Text: eNewsletter - June 2021. Image: a grid of people in a variety of workplaces

New manual to help employers create inclusive workplaces

We’re pleased to announce the release of the Integrated Employment Success Tool (IEST), which aims to improve employer confidence, employee productivity, job retention and the overall workplace success of autistic people. Developed specifically for employers, the practical workplace manual is available free of charge and can be used across a variety of work environments.

Autistic employees have diverse skills, strengths and interests that enable them to be successful in a variety of roles. The IEST empowers employers with the skills and confidence to make changes in the workplace to make it inclusive, bringing benefits to all employees and companies as a whole.

The manual is presented according to the phases of employment starting at advertising the job, through to the interview process, job commencement, workplace modification and how to maintain ongoing support. Each phase includes information on specific workplace requirements, tips and advice, questions to consider, and checklists.

A pixel art graphic with the text: StepWrite - A co-designed iPad app to help kids improve their writing

A step in the ‘write’ direction

A new iPad app is now available to help children, including those on the autism spectrum, harness their writing potential. The co-designed app, StepWrite, helps children with their writing and addresses many of the challenges associated with fine motor and perceptual skills required for handwriting. It also helps with conceptual and language skills required for written composition.

Two people looking over constructions plans

Work starts on two new major projects

We’re excited to begin work on two new major projects to help improve health services and education and employment outcomes for autistic Australians. Both projects build upon and deepen the impact of some major assets successfully delivered under the CRC Program:

Project 1 National Best-Practice Assessment and Diagnosis
Project 2: Success in Learning; Transition to Earning.

Allied health and clinicians needed

Are you an allied health or medical clinician who works with autistic adults in Australia? We would like your feedback about a new autistic quality of life assessment. Participation involves either completing a survey OR a short 10-minute questionnaire and a 1-hour focus group.

Find out more

Photograph of people in a conference room smiling. Text" Sylvia Rodger Academy - Future Leaders

Future Leaders 2021 opening soon

Are you, or do you know, an autistic adult in QLD or NSW who has an idea that will make a positive impact in the community? Would you or they benefit from learning about leadership and developing specific skills in order to bring that idea to life?

The 2021 Program has a slightly different focus and eligibility criteria than previous years, so please check the website to find out more. Applications open on Friday 6 August 2021.

Webinar recordings now available

Our 2021 Autism Month Webinar series was our most popular yet! Webinar recordings and supporting presentations are now available. This year’s topics included the AARC 2020-21 Research Priority Update; Writing and transitions; Health, assessment and diagnosis; Interventions for children on the autism spectrum; Autism at work; and, Autistic scholars.

Watch now

Illustration of a computer with myWAY Employability

Have your say about myWAY

Have you been using Autism CRC’s myWAY Employability to plan and prepare for your working life? If so, we want to hear your opinions about the website, and any suggestions you might have to improve the resources and user experience.

Find out more

Illustration of people from diverse occupations

Teachers needed to trial transition planning resources

Since launching myWAY Employability in 2020 to help students on the spectrum transition from school to employment and further studies we have developed a series of online teacher resources. To be among the first to use these new online resources with your students, express your interest today!

Find out more

Save the date!

We are pleased to announce that after three highly successful in-person Autism@Work Summits, our first ever Virtual Summit will be held from 24 - 25 August. High profile local and international speakers, including employers, autistic employees and researchers will discuss how to achieve Sustainable Employment, Sustainable Programs. Further details coming soon.

Text in AARC branding: Australian Autism Research Council. 2020-21 Research Priority Update

Last year the Australian Autism Research (AARC) held a series of focus groups for five Research Priority Areas (Communication, Education, Employment, Health & Wellbeing and Justice). The focus groups brought together a range of community members, including autistic people, family members and relevant professionals. The reports from this work, including fifty research topics, were launched in April. The reports are available from our website.

Watch the webinar

Go to the website

Autism CRC is the world’s first national, cooperative research effort focused on autism. We take a whole-of-life approach to enhance the lives of people on the autism spectrum, from diagnosis and the early years to the school years and into adult life.