50-75% of autistic adults in the U.S. are “without employment or underemployed.” Consequently, some brands are striving to reduce these figures through autism recruitment initiatives.
Even though there’s a significant increase in the use of “neurodiversity” in job advertisements, there remains considerable effort to be made in ensuring roles are accessible to talent irrespective of their learning preferences.
We have gathered insights into how hiring teams persist in enhancing talent acquisition strategies by making positions more attainable for a diverse workforce. Here are 10+ instances of companies employing individuals with autism:
Company with Autistic Hiring Initiative #1: Auticon
Name of hiring autistic program: Become a hub for neurodivergent talent.
Summary: Auticon is a predominantly autistic organization and one of the largest employers of autistic adults worldwide, employing 400 staff members (approximately 300 of whom are autistic) across 8 nations. They provide permanent positions on client projects as:
- software developers
- quality assurance analysts
- data analysts
- and more
They additionally offer a relaxed job interview approach, an inclusive workplace atmosphere, supportive job coaches, and tailored employee professional development assistance.
Source: Auticon
Company with Autistic Hiring Initiative #2: BHP
Name of hiring autistic program: Neurodiversity through our team’s perspectives
Summary: Collaborating with the Autism Academy of Software Quality Assurance (AASQA) for an internship initiative welcoming fewer than 20 interns since 2017.
BHP formulates and implements career paths for each intern, working in partnership with AASQA, the International Software Testing Quality Board, and Curtin University in Western Australia.
The most prevalent sectors include data science, software engineering and testing, engineering, and environmental safety.
source: BHP
Company with Autistic Hiring Initiative #3: Dell
Name of hiring autistic program: Neurodiversity@Dell
Summary: A platform that provides neurodiverse individuals with the chance to work at Dell through impactful full-time and internship roles based on skills-oriented recruitment.
According to Brent Amudson, True Ability Board Member and SVP, Global Talent Acquisition:
“We are thrilled to see Dell expand our talent initiatives to incorporate this program geared towards qualified neurodivergent individuals. It aligns with our efforts to ensure we are utilizing diverse talent pipelines to enhance our overall inclusivity with incoming hires.”
Dell’s initiative emphasizes engaging talent through skills-based interviews that accommodate all learning styles. The organization values neurodivergent skills and data-oriented competencies in their talent acquisition campaigns. Neurodiversity@Dell also provides summer internships that offer a career foundation in fields such as finance, software development, and procurement.
Company with Autistic Hiring Initiative #4: DXC Technology
Name of hiring autistic program: DXC Dandelion Program
Summary: An award-winning initiative linking neurodiverse individuals with significant employment opportunities while aiding workplaces in addressing IT skills shortages. The Dandelion Program features a variety of work selection initiatives, on-site holistic frameworks, and specialized recruitment processes within their hiring outreach.
According to the program’s official site: The DXC Dandelion Program embraces, supports, and enhances the skills of neurodivergent individuals to assist them in securing long-term, gratifying IT careers.
DXC Technology has successfully implemented the program for over a decade, empowering neurodiverse IT professionals with technical guidance and accommodations such as personalized employment programs and workplace awareness training.
Source: DXC Dandelion
Company with Autistic Hiring Initiative #5: Walgreens
Name of hiring autistic program: Walgreens REDI (Retail Employees with Disabilities Initiative)
Summary: Established in 2007, the initiative continues to facilitate the employment and career advancement of individuals with disabilities like autism. REDI focuses on providing individuals with positions in the retail and customer service sectors.
Walgreens REDI promotes inclusive hiring efforts through enduring partnerships with transition schools, government agencies, and communities that share the company’s commitment to maintaining an equitable hiring process. The REDI system incorporates detailed referrals, job coaching roles within stores, and a graduation ceremony that officially recognizes the accomplishments of program participants.
Company with Autistic Hiring Initiative #6: Ernst & Young (EY)
Name of hiring autistic program: Neuro-Diverse Center of Excellence (NCoE)
Summary: EY’s neurodiversity-driven transformation actively seeks neurodivergent talent, operating under the belief that they possess the unique skills to address the most intricate business challenges.
