Hire Autism

Direct Support Professional Careers for People with Disabilities
2022-08-31 14:30 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) play a key role in supporting people with disabilities in attaining and retaining employment and fully integrating into their communities. They may serve as job coaches and provide ongoing training and support, as well as help with daily living activities. Despite the critical work of DSPs, the profession faces challenges including labor shortages, high turnover, and low wages. Yet, especially in states that have taken steps forward mitigating these barriers, the DSP profession can offer flexibility, progressive wages, benefits, and inclusive, accessible training to improve skills and care for clients.
In this webinar, experts from the field will share their experiences in creating opportunities for people with disabilities to work as DSPs using customized employment and reasonable accommodations. Join us to learn about an innovative DSP Academy that trains people with disabilities to work as DSPs. RCM of Washington Chief Executive Officer Amy Brooks and Chief Innovation Officer Susan Brooks will describe RCM’s approach to training and employment placement. Two DSP Academy graduates, Carlos Hilton Zacarias and Tinesha Gray, will share their experiences participating in the training, applying their skills as DSPs, and excelling in a job that is inclusive and tailored to their abilities.

Breaking Barriers with DEI
2022-08-30 11:00 - 11:30
In this 30-minute session, we’ll introduce you to 2 DEI experts – Becky Kekula, Director of the Disability Equality Index at Disability:IN, and CAI’s own Melissa Michael, Executive Director of HCM Operations Support. You’ll learn about their journeys as we discuss:
– Defining the business value of neurodiversity in the workplace
– Best practices for integrating DEI values at a company
– Overcoming obstacles and barriers in the DEI space
– The importance of embracing workplace inclusion

Boost Your Employability with Online Learning
2022-08-26 13:00 - 14:30, 2022-07-29 13:00 - 14:30
In today’s economy, it is essential to continuously up-skill in order to stay relevant and keep up with changes in the world of work.

About this event

Online learning can help you to take ownership of your own personal development and to become more competitive in your job search. In this workshop, we will explore excellent free training courses and opportunities to effectively promote your online credentials.
Join us as we:

Explore websites and learning platforms that offer free online courses
Learn more about MOOCs, micro-credentials, and informal learning opportunities
Learn how to use e-learning as a tool to unlock new opportunities and improve your job search
Discuss how social media can help you to stay current

SCIL Career Building Workshops
2022-08-24 14:00 - 15:00, 2022-08-10 14:00 - 15:00, 2022-07-27 14:00 - 15:00
Every 2nd and 4th Wednesday SCIL hosts a Career Building Workshop for individuals with disabilities.

About this event

Are you looking for a job and have a disability? Join us every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month for a special workshop designed to help you develop your job skills and find a meaningful career.
Some of the topics that will be covered in the workshop include:

Resume Building Tips
Interview Skills
Mock Interviews
Writing a Cover Letter
How to Develop Your Job Skills
Tips on how to get a job
And, much, much more!

Zoom Link: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81961931718?pwd%3DRjVBMWVISUVhZUNvcUpjQ1Vxc0FOQT09&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1656182902370015&usg=AOvVaw2UGhUtGHuEc5HUfQYlKtYA

Social Media and The Job Search
2022-08-24 10:00 - 12:00, 2022-07-27 10:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
Workshop details:
What does your online presence tell about you? For example, do you know which tools employers use to research candidates before hiring?
Join us for a 90-minute engaging session every month from 10:00 am – 11:30 am, wherein employment coaches will guide you through some common mistakes job seekers make during a job search.

When – Fourth Wednesday of the month from 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Where – Online over Zoom

Once you register for this free event, the system will share the meeting link via confirmation email. This workshop is best suited for attendees from the Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.
These will be workshop-style sessions; participants might be encouraged to participate.
Requirement: You need a device connected to the internet and a Zoom app installed.

Online “Open” Support Group for Men (18-30)
2022-08-23 19:00 - 20:00
DESCRIPTION: This group offers a safe environment where young men can talk with like-minded people, share issues and concerns, and celebrate successes.
AUDIENCE: AANE Adult Support Groups, Social Groups, and events are intended for post-high school adults on the spectrum who are able to self-regulate AND independently participate in activities without the assistance of a dedicated caretaker.
WHEN: Tuesday, August 23, 2022
TIME: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM ET
WHERE: Online via Zoom
FACILITATOR: Ryan Walsh
COST: Free
CAPACITY: 30 participants
REGISTRATION: Advanced registration is required. After you have registered, a confirmation email is sent with a link to attend the program. Registrants who do not receive the confirmation email should check their email spam folder. Registration closes 24 hours prior to the event. Early registration is highly recommended as many programs fill quickly.

