowd seeking refuge from the winter cold in a drafty Starbucks. His handshake is firm and his blue eyes meet mine as we talk. He comes across as intelligent and thoughtful, if perhaps a bit reserved. His disability — a form of autism — is invisible. >> read more
Program Would Offer Job Training to 100 Young Adults With Autism | Hartford Courant
This first-ever vocational program – laid out in a bill that is before the legislature’s human services committee – is intended to begin to address two problems: high unemployment among adults with #autism, and the difficulties many find with living independently. >> read more
Entrepreneur With Asperger’s Raises $3.8 Million | Disability Scoop
Storm Sondors has a house in Malibu, a daily surfing routine, and one of the hottest crowd-funding campaigns on the Internet. >> read more
People With ‘Invisible Disabilities’ Fight For Understanding | NPR
Some disabilities are more obvious than others. Many are immediately apparent, especially if someone relies on a wheelchair or cane. But others — known as “invisible” disabilities — are not. People who live with them face particular challenges in the workplace and in their communities. >> read more
February 2015
TEMPLE: PROFESSOR WHO LOVES COWS | The Art of Autism
Short article by Temple Grandin about applying work skills as an autistic individual. >> read more
Adults with autism are left to navigate a jarring world | Science News
Researchers turn attention to a growing population of adults with autism spectrum disorders >> read more
How to work with someone with autism | Market Watch
The new guy in the office is loud and aggressive, can’t read social cues, won’t wait his turn in meetings, and talks obsessively about the same things every day. And yet, sometimes, he shares extraordinary insights. >> read more
TAKE A TOUR INSIDE THE CAR WASH STAFFED BY EMPLOYEES WITH AUTISM | ABC 6
Rising Tide Car Wash in Parkland, Fla. offers all the standard services and amenities of your typical car wash. But look a little deeper, and you’ll notice something truly remarkable about Rising Tide: they’re primarily staffed by employees on the autism spectrum. >> read more
January 2015
Hiring Workers with Disabilities at Starbucks Largest Distribution Plant | Starbucks Newsroom
Companies, like #Starbucks, that give individuals with #disabilities an opportunity to work often end up with some of their most loyal employees …The investment in training often results in a high retention rate. >> read more
Mostly autistic cast brings new movie to life | USA Today
We’re highly anticipating the release of “Circles.” Directed by Jesse Cramer and Micah Levin, most of the actors in this short film are emerging adults on the #autism spectrum. >> watch video
‘I Hated School, Was Bullied And Didn’t Fit In’ | The Voice
Though this 24-year-old #autism campaigner’s path has been far from conventional, he continues to make personal strides while helping others in his position at Ambitious About Autism. >> read more
Hiring autistic workers a sweet deal for everyone | Herald Media
ilovesweets.com hires adults with #autism – not for philanthropic reasons – but because it makes good business sense. >> read more
Teacher walks away to work full time on her autism tech startup | BizJournals
“The goal is to increase the inclusion of people with disabilities into the workforce,” she said. >> read more
Ted Talk Tuesday: Can autism bring more gifts to the workforce? | TED
What happens to people with autism when they age out of school? | Wbez 91.5
Illinois has more than 19,000 minors who have #autism. And that’s just what the schools are identifying. When these kids’ services expire from the state, they face the same choice as most young adults: school or work? But the transition to either of those worlds can be difficult depending on the disability. >> read more
December 2014
Fixing Autism Research | MIT Technology Review
“We need to come to grips with what autism really is.” -John Elder Robison >> read more
Wish Book: Autistic lab worker flourishes at biomedical company | San Jose Mercury News
Project Search trains young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism and cerebral palsy, for competitive, entry-level jobs in the medical field. >> read more
A Concerned Dad Asked Me, ‘What Will Happen to My Son With Autism When I’m Gone.’ This Is My Answer. | The Mighty
