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5739 Federal and Corporate Employment Options for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders [ASHA Session]

Thursday, July 7, 2011: 1:00 PM-2:15 PM

Sun C (Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center)

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Understanding the federal job market is challenging. This presentation will explore several hiring authorities designed specifically for use by and for people with disabilities who are seeking federal employment. Presenters will provide practical tools and strategies for young adults with high functioning autism and Asperger’s Syndrome to transition to the workplace and increase their chances of securing employment. Participants will leave with materials related to soft skills and disability disclosure from the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth, the Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy technical assistance center and will hear a firsthand account of the federal hiring process from an individual with autism who serves as a Grants Management Specialist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Despite the best efforts of many to support effective transition for individuals with ASD, many adults with autism do not become gainfully employed after graduation. Even in the best of economies, many have a difficult time overcoming barriers and finding their way into the workforce. This is a particularly stressful time for people with disabilities who are transitioning to the world of work.

This presentation will highlight Federal and Corporate efforts to create the most inclusive workplace and to provide equal opportunities for people with disabilities. Several hiring authorities designed specifically for use by and for people with disabilities are available for those seeking federal employment. In fact, the Federal government is actively recruiting individuals with disabilities to the workforce.

Two presenters with extensive experience in Equal Employment and the federal job market will discuss these hiring authorities and attempt to demystify the federal job application process. With knowledge acquired in CDC’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities and CDC’s Office of Workforce and Career Development, presenters will provide detailed information on careers in the federal government, specifically tailored to adults with high functioning autism and Asperger’s Syndrome. One presenter will share success stories from the Walgreens Corporation’s Distribution Center which has designed and implemented innovative strategies to achieve a 30% employment rate for people with disabilities, making Walgreens a model workplace for people with disabilities. Attendees will leave this session with knowledge of the federal job market and application process, a thorough understanding of the benefits of declaring a disability during the federal and corporate application process, and with practical tools to increase their likelihood of gaining employment.

The second half of this presentation, added this year as a result of requests made at the 2010 ASA Conference presentation, will include a presenter from U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy who will discuss how the Schedule A hiring authority can greatly benefit young adults with disabilities who have an interest in beginning a career with the Federal government. Schedule A can be a fast track way for Federal agencies to bring in talented individuals with disabilities. During this discussion she will highlight the techniques young adults need to learn to transition successfully. The nature of what employers demand in the workplace of the 21st Century is changing. Young adults with disabilities today must not only master basic academic skills, but must also develop soft skills such as teamwork and communication in order to attain positive employment outcomes. Our own daily experiences and research alike confirm that the key to getting and retaining employment (maybe even getting promoted) are the soft skills that make you a valued member of the workplace team.

In addition, young adults with disabilities must also learn how to adapt to employment settings where they are eligible for accommodations rather than being entitled to accommodations. When young adults with disabilities transition to the workplace, it is necessary for them to learn about their rights and responsibilities under Federal law in regards to disclosure and accommodations, and learn how to communicate and carryout these responsibilities. Having knowledge in soft skills and disability disclosure is key to helping young adults feel prepared to self-advocate for their needs and to exercise their disability rights and responsibilities, while demonstrating their abilities in the workplace. Participants will leave with materials related to soft skills and disability disclosure from the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth, the Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy technical assistance center.

Learning Objectives:

o The Federal Job Application Process- Using the USAJobs search engine to find positions within the Federal Government; Understanding the GS Scale; Dissecting the Federal application; Federal goals for hiring people with disabilities; Learning to decrease the intimidation factor and increase confidence throughout the process.
o Specific Hiring Authorities created for people with disabilities- Learning how to qualify for non-competitive status; Understanding the “Schedule A Letter”; the benefits of declaring a disability.
o The Walgreens Model- How Walgreens is transforming corporate thinking and encouraging the most inclusive workplace.
• Tools to help young adults develop and market their soft skills o A list of the most valuable soft skills identified by employers, learn how to incorporate three experiential learning methods to develop young adult’s soft skills, and discuss how these gained skills help young adults to become lifelong learners, confident self-advocates, and proactive community members. o Use simple hands-on tools to help youth turn their daily experiences and existing activities into soft skills development opportunities, resume builders, and interview success stories.
• Techniques to help young adults understand disability disclosure o Understand their disability better and how to talk about it; o Understand their rights and responsibilities under the law; o Decide whether or not to disclose their disability; and o Understand how disclosing their disability may improve educational, employment, and social opportunities.

Content Area: Long-term Services and Support

Presenters:

Tracy Hilliard, M.S.
Deputy Director
Strategic Workforce Development Division, Office of Workforce and Career Development

Tracy Hilliard, M.S., is Deputy Director of the Strategic Workforce Development Division (SWDD) at CDC. Ms. Hilliard has 20 years of broad human resources-related experience, in the areas of job analysis, workforce planning, strategic planning, recruitment, pay and compensation, and business process re-engineering.

Melody Stevens, M.A.
Public Health Analyst
National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Melody Stevens is a Public Health Analyst (Policy) at the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ms. Stevens serves as the NCBDDD appointee to the Equal Employment Opportunity Advisory Council and has an active role on the People with Disabilities Subcommittee.

Laura Ibañez, M.S.
Policy Advisor
U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy

Ms. Ibañez is a youth policy advisor for the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy. In this position, she combines policy analysis, research, and practices to ensure policy products demonstrate an inclusive tone to promote that youth with disabilities are connected to workforce development opportunities.

Hoda Kirbah
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Hoda Kirbah is a recent hire at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, working in the Procurement and Grants Office. She was selected under the federal direct hire program for persons with disabilities. Hoda has experienced this success despite living with the Autism Spectrum Disorder. She is a recent graduate of Georgia State University with a Bachelor's in Business Administration in Finance and currently completing a dual Bachelor's Degree in Accounting. During this accomplishment, Hoda also spent eight years in private Real Estate business management in Georgia. Her entire life, she has been surrounded with persons with disabilities including an older brother with severe Autism and an older sister with Asperger's. Hoda encounters firsthand experience with the many obstacles that autism creates, and hopes to be of service in assisting those enduring the same difficulties.

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