Autism Alliance Seeks to Establish 101,000 Jobs for Adults on the Spectrum
The Autism Alliance of Michigan (AAoM), a non-profit organization whose mission is to raise expectations and expand opportunities for people touched by autism across their lifespan, has recently set an extraordinary goal of creating 101,000 jobs for adults on the spectrum over the next ten years. If the organization reaches this goal, Michigan would become the first state to employ adults with autism at the same rate as neurotypical workers. To help achieve their target, AAoM formed a new coalition whose purpose will be to reform special education for K-12 students to ensure that special needs students in Michigan will have employable skills after graduation. As part of their reform effort, the coalition plans to lobby for more vocational training or trade skills for special education students. AAoM recognizes that most employment programs focus on opportunities for higher-functioning adults on the spectrum, their new goal aims to be inclusive of adults across the autism spectrum.
