ST PAUL, Minn. — October marks national disability employment awareness month. While the national unemployment rate sits at 3.8 percent according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the rate for adults with autism is more than twenty times higher.
Sheletta Brundidge, CEO and producer of the shelettamakesmelaugh.com podcast network, is putting on a job fair for job seekers with autism.
"The problem is the unemployment rate for adults with autism is 85%," Brundidge said.
Brundidge credits a lack of understanding in the workplace as a main detractor of creating equitable employment opportunities for job seekers with autism.
She is encouraging employers to be proactive by educating their teams about adults with autism, honoring the special talents of people with autism and set goals to increase its percentage or employees with autism.
Being the mother of three kids with autism, Brundidge said the entire community benefits from attracting a more diverse pool of talent and building an inclusive approach that creats access to more opportunities.
The job fair for adults with autism is Thursday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the State Services for the Blind building on 2200 University Ave W #240, St Paul, MN 55114.
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