From Misunderstood to Empowered: Navigating Autism in the Job Market
By Eden Alon When using the words "disability" or "disabled,” different thoughts may arise. Some see disability as negative or a sign of helplessness, but for people like me, it…
Autism-friendly business + Customized Employment = Success!
Daniel is running a victory lap. The 20-year-old just completed his 30-day review as a warehouse associate with flying colors. He’s pulling order tickets on his own and his co-workers…
Autism: What Employers Need to Know Part 2
Part 1 focused more on the unique skills of autistic adults and the challenges they may face in the workplace. Part 2 will discuss the benefits of hiring someone with…
Autism-What employers need to know (Part 1)
An often-cited statistic regarding the autism community is its high unemployment or underemployment rate which ranges from 80% to 90%. Of all the categories of disabilities, autism stands out as…
Employers, workers, praise benefits of job coaching in workplaces
How many of us have benefited from mentors in our lives? How many of us have lacked mentors or support in our jobs? How does a specially trained and experience…
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Let’s Hire the People Who Want to Work
Prepare yourself for a very trying time this summer if you have any travel plans. I just returned from beautiful Beaufort, SC where my wife and I stayed at a…
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experienced job coach + caring employer = success
There is so much good that can happen if someone has a job. This is why Engaged Employment exists. Yes, we all need jobs to make money to live, but…
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When problems arise, job coach steps in
There are many benefits to having a job coach, especially for someone cognitively challenged through autism or other intellectual disabilities. Finding a job these days requires navigating the internet, reading…
Employers must focus on unique strengths; not stereotypes
If I can give some practical advice to parents, employers, or anyone else who supports an autistic worker, it would be this: get on the level of the one you…
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Hardest part of the job: it’s the people
What is the most common weakness among autistic adults who are fortunate to be a part of the workforce today? After interviewing a focus group of eight adults on the…