At an Autism Society autism conference I attended a few years back in Orlando, Florida, a father, probably in his sixties, approached me. He had a nonverbal son. We discussed his son’s need for an aide and several supports. Then he asked me one of the most difficult questions I’ve ever been asked as an autism advocate: “What do you think will happen to my son when I’m no longer here?” >> read more
HAVE DREAMS PROMOTES EMPLOYMENT FOR THOSE WITH AUTISM | ABC
“It may look like your neighborhood Walgreens, but these items are not for sale. This is a mock store, set up as part of a workplace training program called Have Dreams Academy. It’s inside the autism resource organization called Have Dreams in Evanston. Walgreens has agreed to hire some program graduates.” >> read more
5 Ways to Teach Money Management to Older Children with Special Needs | Friendship Circle
Do you have an older child with special needs that you are trying to teach money management? As your child gets older, learning more about money management and budgeting can increase independence, expand vocabulary and improve literacy and problem-solving skills. >> read more
November 2014
No Longer ‘Falling Off the Cliff’ | The Chronicle of Higher Education
Programs like Cutting Edge provide a way for colleges to respond to what many disability advocates call “falling off the cliff.” >> read more
October 2014
Laundry service provides jobs for adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder | Autism Daily Newscast
Oakland University has just opened an on-campus laundry service that provides employment opportunities for adults with #autism. >> read more
Autism after high school | Medical Press
This mom has a great attitude. “I’m doing the same thing any parent would want for their child,’ his mother says. ‘We want to make sure our children are okay after we are gone. With Jay, it’s a more involved, complicated plan. I think it’s possible. I have got to figure out as a parent how to do it.” >> read more
‘It means the world’: Special Kneads bakery gives special needs adults jobs — and a purpose | Today
“More than 56 million Americans have some type of disability. And while there’s a lot of support for children with special needs, it tends to disappear for adults, leaving many unemployed and living with their parents, unable to pay bills.” >> read more
A film school for those with autism | CNN on YouTube
Video about a film school for individuals with #autism headed by John Travolta’s brother, Joey.
Untapped Potential: Autistic Adults | Cognoscenti
This article puts into perspective how a positive attitude, a supportive community, and hard work can help one achieve his/her potential. >> read more
Billionaire Urges Disability Hiring | Disability Scoop
“Dubbed ‘I’m in to Hire,’ the awareness campaign calls on people — whether they are in a position to hire individuals with #disabilities or not — to sign an online pledge to advocate for inclusive workplaces.” >> read full article
A Couple Gaining Independence, and Finding a Bond | NY Times
“Peter Maxmean, 35, and Lori Sousa, 48, met five years ago at a sheltered workshop in North Providence, where people with intellectual #disabilitiesperformed repetitive jobs for little pay, in isolation. But when a federal investigation turned that workshop upside down last year, among those tumbling into the daylight were two people who had fallen in love within its cinder block walls.” >> read full article
What can be done to help parents of autistic adults? | PBS
Dr. Barry and Renee Gordon really nail the issues. Please post and repost. >> read more
September 2014
What You Need To Know About Working With Colleagues On The Autism Spectrum | Forbes
There’s a good chance that many of us have worked with someone on the#autism spectrum and didn’t even know it! Let’s work together to make sure that our places of employment are welcoming to and tolerant of our individual differences. >> read more
More jobs, health coverage for autism | Examiner
“The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy today announced a total of $8,422,574 in continued funding for organizations that develop models, provide technical assistance and share best practices to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities.” >> read full article
Hope and frank talk on autism from Temple Grandin | UT San Diego
Wearing her trademark embroidered western shirt, Temple Grandin delivered a blunt and, at times, hilarious presentation yesterday at University of San Diego. >> read more
August 2014
TV Series To Examine Life During Transition | Disability Scoop
This is the kind of reality TV the world needs! Kudos to #OWN. The new documentary-style series airs September 7. >> read more