Setting Up a Human-Centered Onboarding Experience
2022-08-23 13:00 - 14:00
With the acceptance of hybrid and remote work options, the need to design a human-centered onboarding experience has never been more important. A great onboarding experience can improve retention by 82%, yet 88% of organizations fail to onboard their employees well.
What does a human-centered onboarding experience look like…virtually? Limeade will unpack methods on how to design a human-centered onboarding experience that makes employees feel welcomed, supported, and set up for success.
Key Takeaways:

The power of creating opportunities for human connection
Explore methods to showcase your culture in a virtual environment
Ways to increase collaboration and communication quickly

AANE Webinar: It’s Back-to-School Time, Are You and Your Autistic Child Ready?
2022-08-17 19:00 - 20:30
August 17 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm, $25

Event Navigation

Register now and watch this webinar live or later on-demand. See below for details.
DESCRIPTION: It’s already “Back-to-School” time. In June, you and your child managed to transition from the structured routine of school to the jumble of childcare arrangements, and educational and recreational programs that can make summer so challenging. Now, it’s August and you have to transition back, but back to what? A new school perhaps? New teachers? New classmates? New friends? New bus routes?
Transitions can be scary. This 90-minute webinar is intended to reduce the anxiety parents and their children feel about returning to school in the fall. Parents will learn:

How to plan for and preview changes in your child’s school routine.
How to involve your child in the process of getting ready for the new school year.
How to set up a meeting with your child’s IEP/504 team to review accommodations and the plan for communication with your special education liaison.
Tips for setting up a meeting with your child’s new classroom teacher(s) to discuss accommodations and touring the school.

Teens and young adults who are attending school can use these insights to self-advocate.
During the last 15 minutes of this webinar, attendees will be able to pose questions to the speaker, via the Zoom chat feature.
SPEAKER: Jenna O’Donnell, B.S., is an autistic adult, parent of an autistic son, and a special education advocate. Her lived personal experiences led her to find success and meaningful work in educating staff and administrators about autism and its educational impact. Jenna is a graduate of the Mass Families Leadership Series and completed advocacy training with both Wrightslaw and Parent Consultant Training Institute of the FCSN. Jenna did not receive her autism diagnosis until much later in life and in turn, facilitates groups for women who are new to their diagnosis.
AUDIENCE: This webinar is intended for parents of children, teens, and young adults who are attending K-12 schools. Teens 14 years and older who are interested in participating in the IEP/504 transition process may also attend. Other adult family members, educators, and professionals who work with autistic individuals may also benefit from this webinar.
WHEN: Wednesday, August 17, 2022
TIME: 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM ET – This webinar will be recorded. If you are not available during the live presentation, registrants will receive the video link to access the recording of the presentation two business days after the session ends. Registrants can access the recorded presentation for 30 days.
WHERE: Online via Zoom
HOST: Michele Cantara, Neurodiversity Training Specialist, AANE
COST: $25 (AANE offers discounted admissions using the buttons below)
REGISTRATION: Advanced registration is required. After you have registered you will receive a confirmation email. Registrants who do not receive the confirmation email should check their email spam folder. Registration closes 24 hours prior to the event. Early registration is highly recommended as many programs fill quickly.

The Power of Disability In Entrepreneurship
2022-08-17 14:00 - 15:00, 2022-07-20 14:00 - 15:00

Online “Open” Modern and Ancient Science, Philosophy and Consciousness Meetup Event for Adults
2022-08-11 16:00 - 17:30
August 11 @ 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm, Free

Event Navigation

DESCRIPTION: Are you interested in contemplating deep questions about life, nature, and the universe? Come join us for AANE Meetup Event! We explore the answers given by modern and ancient science, philosophy and consciousness. More details and RSVP can be found on the AANE Meetup Group: AANE Adults
WHEN: Thursday, August 11, 2022
TIME: 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM ET
WHERE: Online via Zoom
COST: Free

Online “Open” Science and Technology Meetup Event for Adults
2022-08-11 14:30 - 16:00
DESCRIPTION: Are you interested in science or technology and looking for other people to discuss these topics with? Come join us for an AANE Virtual Meetup Event! More details and RSVP can be found on the AANE Meetup Group: AANE Adults
WHEN: Thursday, August 11, 2022
TIME: 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM ET
WHERE: Online via Zoom
COST: Free

