Kinney Center for Autism Education and Support

10/22/2026

In recognition of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), the Kinney Center celebrates its campus partners who provide valuable opportunities for vocational participants to develop and practice essential job skills in real-world work environments.

In recognition of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), the Kinney Center celebrates its campus partners who provide valuable opportunities for vocational participants to develop and practice essential job skills in real-world work environments. 

10/21/2026

Yesterday, Therapy Dog Tandy dropped by for a study break, and our ASPIRE students, staff, and SCHOLARS had the absolute best time playing and recharging with this sweet pup!

10/20/2026

Autistic and neurodiverse job applicants may possess all of the required skills to perform well on the job, but the interview process can present particular challenges.

Implementing alternatives to typical hiring practices can harness the strengths of a neurodivergent population while securing the best fit for the role.

Below are some scenarios to practice making these adjustments:

Scenario 1: During an interview, the incumbent is struggling to maintain consistent eye contact with the interviewer, and worries that they will be seen as “disinterested".
Accommodation Strategy: The interviewer can utilize other cues to ensure that the candidate is attending to the conversation auditorially. Examples include:
Asking them to elaborate on what they know about the company.
Asking why they want the job.
Ensuring comprehension by inviting them to ask questions about material shared in the interview.

Scenario 2: During an interview, the interviewer asks how the incumbent would handle a specific problem on the job. Having never been in that situation before, the incumbent struggles to imagine what they would do.
Accommodation Strategy: The interviewer can shift the focus from a hypothetical future to a concrete past experience. The interviewer can:
Invite the incumbent to describe a time when they handled a similar problem in the past.
Ask them to describe a time they handled the target skill (e.g., effective communication, collaboration, or customer service).

Did you know that October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month?
In honor of this observance, the Kinney Center is launching our full five-course asynchronous series, Neurodiversity at Work (N@W). The N@W modules are built to empower leaders to understand neurodiversity, leverage it as a business advantage, and create inclusive workspaces.

10/13/2026

How much do you know about optimizing workplace communication for neurodivergence? Let’s practice with a case study of an autistic employee, Omar:

Though he completes all projects and produces high quality work, Omar appears disengaged and disinterested when in group settings such as team meetings or parties. When singled out by his boss during meetings to discuss his team’s progress, he often does not respond. Last week during a holiday party, Omar’s boss asked the staff members to partner up for a teambuilding exercise. Omar left the room and did not return for almost twenty minutes.

What can we assume about Omar?

Omar may struggle to follow along without visual cues.
Omar is uncomfortable with public speaking and may struggle socially where others are having fun.
Omar may have a processing delay and require extended “wait time” when required to answer.

How could Omar be supported by his manager?
Utilize meeting agendas to organize team gatherings.
Offer Omar the opportunity to provide summaries of his work in writing via email or on a meeting agenda as opposed to strictly verbal participation.
Consider accommodations such as: Assigning teams or partners in both work and social settings; allowing extended “wait time” for Omar to respond when spoken to.

By modifying the typical workplace processes to reflect the needs of neurodivergent workers, we can create a more inclusive workplace for all!

Did you know that October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month?
In honor of this observance, the Kinney Center is launching our full five-course asynchronous series, Neurodiversity at Work (N@W). The N@W modules are built to empower leaders to understand neurodiversity, leverage it as a business advantage, and create inclusive workspaces.

Enroll today with a 10% discount by using promo code FBNDEAM26: https://continuing-ed.sju.edu/browse/kinneycenter/kinneycenternatw/programs/neurodiversity-at-work-program

10/12/2026

We’re excited to share the Kinney Center’s latest Impact Report, highlighting the progress, partnerships, and initiatives making a difference across our community.

From Kinney’s impact on Saint Joseph’s University to employment initiatives and beyond, the report showcases the work being done to create meaningful opportunities, strengthen partnerships, and drive lasting impact for the autism community.

Created with the Heyzine flipbook maker

10/09/2026

Fall break is officially here! Wishing our SCHOLARS a happy, restful, and relaxing break.

10/08/2026

We are excited to present at this year's Spectrum Transition Coaching Autism Summer Program Expo! Join us to learn all about our brand-new Discover Your PATH Program.

Mark your calendars: This free virtual event takes place on November 15 at 7:30. Register at https://spectrumtransitioncoaching.com/2026-autism-summer-program-expo-registration/

10/07/2026

In Second Year Skills, ASPIRE students learned what makes a strong resume! 📄

A big thank you to Kailey Ryan from Career Services for sharing helpful tips and tricks to help our students build resumes that showcase their skills, experiences, and strengths. 💼👏

10/06/2026

Currently, 1 in 31 children are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. This rate is over 300% higher than what it was just over two decades ago.

Steadily rising autism rates over the last two decades and the growth of autism college support programs means that more autistic adults are entering the workplace independently.

So, what should managers know about autism?

While challenges can arise in the workplace, there are tried and true strategies to help employers maximize the unique strengths of this population.

For example:

Autistic workers may struggle to follow along in group planning sessions and to recall to-dos after the meeting has finished.

To accommodate this challenge area, managers could incorporate: A written agenda of topics covered, a meeting summary emailed after the fact, and designated to-do items for respective attendees.

This “challenge area” can also be a strength! Autistic and neurodivergent workers may be strong visual learners and thinkers, have above-average attention to detail, and recognize patterns and trends that others miss.

Did you know that October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month?
In honor of this observance, the Kinney Center is launching our full five-course asynchronous series, Neurodiversity at Work (N@W). The N@W modules are built to empower leaders to understand neurodiversity, leverage it as a business advantage, and create inclusive workspaces.

Enroll today with a 10% discount by using promo code FBNDEAM26: https://continuing-ed.sju.edu/browse/kinneycenter/kinneycenternatw/programs/neurodiversity-at-work-program

10/05/2026

October monthly hang out was a smash hit! 🎮🏎️ ASPIRE students and mentors battled it out in our Mario Kart tournament! Congratulations to our winners 🏆