Entrepreneurship the answer for some with autism | Reading Eagle
After years working as a bagger in a grocery store, Matt Cottle (#autistic), realized he desired something greater. Now, entrepreneur and owner of Stuttering King Bakery in Scottsdale, Ariz., he delivers baked goods to local cafes and businesses in need of catering. >> read more
HOW TO TURN SMALL TALK INTO SMART CONVERSATION | TED
How many times have you heard the phrase, “I do NOT like small talk”? This right here is a mini social lesson we can all learn from. >> read more
Program helps young adults take autism to work | Click On Detroit
Project Search teaches necessary job skills, eases transition to workforce. >> read more
July 2014
German Company Recruits Employees with Autism | Autism Daily Newscast
“By drawing on the logical and analytical strengths of our consultants – especially in software testing- we create sustainable employment for people on the #autism spectrum. At #Auticon, consultants are employed on a permanent basis and matched to client’s projects in terms of interest and expertise…” >> read more
How Animal Farm Communities Create a New World for Many with Autism | Fox Business
In the middle of the English countryside, Lydia Otter has made it her life’s mission to work with people like Peter Griffin, a 26-year-old with severe autism. Griffin can hardly speak, but he has flourished at Pennyhooks Care Farm, a farm community focused on therapeutic agriculture, taking up woodworking and working daily on the land. >>read more
Unemployed, on the spectrum | ABC Australia
33-year-old Chris Brown is on the #autism spectrum and has never had long-term #employment. >>read more
Autism Awareness Rising Tide Car Wash Thomas D’eri Fort Lauderdale Remote Studio Al Jazeera Liveshot | Vimeo
Rising Tide Car Wash provides #employment to those with #autism, and they were just featured on Al Jazeera’s program “Consider This”
Businesses Look To Hire People With Autism To Improve Workforce Capabilities, ‘Autism At Work’ | Inquisitr
A local bakery and cafe in Schenectady, New York, is hoping to shed light on the issue of employment for people with autism. >> read more
Working with Asperger’s | Youtube
Michael discusses his #employment experiences as an adult with an#Aspergers diagnosis.
July 2014
Tim’s Place Albuquerque: Service With A Smile | youtube
Tim Harris wakes up at 5:30am each day to get ready for work. His job? Tim is the owner of Tim’s Place, a restaurant in Albuquerque that serves yummy food with a side of smiles and hugs.
[youtube url=”http://youtu.be/y6He0FWoFj0″]Autism and employment options: a reality check | SFgate
Laura Schumaker conducted an informal Facebook survey to find out what kinds of jobs autistic adults are finding. >> read article
City gardening helps autistic youths and young adults | WGNTV
A program in Chicago aims to bring successful futures to autistic adults through gardening. >> read article
Unemployed, on the spectrum | ABC, Mildura
Chris, 33, has never had long-term employment. >> read his story
Randy Lewis: ‘We haven’t found a disability we can’t employ’ | HR Magazine
Lewis retired from Walgreens in 2013, after 16 years. He is now putting all his considerable energy into advocating for inclusive recruitment around disability, as well as promoting his book No Greatness Without Goodness. >> continue reading
June 2014
Program helps young adults take autism to work | Click on Detroit
Project Search teaches necessary job skills, eases transition to workforce. >> read article
Putting Autism to Work | MyFoxDFW
North Texas is home to a thriving tech industry and one of the global companies with offices here is pursuing a new kind of hiring policy. They’re going out of their way to put autistic people on the payroll. >> watch feature
Working with an Asperger’s Diagnosis | Gretchen Leary
Author, Gretchen Leary, writes to hiring managers about her challenges and talents as an autistic woman >> read more
Local Lettuce Company Employs, Trains Young People With Autism | WOSU
Lettuce Work, a hydroponic lettuce company in New Albany is training autistic adults >> read article
Disclosing a diagnosis of autism – should you? | Autism Daily Newscast
Deciding whether or not to disclose autism can be a very difficult decision for a lot of autistic people. >> read article
Chicago based AutonomyWorks employs young adults with autism | Autism Daily Newscast
David Friedman is founder and CEO of AutonomyWorks, a company that employs adults with autism. >> read more
The benefits of hiring employees with disabilities | NJ.com
