Voices of Community: Neurodiversity in Life and at Work

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It’s going to take all of us. How TAP and Stannum Core Solutions are changing the workplace landscape for neurodiverse individuals across the U.S. 🇺🇸

Get inspired by this episode of Meristem's Voices of the Community, Harry, Erin and Ben Schatzel, Stannum Core Solutions' founder take a deep dive into what it takes for employers to change the landscape for neurodiverse job seekers and employers. 

🔹 Meristem's Transformative Autism Program (TAP) was developed with input from young adults on the autism spectrum in order to educate California employers on how to hire, train and retain people with autism—and in turn help them become the valuable employees they have the potential to be. 

🔹 Stannum Core Solutions mission is to positively impact the lives of neurodiverse job seekers and their families through specialized recruitment services, employment strategies, and career advocacy; Stannum Core Solutions aims to serve its business partners by positively impacting the cost of turnover, universal hiring strategy, and overall culture and inclusion. 

Employers interested in joining the movement and breaking workforce barriers, visit our website at www.tapautism.org.

#neurodiverse #workforce #autism #jobseekers 

Share your questions and learn more about us at meristem.pro and tapautism.org

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In this episode, Erin and Harry discuss what’s important to keep a job and what to expect in one of your first work experiences. Based on experiences in internships in the Transformative Autism Program, Erin and Harry offer tips like:

• be prepared and open for feedback, and consider asking for it each week from your manager
• practice communicating about your schedule, asking for time off, and other common scenarios 
• advice for employers to streamline communication with neurodiverse employees
• how to be in it for the long haul

Share your questions and learn more about us at meristem.pro and tapautism.org

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If getting a new job is a part of your 2024 goals, this is the episode for you! Harry and Erin share how Meristem operates its internship program, including how Meristem uses experiential interviews for neurodiverse candidates. 

Listen for: 

• more in-depth discussion of the Meristem Method and how Meristem prepares young adults and employers for internships
• how to coach someone to remove distractions and use their phone less
• key tips for putting your best foot forward in an interview
• advice for employers on how to create experiential interviews that screen for skills 

#jobseeker #getajob #neurodiverse #autism #transformativeautismprogram

Share your questions and learn more about us at meristem.pro and tapautism.org

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Erin Schirm shares how you can support Meristem this #GivingTuesday. 

Support Meristem's work with neurodiverse young people getting on the path to work and greater independence with a tax-deductable donation:  meristem.pro/get-involved/support-meristem

View Meristem's Holiday Wish List and help fund a specific need of the program. 
Fund a need goes live this Thursday, 11/30 at 12pm PT. 
Preview here:  meristemfow.ggo.bid

You can also support Meristem through our Feast of the Wreaths silent auction which goes live this Thursday, 11/30 at 12pm PT. 
Preview here:  meristemfow.ggo.bid

Share your questions and learn more about us at meristem.pro and tapautism.org

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Meristem program graduate Ben Lewis reflects back on his experience at Meristem, what he loved about the community and the chance to live independently. He shares how he gained the skills to work on a farm and how those experiences influence his attitude toward a day’s work now. Ben shares his path to Meristem and how persistence helped him tackle his fears at college – even when he ultimately decides that wasn’t the path for him. Listen for candid talks about anxiety and overthinking as well as where Ben hopes to take his life next. 

If you’re looking for a story to get inspired – listen now! 

#neurodiverse #inclusion #jobseekertips 

Share your questions and learn more about us at meristem.pro and tapautism.org

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Harrison talks about different intellectual or developmental disabilities and asks Erin about how he has responded to difficult situations, like an outburst in class or overcoming anxiety. Listen for: 

• Tips for noticing what you have control over that can improve your well being
• How proving yourself to be reliable and responsible–even in jobs that are not your end goal–builds skills and confidence and can get you to a job you are passionate about
• Erin’s view that doing is the best way to learn

#neurodiverse #inclusion #jobseekertips

Share your questions and learn more about us at meristem.pro and tapautism.org

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Guest Eric Steward is the Director of Meristem’s Work Skills team and Transformative Autism Program. With Harrison and Erin, they discuss how they work with employers and neurodiverse job seekers and share:

• How to ask for support at work and why flexibility is a two way street 
• Why Eric encourages job seekers to watch the TAP employer training 
• How to stretch out of your comfort zone with self awareness
• How to overcome a negative experience at a past job

This is an episode for any job seeker or manager full of mindset tips and practical examples. Reach out to Meristem’s TAP team for support bridging the two way street if you need support navigating work accommodation conversations or seeking work.

Links: 

How to Find a Job: Tips for Neurodiverse Job Seekers Training Video on YouTube

Sign up for TAP Job Seeker Support

Watch TAP Employer Training

Share your questions and learn more about us at meristem.pro and tapautism.org

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Meet hosts Harrison Lane and Erin Schirm. Harrison received an autism diagnosis in elementary school and now works with employers to help them hire neurodiverse people. Erin leads Meristem–a non-profit day and independent living program for autistic and neurodiverse young adults. We cover: 

• What Harrison does working with employers to build a culture that works for autistic people  
• What Harrison learned through Meristem’s independent living program, including how to overcome frustrations in woodworking and metalworking classes and how to live with a roommate
• How to redesign job interviews for autistic and neurodiverse people to manage anxiety and demonstrate they have the skills to do the job 
• How Harrison’s experience on a group craft project at Meristem taught him how to navigate workplace dynamics

We look forward to hearing from you what you’d like to hear from us in the future. 

Share your questions and learn more about us at meristem.pro and tapautism.org

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Host Harrison Lane introduces the Voice of Community podcast. 

This is Meristem’s Breaking Barriers Transformative Autism Program Voices of the Community Podcast. So what is Voices of Community you might ask? Well, if you're a job seeker, if you're an employer, if you're a community member interested in learning more about how to work with somebody that has neurodiversity, we're here to tell you about it. 

Share your questions and learn more about us at meristem.pro and tapautism.org