For Some With Autism, Jobs to Match Their Talents

Part 3 of the Caregivers Crisis series: In light of a shortage of state group living facilities in Illinois, one family is partnering with a non-profit to retrofit their home into a safe, independent living space for their autistic son, creating a future for him when his aging parents can no longer take care of his daily needs.

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.

The Transition Academy connects people with mental and physical disabilities with helpful resources to increase their access to jobs and higher education. The group also connects families with resources, experiences, and knowledge to create a smooth transition out of high school for students with disabilities and provides a Facebook community for families to connect and share insights.

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.

People with autism struggle to gain employment. EY and other private companies have started programs to employ autistic individuals, harnessing their skills, tailoring the onboarding process to suit their needs, and having coaches help them with social interactions.

It is very difficult for people with disabilities to find work. Specialisterne is a Danish company that trains high-functioning autistic employees for IT jobs and partners with IT companies to get them hired by altering the interview process.

People with disabilities like autism often struggle to find welcoming and meaningful jobs. Companies that place workers with disabilities in jobs that fit their skills will be well-positioned to succeed in the 21st century.

Lionheart Ability Leaders International Foundation (LALIF) uses a comprehensive training program to empower parents, teachers and those living with vision and hearing impairment. Their programming teaches educators how to understand tactile sign language, and also empowers parents on how best to support their children living with disabilities.

An e-waste recycling program in Minnesota aims to take old computers that normally end up in a landfill and give them to community members with income-based needs. Since the ResQZone initiative started as a partnership between a nonprofit and the county government, they’ve been able to get 420 computer systems back into public use. They also hire and train people with disabilities to do the refurbishing.