Accommodations, Needs and Accessibility in the Workplace
2022-08-11 14:30 - 15:30
Our environment either supports us to work at our best or it impedes us. Think of an annoying gnat swarming around your head while you try to type. Distracting right?
Where we work and how that environment either meets our needs or disrupts us is something all brain types need. Joining The NeuroDrive Team’s Accommodations & Needs Director, Carrin M. Gilmore, and Alignment Director, Carole Jean Whittington, is our special guest Emily Elsworth. Emily is the founder of Emily: Autism & Me and is a neurodiversity trainer for public spaces, schools, museums and the workplace helping create environments that support all humans.
We will be discussing:
-What are accommodations and needs?
-How do you know what accommodations or needs would support you best at work?
-Self Accommodations and formal accommodations
-What are areas of our work environment that make a difference to everyone but are often overlooked?
-How do we as a curator/designer of an office environment or public space begin to look for what might be a challenge for different groups?
-How do we as individuals begin to have our needs met?
LInk to join us Live on YouTube-

Join us live on YouTube where the chat box is open to engage with us. The live chat will not be available on the replay and we will be very respectful of your privacy. You are also invited to send in your Accommodation & Need questions ahead of time to info@mindyourautisticbrain.com

Workplace Mental Health: Employer Perspective,
2022-08-11 12:30 - 13:30 | Virtual
Mental Health America (MHA) and the National Organization on Disability (NOD) present “Workplace Mental Health: Employer Perspective,” a panel discussion with leaders in the disability and employee mental health and well-being arenas. With a combined decades’ worth of experience, our panelists will explore how their philosophy and approach to workplace mental health has transformed to meet today’s demand for better employee mental health and well-being.
Objectives for the discussion include:

Deep dive into employee mental health challenges as it relates to industry
Supportive workplace policies and practices implemented by employers with today’s workforce
The intersection of workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion and mental health efforts

Online “Open” Support Group for BIPOC Adults
2022-08-08 12:00 - 13:00
DESCRIPTION: This is the first of our Open Support Groups for people of color (18+) with an Asperger/Autism profile. These spaces are peer led and provide an opportunity for participants to explore how their multiple identities show up and address their specific needs, by sharing experiences and offering support to one another. We are running these meetings through the Winter and then will determine next steps for future programming based on interest and feedback.
WHEN: Monday, August 8, 2022
TIME: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM ET
WHERE: Online via Zoom
FACILITATORS: Nicola Brown and Ilia Walsh
COST: Free
CAPACITY: 30 participants
REGISTRATION: Advanced registration is required. After you have registered, a confirmation email is sent with a link to attend the program. Registrants who do not receive the confirmation email should check their email spam folder. Registration closes 24 hours prior to the event or first session. Early registration is highly recommended as many programs fill quickly.

Online “Open” Support Group for Families of Individuals on the Spectrum
2022-08-02 18:30 - 20:00
DESCRIPTION: This open group (formerly Manhattan, NY) meets on the second Tuesday of the month and provides support to family members of individuals with an Asperger/autism spectrum profile. This includes grandparents, extended family, and siblings who have taken over the parental role or provide support to the individual on the spectrum. The aim of the group is to provide feedback, strategies, support, and perspective on a variety of common issues.
WHEN: Tuesday, August 2, 2022
TIME: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM ET
WHERE: Online via Zoom
FACILITATORS: Dr. Kate Cody & Pat Schissel, LMSW
COST: Free
CAPACITY: 30 participants
REGISTRATION: Advanced registration is required. After you have registered, a confirmation email is sent with a link to attend the program. Registrants who do not receive the confirmation email should check their email spam folder. Registration closes 24 hours prior to the event. Early registration is highly recommended as many programs fill quickly.

