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News & Stories
Expanding Inclusive Employment
Since 2009, the Autism Alliance of Michigan (AAoM) has been amplifying the voices of the Autism community, leading the effort to eliminate stigmas, and promoting positive change. With a recent grant from our Diversity Equity Inclusion (DEI) Fund, the AAoM is working to further address the disparities of equitable and inclusive hiring for individuals with disabilities in our region through its Upbound at Work program.
“We believe it is our duty to raise up these disparities, change the systems which created them, and that this work is fundamentally critical to the success of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice movement,” said Dr. Colleen Allen, President of AAoM. “To make this belief a reality, support is needed to institute the profound changes we envision for Michigan. Grants like those awarded by the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation help [us] do just that.”
Upbound at Work aims to improve economic integration and the wealth and independence of job seekers with disabilities, while providing access to services and support and increasing inclusion in employment.
With the support of our DEI Fund, AAoM’s Upbound at Work will offer local presentations and training for employers that are centered around disability hiring initiatives. Allen and her team will also start a social media marketing campaign to help educate the community about diverse hiring efforts and to better serve individuals with disabilities across the region.
“It’s so gratifying when a funder acknowledges the value of our work and invests as a partner in our mission of improving the quality of life . . . for individuals with Autism and their families in the Grand Traverse region and throughout our state,” added Dr. Allen.
Writer: Alex Dailey