Reviewed by Helena Whitlow-Stanzione, MS, BCBA
Association for Science in Autism Treatment

A review of hire autismThe Organization for Autism Research (OAR) is a non-profit founded in 2001 by individuals whose lives have been impacted by autism. Like the Association for Science in Autism Treatment (ASAT), OAR strives to provide practical information backed by applied research. This includes dissemination of new and applicable information to members of the autism community, as well as funding for applied autism research.

OAR has recently expanded their website Hire Autism, a free program helping highly independent autistic jobseekers find employment and connect with autism-friendly employers. The organization’s vision is to create a platform for autistic employees to be sought out, with the mission to improve employment opportunities for autistic individuals and to help businesses create more inclusive workplaces. This resource is immensely important given the significant employability issues for autistic individuals across all levels of functioning. The Hire Autism website features numerous community partners that are seeking autistic employees. These partners come from a wide array of industries including administrative, advertisement, research, writing and youth services, and many more. What is most notable about the program is that it is free for both highly independent autistic job-seekers and the businesses looking to hire them. We at ASAT recognize that autism is a spectrum disorder and that many people with autism can find meaningful work in environments where they may require coaching or support. The Hire Autism site may be better suited for those who can secure and maintain employment without extensive support.

This new and improved website includes a host of resources that aid autistic individuals throughout the entire job seeking process. The website features more job search filters that include looking for “a job,” “job search help,” “information,” “posting a job,” and “to help/volunteer.” This substantial resource aids job-seekers in finding all the information they need, and job opportunities tailored to the individuals’ interests and goals. In addition to the filters, there are additional pages full of resources geared towards those that are looking for a job, looking to hire, or want to help facilitate OAR’s mission.

    • With the “I’m Looking for a Job” feature, users are immediately guided to a list of current jobs, resources on resume building, one-on-one help, events calendar, and how to create job alerts for the user.
    • In the “I’m Looking to Hire” feature, employers are immediately provided information on advertising, how to access autistic job-seekers, and even more so, information about autism and how to effectively support autistic employees.
    • “I Want to Help” feature is available for individuals wanting to support autistic job-seekers, including resources for parents, siblings and friends of autistic individuals. Additionally, there is the opportunity for colleges and schools to request presentations about the Hire Autism program for their autistic students at no cost.
    • Finally, guides on college preparation, interview accommodations, and transitioning into adulthood are available to the user.

A notable resource for job-seekers includes the availability to obtain mentors, called “Navigators”, that work with the individual throughout every aspect of the job search. This includes resumes, cover letters, and interview prep. Navigators are professionals from different fields who volunteer their time to help autistic job-seekers. The Navigator services are a short-term service and can span between four to five weeks per topic area. This service is free, and users do not need a formal autism diagnosis to receive support.

In addition to the job search filters and features, the website also includes an events calendar that includes resources and seminars geared towards autistic job-seekers, employers, parents, and educators. Some of these events include workshops, seminars, hiring events, resource fairs, and more. Employers and other organizations can submit their own requests to conduct a form of training or seminar.

Finally, the website also includes the ability to create a profile and post resumes, receive job alerts, user accessibility widgets, and employer-candidate search capabilities. There is an abundance of resource features on this site, helping users throughout the entire job-seeking process for users.

Currently, the Hire Autism program has 233 employer partners, 83 active jobs, and 2,865 job-seekers, and counting. You can read testimonials from users here. Visit OAR Hire Autism‘s website or review their Frequently Asked Questions page to learn more.

Citation for this article:

Whitlow-Stanzione, H. (2022). Consumer Corner: A review of OAR’S Hire Autism. Science in Autism Treatment, 19(6).

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