Microsoft Inclusive Hiring Webinar
2022-08-02 17:00 - 18:00 | Virtual
We know applying for jobs can seem overwhelming, so we’re hosting monthly webinars to help simplify the processes around applying to roles at Microsoft. Learn about Microsoft’s neurodiversity and disability inclusion recruiting programs, requesting interview accommodations, and hear from members of the Disability ERG who will share their story of what it’s like to be a person with a disability working at Microsoft.
To register visit: Aka.ms/InclusiveHiringWebinar

Online “Open” Discussion/Support Group for Adults over 50
2022-08-01 19:00 - 20:30
Are you an adult, over age 50, who identifies as an individual with an Asperger or related autism spectrum profile? This group is a place for those over 50, to discuss a previously agreed to topic and share the unique concerns and issues that come with later awareness, in an atmosphere of support and understanding.
WHEN: Monday, August 1, 2022
TIME: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (social hour), 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM ET (meeting)
WHERE: Online via Zoom
FACILITATORS: Anastasia O’Melveny and Victor Skowronski
Newcomers: Prior to attending a meeting, please send an email to group facilitator Anastasia O’Melveny (anastasia.omelveny@aane.org). She will send additional information and will answer any questions you many have about the group.
COST: Free
CAPACITY: 40 participants
REGISTRATION:
Newcomers: Advanced registration is required.
Returning Members: Advanced registration is appreciated.
After you have registered, an automatic confirmation email is sent. The Zoom link to the meeting will be sent by the facilitator the day of the meeting. Registrants who do not receive the confirmation email should check their email spam folder. Registration closes the Friday before the meeting.

Effective Business Practices in Workplace Mental Health
2022-07-27 12:30 - 13:30 | Virtual
With stress, burnout, and turnover on the rise, Mental Health America (MHA) and the National Organization on Disability (NOD) present “Effective Business Practices in Workplace Mental Health,” a webinar overview of 2022’s most prominent workplace mental health challenges and effective business practices to directly improve employee mental health outcomes. This webinar will focus on recommendations that incorporate leadership investment, managerial support, and employee empowerment as drivers for positive workplace culture and employee mental health. In addition, a NOD Employment Tracker participating organization will present how they translate these practices into action and how other employers can replicate these practices in their workplaces.
In this presentation, we will:
Discuss effective business practices in three domains: leadership investment, managerial support, and employee empowerment.
Explore how the NOD Employment Tracker participating organization put these practices into action.
Meet the Speaker:
Taylor Adams is Mental Health America’s (MHA’s) Director of Workplace Mental Health who spearheads MHA’s efforts on its Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health national employer recognition program and its annual Mind the Workplace reports. Her previous work was focused on suicide prevention, and she brings this experience to support companies in evaluating and refining policies to support staff in their mental health journeys.
Mental Health America (MHA) – founded in 1909 – is the nation’s leading community-based nonprofit dedicated to addressing the needs of those living with mental illness and to promoting the overall mental health of all Americans.

Diversity Career Fair
2022-07-27 12:00 - 17:00
The Diversity Career Fair will connect diverse professionals with many of the country’s leading healthcare organizations that are actively seeking diverse talent. The career fair is specifically designed to provide career opportunities for underrepresented professionals, including BIPOC, women, and LGBTQ+ job seekers. Participants will have the opportunity to connect with leading healthcare companies recruiting talent for a wide variety of roles such as physicians, R&D, clinical, nursing, legal, and patient advocacy. The career fair will feature virtual company booths staffed by talent acquisition representatives, where attendees can learn more about companies, submit resumes, and schedule 1-on-1 meetings.

Can I Ask for That? Navigating ADA Requests in a Post-COVID World
2022-07-27 12:00 - 13:00
Join us for a question and answer style webinar with ADA expert Ann Deschamps of the Mid-Atlantic ADA Center. An will talk through possibilities and considerations for people with disabilities as they navigate employment, local government services, business transactions, and community events in a world recovering from COVID. Listeners will hear strategies and information on how their ADA requests may be viewed differently now than they were before the pandemic.

Diversity You Cannot See
2022-07-27 12:00 - 13:00
Did you know today an estimated 40% of people deal with autistic, attention deficit, anxiety, and/or dyslexic disorders? Combined, these mental differences account for the bulk of what sociologists refer to as “neurodiversity,” or natural variations in everyone’s brain, particularly those who have outlying characteristics, such as autism.
In this special one-hour web event, 30-year veteran Cynthia Coupé will share her own experience as a neurodiversity expert and mother of an autistic daughter, as well as industry insights and perspectives from three other neurodivergent proponents: one working professionally in the tech industry, a grad student “on the spectrum,” and one neurodiversity staffing executive. Register here.
Together, they’ll discuss how neurotypical people can better interact with this intelligent and unique population, where communication breakdowns usually happen, and what the future holds for this often misunderstood but increasingly important talent pool. They’ll also explore how societal awareness, appreciation, and participation with neurodivergent people can have a big impact on the way we work, learn, and commune with one another.
“Neurodiversity is the new normal,” Coupé says. “Even though it’s less stigmatized today, many people still don’t know how to navigate it, even though we all interact with it regularly (whether we realize it or not). To build safe spaces where everyone can grow, collaborate, and work in the way that plays to our strengths, this panel will lead the discussion on how we can better understand ourselves and each other.”
“Diversity You Cannot See” is presented by Making Our Strong Community Stronger and is freely available to anyone in the world on July 27, 2022 at 12 pm Eastern Time. A Q&A “town hall” session will follow at the same time on July 28. Replays will be available after each live event. We hope you will attend this important event.

