OAR’s Hire Autism Program is ending the year on a high note, onboarding a new navigator cohort. Please join us in welcoming our latest volunteers, who will help autistic job seekers build their job search materials, skills, and confidence. The eight new navigators are Tricia O’Brien, Thomas Goodrich, Cody Keenan, Cali Clarke, Marcus Leef, Meret…
OAR’s fall 2024 webinar series focused on employment topics, such as vocational training, mental health, soft skills, and inclusion in the workplace, and barriers to employment like housing and transportation. Additionally, OAR hosted a panel webinar to foster conversation about neuroinclusion in the workplace and best HR practices. If you weren’t able to make it…
Suicide is a leading cause of early death for autistic individuals. Researchers do not know whether an autistic adult is more likely to consider suicide than a non-autistic adult or if suicidal thoughts and behaviors are connected to a person’s social activity. Autistic adults seeking help for mental health problems, including suicidal thoughts, report feeling…
Meeting your colleagues The adjustment period from one job to another or from college to the workplace can be challenging due partly to the changes in social dynamics. You are going from one set of peers, friends, and colleagues to another and learning about new people with different personalities, communication preferences, and work styles. One…
Finishing high school and college can be an exciting developmental milestone, but it can also be stressful. Transition programming and/or employment can be a scary next step in the uncertain path towards adulthood and the increasing amount of independence that comes with it for young autistic adults. Reduced support following secondary school can exacerbate already…
The Department of Labor announced at the end of September that its Office of Disability Employment Policy has chosen “Access to Good Jobs for All” as the theme for National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), which was observed in October. NDEAM annually celebrates the contributions of the nation’s disabled workers and showcases supportive, inclusive policies…
After job hunting for several months and with the encouragement of his support network, Matt Ghaffari reached out to OAR’s Hire Autism program for assistance with his job search. Claudia Zacharias, a Hire Autism navigator, worked with Ghaffari over several months, providing guidance, resources, and feedback. Ghaffari incorporated her advice and feedback and made use…
Employment is key to creating a fulfilling and healthy adult life. Yet for many autistic people, finding and keeping a job can seem next to impossible. The November Resource Spotlight focuses on resources that offer suggestions and information for employers as well as guidance for autistic job seekers and employees. The emphasis is on a…
Research has shown that autistic adults have poorer quality-of-life outcomes than their neurotypical peers, including lower employment rates and educational achievements. A key way to improve outcomes for this growing population is to implement research-informed transition planning, which addresses core impairments in skills needed for autonomous and independent living, including self-knowledge, self-determination, and self-regulation. In…
The Benefits of a Professional Network A professional relationship involves two or more people collaborating to achieve and support a common cause, mission, goal, company, or organization. It is often more formal than those outside the workplace. Some examples include connecting with one’s direct supervisor, co-workers, clients, and mentors. Building these valuable relationships is known…