By bridging the communication divide between neurodivergent hires and decision-makers, EY aspires to facilitate workforce transformation, enhanced DEIB initiatives, and digital advancement. EY’s strategy surpasses the conventional autistic hiring initiative by establishing a permanent framework that promotes neurodiversity across organizational operations. This fosters the development of essential skills such as problem-solving in specialized tech and business sectors.
Notably, EY provides superweek evaluations, where talents are appraised based on real-world demonstrations of their abilities in lieu of traditional interviews that may hinder their performance and application success.
Company with Autistic Hiring Initiative #7: Ultranauts
Name of hiring autistic program: Ultranauts boasts a predominantly neurodiverse team and continues to recruit individuals with diverse learning and information processing styles.
The essence: The organization systematically evaluates and recruits neurodiverse individuals, providing them rewarding career paths in the AI readiness and governance sectors.
Ultranauts employees can anticipate engaging in a diverse selection of projects that encompass pipeline development across software solutions and business operations. Neurodiverse individuals find support within an uplifting community of innovators and collaborators as they explore creative methods to tackle emerging AI challenges. Ultranauts has earned several accolades, including the Fast Company World Changing Idea Award and MIT Solve Challenge.
Organization with Autistic Hiring Program #8: Simons Foundation
Name of the autistic hiring program: Autism in the Workplace
The essence: The autism hiring initiative consists of three phases involving inclusive recruitment, internship opportunities, and community development.
Simon Foundation initiates the program with a targeted skills-assessment process that qualifies neurodiverse talent based on specific job criteria. The organization’s hiring leaders also receive active support through relevant training to ensure optimal engagement with autistic colleagues.
The firm’s three-month internship equips hires with practical training and opportunities to participate in various workshops that teach vital soft skills such as time management and effective team communication. Furthermore, the organization seeks to demonstrate the success of their in-house autism strategies as a model within the industry. Through outside collaborations, the Simons Foundation continues to inspire other organizations to incorporate autism hiring into their talent acquisition efforts.
Organization with Autistic Hiring Program #9: Autism Society of Maryland
Name of the autistic hiring program: Autism Hiring Program
The essence: This initiative represents an autistic hiring endeavor by the Autism Society of Maryland in collaboration with private and governmental partnerships. The program provides a 10-week training course aimed at facilitating workplace independence while equipping employers with the necessary resources to recruit and retain neurodiverse talent.
The program welcomes individuals diagnosed with autism who possess a high school diploma or college degree. This initiative enables hires to contribute within the organization while gaining mentorship and knowledge to cultivate their career trajectories and essential workplace competencies.
Organization with Autistic Hiring Program #10: KeyBank
Name of the autistic hiring program: Autism at Work Program
The essence: This initiative is a collaboration with The Precisionists, Inc. (TPI), a firm dedicated to providing equal employment opportunities to individuals with various learning and developmental disabilities, including autism.
Program participants undergo assessment, training, and employment facilitated by The Precisionists’ team of recruitment specialists prior to their assignment in project-based roles at KeyBank. Successful candidates enjoy experiencing a variety of roles across KeyBank’s operations, such as in anti-money laundering and loan services. This inclusive hiring collaboration has noted significant advancements, with 19 contractors successfully onboarded and four transitioning to full-time roles.
KeyBank has been acknowledged as a foremost employer of individuals with disabilities by the National Organization on Disability (NOD).
Organization with Autistic Hiring Program #11: Microsoft
Name of the autistic hiring program: Microsoft Neurodiversity Program
The essence: Extending the interview duration for autistic candidates to assist Microsoft in becoming a more appealing “employer of choice”
The Microsoft autism initiative offers candidates an extended interview process focused on work readiness, team collaboration, and skills evaluation. The program’s website states:
“Our approach allows candidates to showcase their distinct abilities while gaining insight into Microsoft as a preferred employer.”
