Celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month
October 12, 2020
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, an annual celebration led by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office on Disability Employment Policy that is designed to educate about disability employment issues and pay tribute to the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities.
Individuals with autism can and do add great value to the workforce, but they continue to be underrepresented. Unemployment among adults with autism can be as high as 80%.
To recognize the month, we offer the following resources:
Read our articles
Employers Discover Untapped Talent in the Autism Community
Preparing Adults with Autism for Employment Success
Research on autism and employment
A.J. Drexel Autism Institute Life Course Outcomes Research Program
Success Stories
In Beating the Employment Odds, He Found a Perfect Match
60 Minutes: Recruiting for talent on the autism spectrum
This 60 Minutes segment broadcast earlier this month focuses on how more employers are starting to discover the unique skills and potential people with autism offer.
Learn More
Our 38th Annual Virtual Conference offers a number of workshops on autism and employment issues.
- Upgrading the Job Coach’s Toolbox
Ryan Aldrich, CESP; New England Business Associates - Digital, Work-Ready Portfolios: How to Prepare Students for Employment in a Modern Economy
McKeone, M.Ed. and Lindsey DelCarlino, M.S., BCBA; Digitability - One Man’s Personal Journey with Autism and Employment
Ron Sandison, M.Div.
Workshops will be available on demand through January 14, 2021. Learn more>>
Need Help?
To learn more about vocational resources and how to obtain job support, contact our Helpline at 800.4.AUTISM or information@autismnj.org.
We encourage all employers to foster a more inclusive workforce, one where every person is recognized for his or her abilities — every day of every month.