Event Showcasing Accessibility Technologies
In 2023, the Autism Employment Expo, a groundbreaking event designed to connect autistic adults with employers and employment resources in a sensory-friendly environment, took place at Toronto Public Library's North York Central Library. The sold-out event attracted nearly 200 attendees, making it a resounding success.
Organised by TPL librarians Tim Feller and Melanie LaFleche, the initiative aimed to address the high unemployment among autistic adults in Canada. The expo partnered with organisations such as the Geneva Centre for Autism, the Ready, Willing, and Able program, Autism Speaks, Specialisterne, Microsoft, SAP, and local autism support organisations.
The expo featured seven employers, including EY (formerly known as Ernst & Young) and NATO Canada, as well as two autistic speakers who discussed autism, confidence, and disability rights at work. Attendees were provided with color-coded badges to indicate their level of comfort with communication, and a dedicated quiet room with fidget tools and noise-canceling headphones was available.
To make the event even more sensory-friendly than the previous year's, softer or more directional light was provided, and unwanted sounds were removed. The event also included a break room organised by Retreat, a local project focused on neurodivergent-inclusive spaces.
Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, with a sense of hope, progress, understanding, and inclusivity noted. Many participants expressed their interest in seeing more events designed for neurodivergent people. The event's success led to the evolution of the Autism Employment Expo into Autism Employment Resource Day the following year.
The Autism Employment Resource Day featured more exhibitors, with an emphasis on community service agencies that support autistic job seekers. The event included the same sensory-friendly accommodations as the previous year, and the positive feedback continued. Both events received positive feedback from attendees and exhibitors, marking a significant step forward in promoting employment opportunities for autistic adults in Canada.
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