Neurodiverse team members are given opportunities to work on prominent Microsoft initiatives such as Azure and Office 365 functionalities. Microsoft’s Neurodiversity Program enhances candidate selection through a skills-oriented method that allows their talent acquisition team to determine the most suitable job matches.
Organization with Autistic Hiring Program #12: Rising Tide Car Wash
Name of the autistic hiring program: The business itself serves as the program.
The essence: Establishing a warm and inclusive work environment for individuals with autism to help them gain valuable work experience and identify their strengths.
Rising Tide Car Wash mainly hires individuals with autism (or those on the spectrum). In 2020,
the program achieved such success that the organization decided to inaugurate a third location in 2022.
Co-founder John D’Eri and his son Thomas launched the car wash enterprise motivated by his other son’s autism diagnosis during early childhood.
D’Eri’s mission:
“to establish a social enterprise that provides individuals with autism a chance to access genuine opportunities and meaningful jobs that would challenge them and equip them with skills.”
The organization has employed over 170 neurodiverse individuals, persistently working to address the alarming unemployment rates among those with autism.
Organization with Autistic Program #13: Wells Fargo
Name of the autistic hiring program: Wells Fargo Neurodiversity Program
The essence: The initiative was introduced in 2020 coinciding with Autism Awareness Month and has successfully recruited over 300 neurodiverse employees in the United States and India.
Wells Fargo’s neurodiverse program continues to engage marginalized communities by embracing neurodiversity as a fundamental principle in the workplace. Successful participants in the program occupy a varied spectrum of roles and areas of expertise, including corporate risk management, digital innovation, and corporate and investment banking. Candidates may also register for the company’s Neurodiversity Talent Community, where they will receive current updates and support for substantial career opportunities.
Organization with Autistic Program #14: Goldman Sachs
Name of the autistic hiring program: Goldman Sachs Neurodiversity Hiring Initiative
The essence: Goldman Sachs collaborates with the non-profit organization Specialisterne, nurturing an empowering internship that aims to normalize neurodiversity within the workplace. The partnership adopts a structured employee-first strategy featuring meaningful coaching and mentorship opportunities.
Individuals possessing a degree and identifying as neurodivergent are welcome to apply for the 8-9 week paid internship. Participants in the program have the potential to transition their internships into permanent positions at the prestigious financial institution.
Concluding Thoughts – The Path Towards a More Neurodiverse Workforce
According to Google search insights, candidates, local recruiting agencies, and related service providers are keen to know if these five organizations are actively hiring autistic employees.
These inquiries indicate that job seekers are actively looking for firms with programs for hiring autistic individuals.
While CBS and Tesla do not currently have specific autistic hiring programs, they continue to emphasize strong support for a diverse and inclusive workforce.
If your recruitment team members are contemplating strategies for reaching out to autistic job seekers, our article, 7 Tips for Hiring Autistic Workers, could prove useful!
Collaborating with organizations like the Autism Society, Ken’s Krew (which partners with industry leader Home Depot), or the Autism Alliance of Michigan (AAoM) can further enrich your organization’s diversity and inclusive hiring endeavors.
These organizations offer workplace policy suggestions or specialized consultation services designed for employers aiming to create a nurturing and inclusive workplace culture.
Why I Created This?
Recruiting autistic employees doesn’t need to be challenging. Ongig’s mission is to aid in removing bias from your job postings so that you can be more inclusive to neurodiverse applicants and direct them towards suitable roles. If you’re interested in a cloud-based software solution to reliably generate inclusive job content that optimizes your recruitment processes, exploreOngig’s Text Analyzer.
Acknowledgments:
- Hiring Lab – March 2025 US Labor Market Update: Neurodiversity Inclusive Postings Are Rising, but Untapped Potential Remains
- SunSentinel – Employing autistic personnel, Rising Tide Car Wash plans third location
- Walgreens – REDI Program Overview for Partners
- KeyCorp – 2024 Corporate Responsibility Report