Autistic? More Companies Say Add It to Your Resume

Fortune 500 companies are learning to be flexible with hiring processes and recruitment to ensure that people on the autism spectrum are being accommodated. Workers with autism are incredibly productive -- at JPMorgan Chase, they "achieve, on average, 48% to 140% more work than their typical colleagues -- but there is a need for flexibility and understanding to cultivate their talent.

A pilot program in Canada is providing increased job opportunities for disadvantaged populations - including refugees, those with disabilities, and laborers who have been unemployed long-term - through a special program that rewards companies hiring them with what is essentially a cash-back rebate on loans covered by the government. The rebate adds up to be significantly less than the cost of paying out unemployment, and has the additional benefits of encouraging workplace diversity and corporate growth.

Albergo Etico prepares people with disabilities for work in the hotel industry, using training based on the Montessori method. The "download" method helps people learn job skills at their own pace, translating lessons for people with various cognitive abilities. Training begins with their families, doing household chores in their own home. Trainees now work in eight Italian cities, plus three other countries. The investment pays off both economically and socially, as trainees gain autonomy and self-sufficiency.

The unemployment rate for individuals diagnosed on the autism spectrum is a whopping 58%, but a number of pilot programs at big companies are working to increase what is being called "neurodiversity" in the workplace. Inspired by the success of a Dutch organization that helps place autistic workers, firms like EY and Microsoft are finding that employing individuals with unique cognitive abilities benefits not just people, but the company's bottom line.

Thorkil Sonne's experiences with his own gifted, autistic son led him to start a company called Specialisterne, founded on the idea that - given the right environment - some autistic adults could not just hold down a job but also be the best person for it, increasing access to a self-sustained adulthood.

ACCESS Development Services trains women to drive electric auto rickshaws, providing them with marketable skills that help them earn a living independently. The all-women Pink City Rickshaw Company employs the women to provide tours throughout the city and has since trained over 200 women.

There are more than 500 certified social enterprises in Australia, employing people with disabilities, migrants, refugees and others who need extra support to help them secure stable employment to create better futures for themselves and their families. In Australia alone, the number of certified social enterprises is growing at 16% per year.

Old Skool Café provides opportunities for youth, particularly those who were formerly incarcerated and/or in foster care, to gain life skills, job training, and receive help managing their finances, writing resumes and cover letters, build people skills, and strengthen interpersonal communication. The restaurant allows the youth to train for every position in an industry that generates 25% of the area’s jobs.

Employment intermediaries from VšĮ SOPA act as workforce development counselors and recruiters for both employers and people with disabilities. By preparing people for jobs that fit their abilities, and then aiding in a job search, the intermediaries are able to place about half of their 100-plus clients in appropriate jobs. Common in Western Europe, where government funding enables such services, the service in Lithuania relies on private funding, which can be less stable. Jobs for people with disabilities provide self-confidence and independence.

A technology service company based in Wilmington, DE hires neurodiverse employees, people with developmental disabilities, to fulfill roles that they may typically be overlooked for despite their skillsets. TPI avoids the typical hiring practices that include interviews, small talk, or eye contact. Instead, they are tested through complicated LEGO kits, allowing potential employees to shine within their comfort zones. TPI's hiring practices have been so successful that they are in the process of scaling their business to other cities in order to tap into this typically overlooked pool of candidates.