In the article, “How UW, Microsoft are pitching in to help job-hunters with autism”, author Rachel Lerman introduces her readers to Project Search, a program through the University of Washington and Seattle Public Schools that trains people with ASD in skills that are important in the world of work. Along with the training opportunity, Project Search also helps individuals on the autism spectrum find great job opportunities.
Lerman discusses the challenges that individuals on the spectrum face when entering the world of work. One such challenge is the spectrum itself. This wide-ranging spectrum makes structured educational and training programs difficult.
To resolve this concern, Project Search partners with businesses to provide internships to participants as often as possible, so training may be more personalized.
Lerman also mentions the challenges that come from traditional recruiting and hiring methods, specifically she discusses the resume and the interview process. Both of which, as many hiring managers will tell you, do not always present accurate or predictable information.
To resolve these challenges, Lerman talks about Microsoft’s Hiring Academy, which not only works as a recruiting tool, it also offers training opportunities through classes on communication, tests for technical understanding and ability, and group games and activities.
Opportunities like Project Search and Microsoft’s Hiring Academy are part of a nationwide movement by businesses to actively recruit individuals on the spectrum. While, yes, these programs provide individuals with ASD opportunities for independence, they also provide benefits for our communities and our society at large. But most importantly, and this fact is not lost on our business partners, it makes good business sense. This is an untapped labor pool of people with skills, talents, and abilities that are of direct benefit to business.
Mind Shift appreciates this perspective. We want our business partners to work with us because it makes good business sense. We want to be considered an organization that provides exceptional talent that helps businesses move forward. As we like to say, we help businesses do good work while doing good.
To read Rachel Lerman’s article, follow this link: https://www.seattletimes.com/pacific-nw-magazine/thinking-differently-about-employment/
And to learn more about how Mind Shift can help your business, visit www.mindshift.works!