Autism in the Workplace

Attention! The U.S. Department of Labor has made available approximately $20 million in grants to fund cooperative agreements that will improve educational, training and employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities! Click here [1]to learn more.

Important! The U.S. Department of Labor is proposing a new rule that would require federal contractors and subcontractors to set a hiring goal of having 7 percent of their workforces be people with disabilities! Click here [2] to learn more.

Check it out! The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) has announced its first disability-related application (app) challenge [3]! It is designed to generate innovative tools that will improve employment opportunities and outcomes for people with disabilities. Maybe you can win!

New! Check out the bottom of this page for stories about adults with autism and employment "In the News"!

Autism Speaks Family Services is pleased to highlight individuals with autism who are working as well as testimonials from their employers. This page should serve as a source of inspiration and resources for individuals with autism spectrum disorders, as well as for prospective employers.

Below are the stories of some individuals who are currently working in various fields captured on video. In addition to the videos, there are summaries of the steps involved in helping these individuals achieve success in a workplace environment.

True Meaning Jewelry [4]

True Meaning Jewelry (TMJ) is an entrepreneurial business started by New England Village Day Services to address the ongoing challenges faced by employment programs in securing work opportunities for adults with autism spectrum disorders and other related developmental disabilities that are both meaningful and rewarding to the individual.

Click here [5] to read about the steps put in place to make True Meaning Jewelry a successful work environment for individuals with autism.

*Click here [6] to read a blog post by Tracey Daigneau, M.Ed., Director of Day Services at New England Village.

*Autism Speaks is proud to sell TMJ jewelry. Click here [7] to visit the Autism Speaks store!

Roses for Autism [8]

Roses for Autism, a 501(c)3 a subsidiary of Ability Beyond Disability, is committed to establishing the model for training and employing adults with autism. The Employment Training Program at Roses for Autism provides an opportunity for teens and adults to gain the necessary work skills needed for competitive employment.

Click here [9] to read about the steps put in place to make Roses for Autism a successful work environment for individuals with autism.

*Note: Roses for Autism was a recipient of a 2011 Family Services Community Grant. Click here [10] to learn more about our Community Grants program!

Ken's Krew, Inc. [11]

Ken's Krew enables individuals with intellectual disabilities to successfully enter the world of work by providing access to good jobs and to professional training and support to prepare for and sustain employment.

Below is a video that shows Thomas Brown, a young man on the autism spectrum who works at The Home Depot. Thomas' story is just one example of the many successful job matches made through Ken's Krew.

Click here [12] to read about the steps put in place to make Thomas' employment opportunity at Home Depot a success with the help of Ken's Krew.

Click here [13] to read about what makes Ken's Krew a unique program for providing employment opportunities for individuals with autism.

UM-NSU CARD [14]

UM-NSU CARD, which provides services to individuals in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Monroe counties in Florida, is a comprehensive outreach and support program serving people with autism and related disabilities, their families, and the professionals who work with them. UM-NSU CARD operates under the supervision of a constituency board comprised of family members who help guide program policy priorities and activities. CARD seeks to provide support and assistance with the goal of optimizing the potential of people with autism, dual sensory impairment, and related disabilities.

Executive Director Michael Alessandri, Ph.D, discusses two different individual's gainful employment in this video entitled Adult Success Stories. Alessandri's commentary is mixed with personal testimony from the employees about their positive experiences.

Click here [15] to see steps put in place.

Jay Nolan Community Services, Inc. [16]

Jay Nolan Community Services, Inc. (JNCS) provides an array of support services to individuals in Los Angeles and its surrounding counties and in Santa Clara County. The mission of JNCS is to enable individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities to live fulfilling lives as members of the community by providing support services customized to their individual needs. JNCS offers individualized planning guided by the needs and wishes of the person receiving services and his or her circle of support.
Stephen : Currently employed as a part-time Accounts Receivable Clerk at Masterplan located in Chatsworth, CA, Stephen's hard work, focus, and skills are dually recognized by his employer as well as his colleagues. They highly respect and admire his completed work assignments which are very detail-oriented and void of errors.

Click here [17] to see steps put in place.

Below is the story of Andrew Pegg, an individual who is currently self-employed after attending the Center for Career and Technical Education High School in Cresaptown, Maryland, where he learned computer graphics and computer technology.

Working with the Maryland State Department of Rehabilitation Services counselors, and with mentoring from his high school teaching assistant and former graphics teacher, as well as the support of his family, Andrew opened his own business. He is the hardworking owner and the producer of Designs & Graphics by Andilla.

Click here [18] to see steps put in place.

Nassau Suffolk Services for Autism [19]

Nassau Suffolk Services for Autism in Commack, New York offers hope to people with autism and their families by providing high quality life-long support through services which enable people with autism to function better in everyday life. NSSA offers the most advanced treatment and training programs for the benefit of people with autism, and will continue to pioneer, through research, comprehensive treatment models which can be adopted nationally.

Shelley:This clip contains commentary by Shelley Ourian and her supervisor, Bonnie Eisert of Nassau Suffolk Services for Autism in Commack, New York. The video documents and discusses Shelley's journey from a supervised internship to being successfully employed as a teaching assistant.

Click here [20] to see steps put in place.

Andy: Through Nassau Suffolk Services, Andy Williams is successfully working at Great Neck Plaza Village Hall in Great Neck, New York. This video features commentary from Andy's supervisor, as well as footage of Andy at work.
Click here [21] to see steps put in place.