The Organization for Autism Research expands its nationwide employment initiative

The Organization for Autism Research (OAR) has expanded its employment program, Hire Autism, to all 50 states following the completion of its Northern Virginia-based demonstration test.

Hire Autism helps individuals with autism find meaningful employment opportunities by supporting them through various aspects of the job search process, including career exploration to job search readiness.

To aid in setting the foundation for a successful job search, job seekers can get their resume or cover letter reviewed by seasoned professionals who provide direct feedback on job seekers’ resumes/cover letters to ensure that they are polished and ready to send to employers. Job seekers also have access to a jobs portal with autism-friendly employers and career search resources.

As part of Hire Autism’s national expansion, OAR has partnered with Fit First Technologies, a company specializing in online career matching technology, to test Fit First’s Jobtimize™ career assessment tool. This tool is free to all job seekers with autism. Based upon an individual's behavioral traits, attitudes, interests, education and experience level, Jobtimize provides job seekers with personalized job recommendations and listings in their area. The Jobtimize test period will take place from January 13 through April 30, 2020.

“We are eager to take this first giant step to test Hire Autism’s capacity to support job seekers with autism across the country,” said Mike Maloney, OAR’s Executive Director. “And we are excited to have Fit First as our partner as we pilot test Jobtimize. Together we hope to deliver even higher quality support to individuals with autism as they look to find meaningful employment.”

“We are delighted to be participating with OAR in this breakthrough initiative,” said Jan G. van der Hoop, President, Fit First Technologies. “We’ve seen firsthand how beginning the career exploration process from a different starting point – an understanding of a person’s behavioral compatibility with a wide array of roles, rather than an inventory of their skills and experience – can actually lead to very different outcomes that benefit both the individual and the employer. The outcomes are even more dramatic for segments of the population that have traditionally faced barriers.”

All OAR resources, including Hire Autism, are free to all. Interested individuals are encouraged to create a profile on Hire Autism’s website where they can apply directly to job opportunities and request assistance with resume or cover letter development. Following a successful registration, individuals will receive an email with a link to access Jobtimize.

SOURCE Organization for Autism Research and Fit First Technologies