Els for Autism’s ‘Building a Neurodiverse Workforce’ Virtual Conference To Be Held in 2021

In celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, Els for Autism Foundation is pleased to announce they will be hosting the Autism Innovations and Global Impact Conference: Building a Neurodiverse Workforce conference on March 12 & 13, 2021. The objective of the conference is to provide tools and best practices for businesses or individuals interested in hiring employees with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), initiating a neurodiverse workforce program, or expanding an existing program.

The day and a half virtual conference will feature renowned leaders from industry, government, and academia who share a vision to transform the labor market for individuals on the autism spectrum. Keynote speakers include Temple Grandin, autism activist and Professor of Animal Science, Colorado State University; Craig Leen, Director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) at the U.S. Department of Labor; Tom D.Eri, Co-Founder and the COO of Rising Tide Car Wash, and Paul Wehman, Ph.D.  Professor of Special Education and Counseling, Director, Rehabilitation Research and Training Center, Virginia Commonwealth University.

Human Resources professionals who attend the conference may elect to receive SHRM Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP®.

“For the past decade, Els for Autism Foundation has been changing the landscape by creating and disseminating programs and services for individuals on the autism spectrum. I am honored to be co-chairing the Building a Neurodiverse Workforce conference which brings together thought leaders from the business world, government, and academia who are enhancing employment opportunities and practices for individuals on the autism spectrum,” said Michael Alessandri, Ph.D., Executive Director of the University of Miami-Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (UM-NSU CARD) and Els for Autism Foundation Board Member.

National Disability Employment Awareness Month was created to educate the community about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities. This year’s theme is “Increasing Access and Opportunity.”

Many adults on the spectrum seek paid employment and become successfully employed in the workplace. Through the Adult Services programs at Els for Autism Foundation, adults receive assistance in acquiring pre-employment skills, finding a job, improving interviewing skills, and on-the-job coaching.

Throughout October, Els for Autism is celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month on social media by sharing ways that employers can increase access and opportunity and featuring the amazing adults on the spectrum who bring tremendous value to their workplace.

This month, the Work Experience program will be serving the local Jupiter, FL community using the Foodies 4 Autism food truck. The food truck is run by adults on the autism spectrum in the Work Experience program who are supervised by Els for Autism staff. It offers participants a unique opportunity for job skills training and community engagement.

Media Contact:

Nicole Ehrlich, Marketing Manager
Nicole.Ehrlich@elsforautism.org
561-320-9515