Employment

Videos

This section includes videos that highlight employment opportunities, challenges, and recommendations for people on the autism spectrum.

Government

• 2022
  
  • U.S. Department of Labor
    
    • Building Mental Health-Friendly Workplaces
      May 25, 2022
      U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh and Taryn Williams, Assistant Secretary at the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), host this video highlighting strategies that foster equitable and inclusive mental health-friendly workplaces. This event explores mental health parity, the role of the workplace in addressing the nation’s mental health crisis, and strategies for fostering work environments that support workers with mental health conditions.

• 2021
  
  • Interagency Committee on Disability Research
    
    • Building Work-Based Learning Opportunities in the Home, School, and Community
      July 28, 2021
      This session introduces participants to the concept of work-based learning and the benefits as they apply to students with disabilities. Special focus will be placed on opportunities to build independence and employment skills across environments. Presenters provide tools and ideas for building opportunities in the home, school, and community, including techniques and strategies for approaching and collaborating with partners.

• 2020
  
  • U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy
    
    • National Disability Employment Awareness Month: Building a Future that Works
      October 20, 2020
      This U.S. Department of Labor event explored the role of accessible technology in relation to National Disability Employment Awareness Month's theme "Increasing Access and Opportunity" for people with disabilities.
  • National Autism Coordinator, Office of National Autism Coordination
    
    • Expanding Career Pathways for Youth and Young Adults on the Autism Spectrum: Employment as a Social Determinant of Health
      March 23, 2020
      In this webinar, Scott Michael Robertson, Ph.D., provides information about government supports and resources that help youth and young adults with autism access competitive, integrated employment and enhance their careers. Full Transition Aged Youth Webinar Series.
• 2019
  
  • Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC)
    
    • Department of Labor Apprenticeship Initiative
      July 24, 2019
      Scott Robertson, Ph.D., discusses the Department of Labor's Apprenticeship Initiative, which aims to expand occupational skills training. Full Meeting Page.
    • Panel Presentation: Disability Employment
      April 17, 2019
      Julie Taylor, Ph.D., introduced the topic of disability employment by discussing current employment rates and directions for future research. Next, Paul Wehman, Ph.D., discussed his initiative to help young people on the spectrum lean skills needed to gain competitive integrated employment. Erik Carter, Ph.D., talked about his work to help young people with disabilities to harness their strengths as a pathway to employment. Finally, Hala Annabi, Ph.D., talked about autism hiring initiatives and creating an autism friendly workplace. Full Meeting Page.
• 2018
  
  • Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC)
    
    • Panel Presentation: Employment for People on the Autism Spectrum
      April 19, 2018
      Scott Robertson, Ph.D., opened the panel with a presentation on the Department of Labor’s initiatives to support disability employment. Next, Jose Velasco, M.S. talked about the development and implementation of the Autism at Work initiative at SAP (System Applications and Products in Data Processing). Marjorie Madfis, M.B.A., discussed her company, Yes She Can Inc., that teaches young women with autism employment skills. Finally, Lori Ireland, M.B.A. and Paige Morrow discussed Extraordinary Ventures, a company that meets the needs of their community through a paid neurodiverse workforce. Full Meeting Page.
• 2017
  
  • Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC)
    
    • Recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Increasing Competitive Integrated Employment for Individuals with Disabilities
      April 26, 2017
      The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act established an advisory committee to recommend ways to increase integrated employment opportunities for people with disabilities, the use of certificates that allow employers to pay workers with disabilities below minimum wage, and ways to improve the oversight of such certificates. Scott Michael Robertson, Ph.D., and Andy Arias presented that committee’s final recommendations. Full Meeting Page.
• 2016
  
  • Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC)
    
    • National Autism Indicators Report: Vocational Rehabilitation
      July 19, 2016
      Anne Roux, M.P.H., M.A. explains the findings of the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute’s National Indicators Report on Vocational Rehabilitation. Full Meeting Page.

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• 2022
  
  • Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN)
    
    • Hiring and Supporting Neurodivergent Workers: Strategies for Success
      August 17, 2022
      Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) efforts in the work place must consider the needs of neurodiverse individuals, particularly during the recruitment and interview process. This webinar features a panel of neurodivergent professionals as well as employers that have developed successful neurodiversity programs. The panel discusses benefits of a neurodiverse workforce, strategies for hiring and retaining neurodiverse employees, and more. Presenters include Rebecca Beam, Founder & CEO, Zavikon; Diane Delaney, Global Diversity & Inclusion Leader, People with Diverse Abilities, IBM; Haley Moss, Attorney & Neurodiversity Expert; and Bruce Soltys, Vice President of University Relations & Leadership Development Programs, Human Resources, Travelers.
• 2020
  
  • Organization for Autism Research
    
    • Autism and the Skilled Trades
      October 8, 2020
      This presentation discusses finding gainful employment and fulfilling careers for people in the autism community.
• 2018
  
  • UC Davis Health Mind Institute
    
    • Competitive Integrated Employment Blueprint – Real Work for Real Pay in the Real World
      August 10, 2018
      Representatives from the California Departments of Education, Rehabilitation, and Developmental Services provide an overview of the Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) Blueprint, aimed at increasing CIE opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities and developmental disabilities.
  • University of South Florida
    
    • Hiring & Retaining Individuals With Autism
      April 11, 2018
      Speakers Scott Fontechia and Christine Hugh discuss hiring and working with people on the autism spectrum with Lynn Chisholm, Director of Internships and Career Readiness at USF Career Services.
• 2017
  
  • Simons Foundation/SPARK
    
    • Employment and ASD: Preparing for the World of Work
      October 30, 2017
      Ernst VanBergeijk, Ph.D., M.S.W., discusses employment and job trends for individuals on the autism spectrum, skills and supports/programs that help individuals on the spectrum gain and retain jobs, and how employers and co-workers can create an autism-friendly workplace. He offers practical advice for applying for applying to jobs, discusses popular fields and educational requirements, and recommends places to find information about jobs.
    • Pathways to Employment for Transition Aged Youth and Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders
      May 18, 2017
      This session reviewed the research regarding employment outcomes for youth with ASD as well as three important pathways to employment, including internships, supported employment and customized employment.
  • UC Davis Health Mind Institute
    
    • Using Person-Centered Approaches in Job Development during Transition Into Adulthood
      July 28, 2017
      In this session, learn about new laws and regulations impacting services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The presentation also discusses how person-centered thinking and practices can be used to guide the job development and employment process.