Broadening Employment Opportunities for Adults with Autism and/or Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (I/DD): A Call to Action

• By: Andalib Mushtari, MDS, MPA Joshua Munoz First Place Global Leadership Institute
• September 15th, 2025
• adults, employment, Fall 2025 Issue, intellectual and developmental disabilities, job coaching, meaningful work, policy gaps, supported employment, transportation barriers, workplace inclusion
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Every morning at First Place–Phoenix, a supportive housing property in Midtown Phoenix, Arizona for adults with autism and/or intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD), residents head out with determination and hustle. Some volunteer. Some hold part-time or full-time jobs. Others are still...

Enhancing Communication: The Case for Teaching Public Speaking Skills to Autistic Individuals

• By: Nigora Raufova MS, CCC-SLP, TSSLD New Jersey Institute of Technology
• April 4th, 2025
• advocacy, communication, education, neurodiversity, public speaking, social skills, speech therapy, Spring 2025 Issue, workplace inclusion
• 3187    0

“My stomach feels kind of weird,” an autistic middle school student once said to me when I asked him how he was feeling before he went on stage to co-host a talent show with me. I told him that he was experiencing anxiety, and people describe this as having “butterflies in your stomach.” As...

Creating Autism-Friendly Environments for Workplace Inclusivity

• By: Zac Muncy, MS, MBA Author and Neurodiversity Advocate
• October 4th, 2024
• communication, employment, Fall 2024 Issue, hiring programs, neurodiversity, sensory-friendly, workplace inclusion
• 3692    0

In an increasingly diverse and inclusive world, creating autism-friendly environments in the workplace is not just a noble endeavor but a practical necessity. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects millions of people worldwide, and many of them possess unique skills and perspectives that can be...