The Autism Full Employment Act: The Next Stage of Jobs for Adults with Autism, ADHD, and Other Learning and Mental Health Differ

Description

Impactful and integral to our economic recovery after the pandemic, The Autism Full Employment Act will rebuild and improve autism employment programs. Employment remains the issue today for many adults with autism. During the pandemic of 2020, authors Michael Bernick and Dr. Lou Vismara, along with other adults with autism, practitioners, and advocates, set out to develop an Autism Full Employment Act. At the time, the national economy was decimated, and it was clear that it would need to be rebuilt, starting in 2021 and beyond. The Act is an attempt not only to rebuild autism employment programs, but also to address the limitations and short comings of the current system. The Autism Full Employment Act shows how there can be a place in the job world for the wide range of adults with autism, ADHD, and other learning and mental health differ ences-many of whom are not employed today. Bernick and Dr. Vismara review the autism employment initiatives in recent years among major employers, state and local governments, autism-focused businesses, and autism transi tion programs, and present strategies to build on these initiatives. They set out more fully the meanings of "autism talent advantage," "autism friendly workplace," and "employment for the more severely impacted." Six broad strategy areas are explored. Interspersed with these six strategy areas are notes on related issues of "professionalizing the direct support workforce," "transitions," and "comorbidities." Bernick and Dr. Vismara end by considering why no government action or pro gram can replace the employment journey of each adult with autism, but how instead the Act can hasten these journeys.

MICHAEL BERNICK is a former director of the California State Labor Department, with over forty years in the employment field. He currently is an employment attorney with the interna tional law firm of Duane Morris LLP, fellow with the Milken Institute, and adjunct professor at Stanford University. He is a graduate of Harvard College, Oxford University (Balliol College), and the University of California, Berkeley School of Law. LOUIS A. VISMARA, MD, is a founding mem ber of the UC Davis MIND Institute, the state of California's First 5 Commission, and the California Legislative Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism. He received his BA from Stanford University and his MD from Baylor College of Medicine. He is currently an adjunct professor of medicine at Stanford University.

"This book envisions a place in the workforce for all adults with autism and other developmental differences. It sets out innovative strategies to achieve this vision, building on the efforts of the past two decades." --ELENI KOUNALAKIS, lieutenant governor of California "The authors' knowledge on the topic of employment and their personal experiences make this book incredibly valuable." --LYNN KERN KOEGEL, clinical professor, Stanford School of Medicine "This work is most timely--as American business and government leaders wrestle with the future implications of this pandemic. Authors Bernick and Vismara target a previously underutilized pool of talent that is growing in prevalence--neurodiverse talent, especially those with autism." --SUSANNE BRUYERE, professor, Cornell University, director of the K. Lisa Yang and Hock E. Tan Institute on Employment and Disability "The authors bring years of practical experience in autism employment. This book sets out how we can build on current employment strategies, and move to the next stages of jobs for adults with autism and other learning and mental health differences." --ANDREW STERN, president emeritus, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) "This is a must work book for business, rehabilitation, teachers, parents, and families to have on their desk or in their library. It is the first of its kind that I am aware of and highly endorse it." --PAUL WEHMAN, PhD, director, Rehabilitation Research and Training Center, Virginia Commonwealth University "The volume is full of facts and figures but the material is presented in a way that personalizes the issues and conveys their urgency. This is an important book." --LEONARD ABBEDUTO, PhD, director, UC Davis MIND Institute, professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences