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How to Prep & Recruit the Talented Neurodivergent Workforce You’re Overlooking

• Date: Thursday, April 24, 2025
• Time: 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. ET
• Location: Online
• Fee: FREE (member); $89 (nonmember);

• Hosted by the NACE Liberal Arts Affinity Group. Join us to discover expert strategies for recruiting, retaining, and empowering these uniquely skilled individuals—an essential move for employers looking to stay ahead in today’s competitive market.

• Summary

  The unemployment rate of college grads with autism is 85%! This means your competitors are overlooking bountiful neurodivergent and qualified talent. Savvy employers know where to look for untapped talent—especially during this labor shortage. Plus, companies with strong disability inclusion outperform their competitors, perhaps because workers with disabilities offer unique skills employers want, such as creative thinking, adaptability, and strong problem-solving. Discover how to tap into this unique talent pool from experts who share their approaches, programs, insights, experiences, and recommendations for successfully prepping, recruiting, and retaining neurodivergent liberal arts grads. Now more than ever, savvy recruiters and career services pros need tools and data to help drive value by including this talent pool. We’ve got you covered!

  Following this program, you will be able to:

  • Identify which accommodations actually help retain neurodivergent employees;
  • Select interview practices that do not unnecessarily screen out certain qualified candidates;
  • Develop new grads’ ability to communicate, acquire, and leverage the unique skills that they posses and employers want; and
  • Build clever strategies and deliver programming that ensure access and opportunity in the workplace for liberal arts early talent with disability (including neurodivergence).

• Event Details

  Registration includes three-month, post-event access to the webinar archive.

  To view the presentation, supplemental materials, attendee list, your receipt, and your confirmation, use the "I’d Like To" option next to the How to Prep & Recruit the Talented Neurodivergent Workforce You’re Overlooking listing in MyNACE > Events. Remember to download your copy of the presentation deck (available one to two days prior to the webinar). A video archive will be available there as well within five (5) business days of the webinar's completion.

  To see the NACE cancellation policy, please visit our FAQ page.

• Format

  During this one-hour webinar, the presenter will deliver a synchronized audio and PowerPoint presentation. Participants will have time for live Q&A throughout the program and may be asked to contribute opinions or feedback via live chat, virtual polling, and other mechanisms.

  
  
  

• Presenters

  

  Sarah-Jane Ripa, Director of Organizational Development, Cole Resource Center

  Sarah-Jane Ripa is a passionate advocate for the peer mental health community. She brings to CRC her longstanding commitment to supporting organizations that enhance and promote the public good. Ripa has more than 20 years of professional experience in the arts, education, and nonprofit sectors, with a focus on organizational development. Her previous positions include director of language programs for the Goethe-Institute Boston. She holds BA and MA degrees from Wesleyan University.

  

  Autumn Wilke, Assoc Diversity Officer for Disability Resources, Grinnell College

  Autumn Wilke began working at Grinnell College in July of 2011 after graduating with her master's in higher education from Iowa State University. She also has a graduate certificate in post-secondary disability services from the University of Connecticut and is a doctoral candidate at Colorado State University. She has worked or interned in numerous student affairs offices throughout her education, including student assistance, orientation, academic success, and residence life, but has dedicated the majority of her focus to improving access for faculty, staff, students, and visitors to Grinnell. As the associate chief diversity officer for disability resources, Wilke is the primary point of contact for faculty and staff with disabilities seeking accommodations. She also oversees the disability resources office, including supervising the work of the coordinator of student disability resources, the neurodiversity support specialist, and the disability resources operations manager. In addition to being a resource to individuals with disabilities, she provides guidance to the campus on issues of compliance, universal design, accessibility, and best practices in accommodation.

• Career Level: Basic-, intermediate-, and advanced-level career services, university relations and recruiting, and business affiliate professionals

Questions?

Visit the professional development FAQ page, or contact the NACE Professional Development Team via e-mail or phone, 610.625.1026.