Job Searching

    Looking for an entry level job can be tough in this tight economy, yet it is especially challenging when you need special accommodations and understanding from employers. This necessity only makes the search that much harder.

    This summer I started reaching out to DEI recruiters and people who work in accessibility at companies recognized for disability hiring efforts. While many people have been very open to connecting, actual positions for me are few and far between. Also, some companies are still figuring out how to provide the right accommodations and roles for people with ASD. They know having diverse perspectives is important in their workforce, but they’re still working on how to hire and retain and support people with disabilities effectively.

    Each day I keep pushing forward and it can feel like progress is slow, but I stay positive and focused on my goals, believing the right company is going to value my work ethic and the perspective I offer. To be even more viable I’m currently taking the CPACC course for the International Association of Accessibility Professionals so I will be Accessibility certified. I know that the right job is out there in a win-win situation and I’m committed to finding it. In the meantime, I’m grateful for any support and encouragement as I continue my search.

Accommodations for Interview Success

    Two years ago, the Teladoc Health recruiting team asked me to create a video called “Accommodations for Interview Success” so they can best understand accommodations people with ASD may need for a successful interview. I was touched how much they care and want success for everyone. This video is great for both the candidate and the recruiter, and I find I am leaning on it myself as I look for my next career move.  

    I recently graduated from Bridgewater State University with honors and I have been very happy with all that I have been able to accomplish. I would not have been able to succeed without all the support and accommodations I have received throughout the years. I want to help people the same way that I was helped so please share this video as needed and let’s continue to make a difference.

Geneaology

    I want to share a new hobby of mine, because I think it is interesting to know how hobbies arise. Whenever I went to family gatherings I was always confused over who was who, and I didn’t understand why we had to take hour-long drives to see people we only saw a few times. Then when the pandemic happened, I was looking for something to do while I was inside the house and I started thinking about my family members. Learning their names and how we were related made our connection feel important.  

    I decided I should make a digital family tree of sorts so I’d have a list to refer to help me understand connections. As I built the tree, I became interested in learning about my ancestors, realizing they helped shape who I am and who the rest of my family is today. People often ask me if I used Ancestry.com to make the tree, but that is only one source in my system. I found a website called Find a Grave that provided me with their birthdates, death dates, relatives, and sometimes gravestones depending on if there was a picture of them. I also use websites such as Ancestry, Geni, WikiTree, and the app Family Tree.

    With my tree in place, I began looking forward to family gatherings. I still struggle with talking to people and it’s not always fun, but I started forming relationships that I didn’t have before. Since I started the tree in 2020 I’ve been able to find thousands of relatives that go back many generations, the earliest dating to the 1600s.

    In addition to the tree, through this process I also found out that people use Find a Grave to put out photo requests for family gravesites that they cannot get to themselves. I decided to check out cemeteries near me where there were requests and was fascinated to learn every cemetery has Find a Grave requests. The experience is a bit like Word Finder coupled with exercise. I don’t always find the people on the request list, but I feel very accomplished when I do because it’s hard to accomplish and I like that I am helping someone connect with their relatives. 

    Additionally, after thoroughly researching my own family, I decided to look into the children of celebrities, simply because I wanted to know who was who, like with my family. I can now name the kids of any celebrity I know of, in birth order. This includes actors, singers, presidents, and athletes. I also keep track of their siblings, but that’s not as easy to find. Everyone who I share my ability with is either impressed or terrified or both. Ask me if you want to.