Companies must make a deliberate, forward-leaning commitment to recruit and train people with disabilities. >> read more
Small businesses create new jobs for autistic adults | Marketplace
The good news is there are communities popping up across the country that have come up with several small business models that ease young people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) into the adult world of work and self-sufficiency. >> read more
Urbana coffee shop’s mission develops adults with disabilities | Springfield News
A coffee shop in Urbana recently opened with a mission to not only brew fresh coffee, but also bolster life skills for adults with developmental disabilities. >> read article
Green Bridge Growers: Growing organic produce, employing young adults with autism | The Splendid Table
Add Chris Tidmarsh and Jan Pilarski to the long list of innovators in growing organic food. When Tidmarsh graduated from college with degrees in chemistry, environmental studies and French, he discovered how hard it was to join the workforce as a young adult with autism. >> read article
Troubled Future For Young Adults On Autism Spectrum | wbur’s CommonHealth
Autistic adult, Michael, discusses his future and desire for meaningful employment. >> read more
A film set, where adults with autism learn job skills | Michigan Radio
One program in Rochester is giving young adults with autism the skills to get a job in an unusual way: by training them in the movie business. >> read article
For Those With Autism, Hospitals May Be Ideal Training Ground | Disability Scoop
The student in scrubs is part of a Virginia Commonwealth University study that’s trying to find ways to help young adults with autism make the transition from high school to the working world through Project SEARCH, which trains people with disabilities in hospital jobs. >> read article
May 2014
Adults with autism get help from human simulator to navigate job interviews | Today
This article explains a brand new simulator that has been developed to help autistic adults nail job interviews. >> read article
April 2014
Harry Smith travels to Parkland, Fl to tell the story of Rising Tide Car Wash and John D’Eri’s vision to change the way the world looks at autism. >> watch video
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March 2014
How Autism Can Help You Land a Job | Wall Street Journal
Some employers such as SAP and Freddie Mac are increasingly are viewing autism as an asset and not a deficiency in the workplace. >> read article
For Tech Companies, Hiring Workers With Disabilities ‘Cool’ | Disability Scoop
This article explores how some tech companies are giving those with disabilities careers – not just jobs. >> read article
Ted Talk by John and TomD’Eri, the father-and-son team that founded Rising Tide Car Wash, a social enterprise dedicated to providing gainful employment for people with autism in a premium car wash brand while simultaneously inviting the community to see the potential this talent pool has to offer. >> watch video
[youtube url=”http://youtu.be/RDx2mYJWcrY”]February 2014
Puzzles to fill a special need | Times Union
Sara Mae Hickey, founder and president of The Autism Initiative, stands in front of the construction site for Puzzles Bakery & Cafe on State St. on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014, in Schenectady, N.Y. The cafe, which will open in the Spring, will be a place for adults with autism to work. >> read article
January 2014
Some With Developmental Disabilities Find Entrepreneurial Success In Triangle | WUNC
In a traditional labor market, Ewan Toscano might be considered “hard to employ.” But he’s part of group of young adults with autism and other developmental disabilities who have a proven track record — not only of employment — but of entrepreneurship in the Triangle. >> read article
Setting up autistic employees to succeed | Human Resource Executive Online
As you may know, autistic employees can be valuable contributors to your workforce. And as recent research underscores, autistic workers get value from the employment proposition that goes beyond simply receiving a paycheck. >> read more
Brad Fremmerlid, Man With Severe Autism, Turns Knack For Ikea Assembly Into A Business | HuffPost Good News
Assembling Ikea furniture can be a headache. Complicated instructions, confusing diagrams and stray pieces that don’t seem to fit anywhere are a recipe for an emotional meltdown. But for Brad Fremmerlid, building Ikea furniture is no problem at all. >> read article
