Autism in the workplace
Our mission is to improve vocational functioning in individuals with ASD and related disorders using novel research and assessments to match them with employment and job training opportunities.
Vocational functioning is significantly impaired across all mental illnesses. These difficulties are detrimental both at the individual level, increasing caregiver burden and worsening outcomes, and at the global level, where lack of employment leads to increased dependence on social welfare systems and economic costs. Those with mental illness are less likely to work and earn less than those without mental illness. Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and related disorders have unique difficulties as they transition from high school into college or the workforce. The lack of supportive services during this period results in burnout, dependence on caregivers, and worsening depression and anxiety. There is a desperate need for services that tend to this transition period and provide the needed bridge for these individuals to receive job training and enter the workforce.
Although there are companies that provide job training and/or employment for individuals with ASD and related disorders, they are far and few between and often do not target the diverse set of skills present in this heterogenous population. There are no large scale services that directly assess and match the unique skillsets of those with ASD with jobs that are the best fit. We aim to fill this gap by doing the following:
1. Research: We will identify biomarkers and phenotypes of ASD and related disorders and their relationship to vocational skills.
2. Assessment: We will use novel web-based cognitive assessments to discover individual strengths and weaknesses.
3. Job Training and Employment Opportunity Database: We will assemble a database that compiles all of the job training programs and companies looking for individuals with ASD and related disorders. We will survey each of these companies and programs to better understand the positions and training they provide so that we can identify what individuals would be best fit for these organizations.
4. Algorithm: We will develop an algorithm that matches an individual's skillset, based on biomarkers and cognitive assessments, to job training programs and employment opportunities
5. Networking: We will network with companies and encourage them to sponsor job training programs and create positions for individuals with ASD and related disorders. We will demonstrate the strengths of hiring these individuals and the unique skillsets they can bring to different fields.
6. Support: We will create a support network for the individuals we match with job training and employment programs. We will regularly assess their mental health needs and fit with the position.
In sum, there is a significant need for job training and employment opportunities for those with ASD and related disorders. We aim to identify the unique skills of these individuals and directly match them with companies that are the best fit. We will also increase the amount of opportunities available and provide continuous assessment and support.