Self-Advocate Elected to Two Public Offices
36-year-old John Hiatt, a Maine resident who is on the autism spectrum, has been elected as both a school committee member and the Penobscot County treasurer.
Want Better Security? Try Hiring an Employee with Autism
Rhett Greenhagen may not be the best at understanding social cues, but he is one of the best at discovering patterns and link analysis. Greenhagen has worked with the US military and CIA, and now works as a senior security researcher for a private company. He states that his diagnosis helps him concentrate and pay…
Learning Work Skills While Working
With thousands of teens with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) moving into adulthood each year, employment has become one of the biggest issues in the autism community. Meaningful work and wages are core components of a productive adulthood. As far back as 2007, a two-year OAR-funded study highlighted the critical importance of jobs and work skills.…
Find the Job That Is Right for You
For diverse thinkers, including persons with autism, it can be difficult to find the right position in a world full of neurotypicals. Here are a few of the most important questions to consider as you begin a job search: Are you ready for work? What specific experiences have you had that indicate you’re ready? Have…
Employment Resources Available at Hire Autism
In addition to its function as a job board for those on the autism spectrum who are seeking employment, Hire Autism also houses a Resource Center to support its users. The Resource Center provides information for both job-seekers and employers. Businesses posting jobs on the site can view basic information about autism, the interview process,…
Hire Autism Now on Facebook
OAR invites you to check out the new Hire Autism Facebook page. As a follower or “fan” of the Facebook page, you will be able to communicate with us and keep up-to-date on all things Hire Autism-related. Through the page, OAR will share employment-related tips for individuals with autism, new job openings, business partner highlights,…
Effective Vocational Rehabilitation Services
In 2016 OAR awarded an applied grant to researchers Anne Roux, M.P.H., M.A., and Paul Shattuck, Ph.D., both from the Life Course Outcomes Program at A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, Drexel University. They used the grant to study state-level variation in vocational rehabilitation services and employment outcomes for transition-age youth with autism. Their goals were to:…
Clearing a Way to Work
It’s not news to anyone in the autism community that, for many people with autism, finding a job after high school is stacked with obstacles. Project SEARCH is working to eliminate those obstacles. Project SEARCH is an innovative program that provides real-life work experience for people with disabilities. It originated at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical…
New Hire Autism Manager Is on the Job
Meet Amanda Rioux, OAR’s new Hire Autism manager. She started the job on May 22 and dove right in by meeting one of the successful hires at a business partner site within weeks of being hired. That meeting exemplifies what excites her most about her position: directly connecting individuals with autism to meaningful employment opportunities…
