National Initiative For Neurodiverse Population Of Students

ABOUT

Initiated with Arizona Autism Charter Schools (AZACS)

AZACS is Arizona's first and only autism charter network
Opened five schools in 10 years: Phoenix, West Valley, Tucson, Online
Founded by Diana Diaz-Harrison, an autism mom who wanted to give her son and students on the spectrum an opportunity to become fulfilled productive citizens, currently appointed as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Special Education.
AZACS has received national awards for STEAM programming and innovation
Winners of the Yass Prize, considered the Pulitzer Prize of Education
National Title I Distinguished School
AZACS goal is to reverse the dire unemployment statistics amongst the neurodiverse.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT

The Autism Unemployment Rate

According to MyDisabilityJobs.com, the unemployment rate for adults with autism is significantly high. As of 2021, the employment-population ratio for those with a disability between the ages of 16 and 64 is 31.4%, with the participation rate being 35.1%. The unemployment rate for that age demographic with disabilities was 10.8% in 2021.

Additionally, the statistics show that 85% of American adults with autism that have a college education are unemployed. Young autistic adults were employed in part-time jobs in 79% of the cases, whereas full-time jobs were held by 21% of them.

The employment rate of young autistic adults increased over time after high school. The percentage of those who had ever been employed rose from 32% within 0-2 years after high school to 93% after 6-8 years since high school.

OUR SOLUTION

AEEC in partnership with AZACS developed
Professional Career Onboarding Program (PCO)
With Additional Supports for Neurodiverse

THE PCO

Support for the Neurodiverse in Professional Career Onboarding

Identify In-Demand Jobs and Industry Partners
Assign Dedicated Job Coaches
Job Simulations with Mastery Criteria at School
Autism and Neurodiversity Training for Partner Site
Supported Placement of Student at Job Site

IN PRACTICE

School-Based Job Simulations

Job Simulation at school’s Vocational Training Center takes place for each entry level.
Mastery criteria for each job task have to be established.
Students will participate in each step of the job to complete the total job at their most independent level.

ADJUSTMENTS

AEEC's
Data and Assessment

Regular has to be collected by job coach based on Task Analysis to determine percent of mastery of total job tasks. This includes level of prompting and types of prompted needed.

NEXT STEPS

Onsite Work at Industry Partner Site

Once a student has met criteria within the Job Simulation for an entry level role they will begin to apply these skills within the industry partner’s job site.

Student will have support from an Dedicated Job Coach.

The Dedicated Job Coach support will be faded based on intern’s ability to complete the jobs independently.

HANDS-ON TRAINING

Industry Partnership

Provide job tasks and schedule prior to having students onsite. A Dedicated Job Coach will be responsible for supporting the student’s completion of tasks onsite.

1 hour Lunch and Learn/Autism training session about supporting entry-level neurodiverse employees

The goal of these trainings is to educate co-workers at the job site about the neurodiverse individuals to set them up for success and increase acceptance of autism in the workplace.