NILG 2022 National Conference
2022-07-25 - 2022-07-28
The NILG National Conference is the premier meeting ground for EEO, affirmative action, HR compliance and diversity and inclusion representatives. Practitioners from business, educational institutions and not-for-profit organizations to learn from experts and from federal agency leadership including the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs.
The NILG 2022 National Conference, held in Boston on July 25 to 28, 2022, will highlight strategies to ensure practitioners meet compliance requirements – and positively impact equal access in organizations and communities.
The NILG 2022 National Conference will focus on effective strategies, best practices, and tools to assist attendees in being the ‘beacons of change’ for their organization while addressing the complexities in complying with equal employment obligations. Whether a new or seasoned practitioners, attendees will network with professionals who have come together to learn and engage in purposeful discussions towards the ultimate goals of compliance, inclusion and belonging for all workers.

Panel of Autistic College Grads
2022-07-20 19:00 - 20:30
Transitioning from high school to college or going back to college after a break is a major change. This webinar series intends to make that transition easier and is intended for teens and adults who are or who suspect they are autistic, parents and other family members, as well as professionals who support autistic individuals.
A panel of three autistic adults who graduated from a four-year college or university within the past four years share their experiences. By responding to interview and audience questions, they’ll reveal some of the challenges they faced and celebrate some key victories during their college career. During the last 30 minutes of this webinar, attendees will be able to pose their own questions to the panelists, via the Zoom chat feature. This webinar intends to answer your questions about college and make your own college experience easier.
This webinar will be recorded. If you are not available during the live presentation, registrants will receive the video link to access the recording of the presentation two business days after the session ends. Registrants can access the recorded presentation for 30 days.
COST: $25 for the panel – AANE offers free and discounted admission. To inquire further, contact events@aane.org.

Standing Out in Your Job Search
2022-07-20 13:00 - 14:00
Many professionals find it difficult to secure a position that utilizes all of their knowledge and skills, while providing a salary that coincides with the value they bring to an organization. With a wealth of digital advancements in hiring, the current options are to understand modern trends and how to position yourself or be left behind. Currently, there are five generations in the workplace and each generation is associated with positive and negative stereotypes. Learning how to make an impact, regardless of your age is what puts you ahead of the pack! You don’t have to be looked at as the lazy Millennial, a tech obsessed Gen Zer, an out of touch Baby Boomer, or the lone ranger Gen Xer. The three biggest challenges people face during their job search will be explored. This is designed to help you take months (or even years) off of your job search! Join us for this interactive webinar. All generations are welcome to attend! Learning Goals for Participants – Understand the main generations in the workforce and how they think. – Learn what the generational stereotypes are, and how to set yourself apart. – Find out the 3 biggest challenges people face during their job search and how to overcome them. Speaker: Porschia Parker-Griffin, CPC, PCC, Founder & CEO of Fly High Coaching | Millennial Performance Institute

NCE Summer Leadership Institute
2022-07-18 - 2022-07-20 | Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago, 909 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60611
Summer Leadership Institute, hosted by The Arc and its National Conference of Executives (NCE), unites executives, leaders, and professionals from across the disability sector in pursuit of a shared mission. The Summer Leadership Institute’s goal is for everyone to work better and smarter towards a shared purpose: ensuring people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) achieve their full civil and human rights and are fully included in their communities.
Attendees engage in constructive dialogue and discussion, gain valuable knowledge of current issues facing the disability community, and receive educational materials to help further develop and hone their professional skills.
This year’s event focuses heavily on the most pressing issues in the disability community, including the intersection of race and disability, funding for home and community based services, Social Security and SSI policy developments, the DSP workforce crisis, building powerful boards, and much more.
Can’t attend but still want to support our work? Any donations are appreciated if you’re able!
