The Autism Society Event and Education Recordings Archive

Autism does not end when a child reaches adulthood. According to the National Autistic Society the combined under and unemployment for adults with autism, even for those with college degrees, may be as high as 88%. Stress for families goes up once formal education is over and services are few and far between especially for those without cognitive disability. As a result, many parents live in a state of chronic desperation as evident in comments such as “I cannot even die” or “Our nest will never be empty.”

On April 2, 2015, this urgent matter led United Nations General Secretary Ban Ki-moon to launch an employment “Call to Action” and invited businesses around the world to make concrete commitments to employ people on the autism spectrum. He encouraged public offices, corporations, and small businesses to look closer look at how they perceive people with autism, to learn about the condition, and to create life-changing opportunities.

Neurodiversity has become a hot issue.  As Steve Silberman describes it in Neurotribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity, “neurodiversity: the notion that conditions like autism, dyslexia, and attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) should be regarded as naturally occurring cognitive variations with distinctive strengths that have contributed to the evolution of technology and culture rather than mere checklists of deficits and dysfunctions.” (p.16)

This panel will bring together the real life experiences of Drs. Stephen Shore and Robert Naseef who were the lead trainers for a pre-employment training project—“Soft Skills for the Workplace.” This intensive 5 day program was the fruit of collaboration between a non-profit (Arc), private industry (SAP), the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation, Specialisterne, and Montgomery County Community College. More recently, they presented training for SAP managers entitled “Managing the Neurodiverse Workplace.

The SAP program is headed by José Velasco, a parent of children on the autism spectrum, who will detail the history of this ground-breaking program. José will be joined on this panel by his son, José, Jr., who is pursuing an associate’s degree in software testing. José, Jr. will share his perspective, successes and lessons learned along the way.”

Research suggests that employers are missing out on abilities individuals with autism have such as, heightened abilities in pattern recognition and logical reasoning, as well as a greater attention to detail. The barriers needing to be overcome for unleashing this potential include: a shortage of soft skills training, inadequate support with job placement, discrimination, as well as increasing awareness and training for employers.

Corporations like SAP are setting an example for large and small businesses and government offices to look closer look at how they perceive people with autism and other disabilities and to create life-changing opportunities that will benefit their organizations and society as a whole.