Employment, Employer, & Career Resources

 
 

A variety of supports, resources, and information are included below that may support Neurodivergent job seekers, employers, and others interested in advancing inclusivity in the workplace.

 
CAARES Conference

The CAARES team has conducted and hosted a number of webinars related to promoting Neurodivergent college student success in higher education:

Webinar, Reason & Respect Series: Neurodiversity in the Workplace, Collaboration between CAARES & SUNY Empire Career Services Session focused on neurodiversity in the workplace and offered supports to increase the number of neurodiverse employees in the workplace. Autistic, neurodivergent self-advocates, and professionals participated in a panel discussion related to the current state of employment for autistic and neurodiverse job seekers/employees and ways to improve outcomes.
Presenters and Panelists: Lauren Lestremau Allen (CAARES) & Stacey Hermann (AVP, Neurodiversity and Community Workforce Development, Neurodiversity at Work), Eric Ogando; Joy F. Johnson, M.Ed., M.S., BCBA, LBA; Ellis Sardorian

Webinar, Creating Your Career Path: Career and Job Search Advice for Neurodivergent Individuals, a Careers in Series Program, SUNY Empire State University A panel of experts shared advice and tips on deciding on a career path, conducting a job search, interviewing tips, and transitioning into a new job role. Panel is moderated by Dr. Noor Syed, SUNY Empire’s Founding Director, Center for Autism Inclusivity (Research, Education, Services). Panelists: John Banas (Capital Region Disability Resources Coordinator, NYS Department of Labor), Theresa Eames Workforce Advisor, NYS Department of Labor), Anne Jordan (Director of Human Resources, Anderson Center for Autism)

White Paper, Promoting Employment Success for Autistic College Graduates, by NEXT for AUTISM, CAARES, and Freddie Mac. The paper explains the results from surveys taken by colleges and universities that have implemented autism support programs. Surveys sought to learn more about the programs and understand the challenges they encounter. Authors: Lauren Steinbacher (NEXT for AUTISM), Dr. Noor Syed (SUNY Empire State University), Sarah Crump (Freddie Mac)

CAARES would like to highlight the organizations and resources here (list is alphabetical). If you know of other organizations or resources that you think should be included in this list, please contact us at autism@sunyempire.edu. If it would be helpful to view the resources by topic, check out the CAARES’ Resources by Topic webpage. Disclaimer: Materials and information shared are for educational purposes only and do not necessarily represent the views of Empire State University.

Employment Resources:

ASERT Employment Information for Individuals with Autism
Guides individuals throughout the different steps of obtaining employment, such as resume development, employee relationships, and transitioning from school to work.

Hire Autism
Hire Autism, led and run by the Organization for Autism Research (OAR), is free and seeks to expand employment opportunities for Autistic individuals as well as serve as a resource for employers. They have a variety of resources including active job boards and a variety of employer partners.

O*Net OnLine
This site has a great skills assessment and jobs profiler that can help you identify your traits as a worker and a thinker, which will help you identify resources you want to take advantage on a college campus. RANGAM Using their Empathy Drives Innovation philosophy,

RANGAM
Using their Empathy Drives Innovation philosophy, RANGAM, partners with diverse and disabled clients to help them find meaningful employment within an environments that promote belonging and teamwork.

SUNY Empire State University’s Career Services
The career services homepage provides much information and support related to careers including available jobs and internship postings.

Resources to Read and Watch:

Autism  @ Work Virtual Summit, March 22-23, 2023, by Autism CRC
This summit concentrates on hearing from neurodivergent individuals about their experiences within the workplace. Some featured topics include insights from employers, human resources’ support of Autistic employees, and the drive among employers to include neurodiverse employees.

Webinar, Autistic Self-Advocates Panel: A Discussion of Starting Careers, by xMinds
This panel discussion features three autistic college graduates as they share about the transition into the desired careers, focusing on what they’ve learned throughout the process. Panelists: Abraham Sanchez works at Pete Pappas and Sons, a produce grower and distributor in Jessup, MD. Kiana Fok works for Abato, Rubenstein and Abato, P.A., a Baltimore law firm specializing in labor and employee benefits. Abigail Alexis is an artist who works part time at a grocery store.

Webinar, College on the Autism Spectrum: Selecting a School for Employment Success, by NEXT for AUTISM
NEXT for AUTISM creates high-quality, meaningful programs for Autistic individuals of all ages. Their innovative approach helps Autistics establish wholesome connections within their communities. In this discussion panelists share their personal experiences about selecting a college that supports Autistics and their career goals. Panelists: Sara Gardner (Designer and Director of Bellevue College's nationally recognized Neurodiverse program), Stephen Clark (University of Kentucky Library School), Michele Metsch (Western Kentucky University), and Michelle Elkins (Western Kentucky University).

Article, Promoting Employment Success for Autistic College Graduates, by NEXT for AUTISM
The paper explains the results from surveys taken by colleges and universities that have implemented autism support programs. Surveys sought to learn more about the programs and understand the challenges they encounter. Authors: Lauren Steinbacher (NEXT for AUTISM), Dr. Noor Syed (SUNY Empire State University), Sarah Crump (Freddie Mac)

Employer Resources:

Neurodiversity in the Workplace, The Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN)
EARN offers resources to support employers seeking to hire and include neurodivergent employees.

Autism and Neurodiversity in the Workplace, Free Self-Paced Online Program
Training consists of six modules spanning topics to enable employers to promote inclusive workplaces by the University of British Columbia Centre for Interdisciplinary Research and Collaboration in Autism (CIRCA)

Neurodiversity in the Workplace Conference, Kennedy Krieger Institute
This conference, started in 2023, brings together and helps to build connections among those interested in improving and expanding neurodiversity within the workforce.

 

Workforce Development For Professionals Who Serve Individuals With Autism

To help meet the increasing need for professionals who work with and support individuals with autism, the Center for Autism Inclusivity will develop academic programs that prepare professionals to work with those who have autism and provide career pathways for current professionals to hone and advance their skills.

Transfer Credit For Professional Certifications

The center has partnered with SUNY Empire’s Center for Leadership in Credentialing Learning to conduct a Professional Learning Evaluation (PLE) of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board’s (BACB) Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) credential and two trainings offered by Anderson Center for Autism: The Direct Support Professional and Approved Medication Administration. These evaluations provide up to 13 college credits toward an associate or bachelor’s degree at SUNY Empire for anyone with the RBT credential and any direct care staff who completed the two Anderson Center for Autism trainings.

Targeted Degree Programs

The Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) program’s fully online curriculum is paired with required clinical experiences to provide a rigorous, yet flexible program that prepares students to become Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA) and New York State Licensed Behavior Analysts. Applied Behavior Analysts focus on the science of human behavior and the program emphasizes compassionate behavior change. Students may enroll full- or part-time and can complete the 41-credit program in as little as two years. Learn more at www.sunyempire.edu/aba or by emailing grad@sunyempire.edu.

 
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