Employment Initiatives
Our work in the employment space has shifted and focuses on influencing the broader ecosystem of disability employment pushing Michigan to be a leading state in the nation in this work. With this, our efforts will center around resource navigation, education for job seekers along with employers, and systems advocacy as it applies to employment for individuals with a neurodiversity or other disability.
Here is what you can expect from employment services through AAoM moving forward:
AAoM will continue to help candidates through navigation and resource provision surrounding services impacting employment services, gaining employment and retaining employment. Through this service, AAoM will direct individuals seeking individualized employment support to partner organizations, including MRS and other vocational rehabilitation agencies.
AAoM is committed to providing helpful resources to individuals independently seeking employment. The job seekers resource page is compiled with tools for independent learning and professional development as well as external resources to support the employment journey.
AAoM is active on a platform powered by YolBe to foster purpose-driven communities to help jobseekers build social capital, level up their skills, find resources in their community, and connect to inclusive-minded employers and their open opportunities.
AAoM will continue exploring new opportunities for employer education and consultation related to recruiting, training, hiring, and retaining neurodiverse job seekers. This is a piece of our broad advocacy work aimed at promoting greater awareness around disability employment and assisting employers to cultivate disability-inclusive cultures leading to successful employment for individuals with a disability. We are working closely with the autism community on all continued initiatives.
AAoM will continue to seek opportunities to support both job seekers and employers through various grant initiatives.
AAoM will also be leading a statewide employment coalition to collectively push efforts forward for disability employment in the local landscape of employment. This work will focus on eliminating barriers to employment through broad education, resource connection and legislative advocacy. The work will also push for greater awareness around the benefits of hiring individuals with varying abilities while promoting greater access to opportunities for job seekers. Partnering with employers to create inclusive talent pipelines while fostering disability-inclusive work cultures will be vital in this work.
AAoM will continue to partner with educational institutions to better assist neurodivergent students as they prepare to transition into employment. This will be achieved through resource navigation, mechanisms for skill-building/upskilling, connections with service providers, and entry points to employment opportunities with partnering employers