Job fair creating opportunities for people with autism

CATHY WURZER: This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Minnesota Human Rights Act, the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Minnesota Council of Disability, and 50 years of the National Rehabilitation Act. It was the first federal law aimed at providing equal access for folks with disabilities, that included removing employment barriers.

While things have certainly improved in the last 50 years, there are still major inequities. In Minnesota, the unemployment rate is 9.8% for people with one or more disabilities, and 3.7% for those without. October is Disability Employment Awareness Month, and one woman is playing a big role in trying to highlight the contributions of our state's workers with disabilities.

You know who she is, Sheletta Brundidge, she's hosting a job fair tomorrow in St. Paul for adults on the autism spectrum. She's the founder and CEO of the podcasting platform and production company Sheletta Makes Me Laugh, and she is on the line. How are you, my friend?

SHELETTA BRUNDIDGE: It is so good to hear your voice. How are you doing, Cathy Wurzer?

CATHY WURZER: I am good, Sheletta Brundidge. Thank you so much. Now, you should tell folks you are an expert on this topic because you have kids who are on the spectrum. Tell us about your family.

SHELETTA BRUNDIDGE: I have four beautiful children. Andrew, my 17-year-old son is normal developing, but he is a teenager. And Cathy Wurzer, that might be worse than having three kids on the spectrum. I'm not ready for teenage hormones. But then I also have Brandon, he is 11, Cameron, my only daughter, is 10, and Daniel, my youngest son, is 8.

And Brandon and Cameron and Daniel have all been diagnosed with autism. And so I'm not just a parent who has three kids with autism, they call me Minnesota's autism mom because I'm an advocate for parents who have kids with special needs.

CATHY WURZER: So you know what you're talking about here. How did you get involved in a job fair for folks with disabilities?

SHELETTA BRUNDIDGE: Right. Probably because I have small children with autism. So I'm in the schools, I'm creating awareness, I'm writing my children's books, I'm working with teachers and other parents. And so this is outside of my wheelhouse. I don't have adults with autism. But listen, my kids are 10 and 11 and 8. At some point, they're going to be 20, 21, and 18, and they're going to need to find work. So I'm looking 10 years from now, how can I make things better, not just for them, but for children like them?

And Cathy Wurzer, for those who don't have kids with special needs, what folks have to understand is that when these children are younger, there are so many services available. They got the special education in the school. They've got social workers. They've got county services. They've got state services. They've got federal services. But once they turn 18, all that stuff falls off, and there is nothing left and available for parents to help their children live their best lives.

And so when I saw that it was National Disability Employment Awareness Month, that doesn't impact me right now-- my kids are too young to work. But I saw these proclamations that everybody was doing, from the governor to Ramsey County. And I thought this is great. This is raising awareness, but this is not going to get anybody a job. This is not going to solve the problem. And I said, you know, I got mad and started being angry and cussing and stuff. And I said, somebody needs to do something. And then I looked in the mirror and I said, I just I guess I'm going to have to be somebody.

CATHY WURZER: OK. So you're going to be somebody, you already are somebody. So you're going to get this job fair underway tomorrow. But just going back just a little bit here to back up our conversation, what work do you see that employers need to do to make their workplaces more inclusive for anybody with any ability?

SHELETTA BRUNDIDGE: What they need to do is give autistic adults and teens an opportunity. I was talking to one of my partners at Comcast, and I head their entire HR global team, 250 HR professionals from around the world. It was Autism Awareness Month. I was doing a lunch and learn. And I said, listen, when you are interviewing, just because somebody doesn't make eye contact, they may look off in the distance. They may not give you that firm handshake. They may prefer a Zoom meeting over an in-person face to face.

That doesn't mean they can't build a remote. That doesn't mean that they can't bring the equipment in and get it set up. That doesn't mean that they can't get the cable hooked up. That just means that they can't because of social anxiety get through that interview. And don't let that be a barrier for them to get this job. And we had a big aha moment at that point, and people were saying thank you so much for shining a spotlight because that's the interviewer's job is to screen.

And because somebody doesn't give a firm handshake, or look at them in the eye, or any of those things that are triggers, that they may eliminate them from getting to that next round. And so people with autism, Cathy Wurzer, they are so detail-oriented, they are so faithful, they are so timely, they are so consistent. And they will-- that routine and that schedule is all a part of the thing that they say is bad for them, but it makes them excellent workers.

CATHY WURZER: So it sounds like it's a matter of a lot of education, education, education when it comes to folks who are employers and also co-workers I'm thinking too.

SHELETTA BRUNDIDGE: Yeah. And that's the reason that I talk to parents. I was just telling somebody this morning, I was giving them a copy of one of my autism children's books for free because they told me they had kids my kids' age. And I said, listen, right now, your kids and my kids are in school together, but at some point, they're going to be co-workers. And I need them to understand how my kids function.

So I write my books not so much for kids on the spectrum, but for the normal developing peers so they can understand how to support my kids and kids like them. And I've got some great companies coming to market, and they have some good jobs available. They're going to be hiring on the spot. Metro Transit is looking for mechanics, paying almost $30 an hour.

CATHY WURZER: Wow.

SHELETTA BRUNDIDGE: Yeah. I've got Minneapolis Police Department, they need officers, but also they need folks in the evidence locker. They need people to file. They need people to answer the phones. Andersen Windows just called. They said they're coming. And they've got positions and job opportunities available. M Health Fairview, they've got-- they'll be there. They need people in dietary. They need groundskeepers. They need folks who are going to be cleaning up the building.

They need all these positions, and these are great jobs that nobody is filling right now. And my hope and prayer is that if anybody is listening and they have a child with autism who is an adult or a teen and they are looking for work, that they come to this job fair tomorrow because it is a safe space. Cathy Wurzer, I have room set up so that if people get overwhelmed that they can go in a nice, quiet, dark room with a recliner and a weighted blanket and some fidgets.

I got with my friends from DEED and CareerForce. And if folks need help, we'll be there with interview help. We can print off resumes. We're going to make this as easy and as safe as possible. And this is the thing, people with autism may not go to a big job fair because it's overwhelming, it's too stimulating, it takes too long.

Well, guess what? You're coming here where people understand your limitations. And we're going to make sure that you have success. This is a safe space and we want to see you succeed. We want to see you get that job. We want to see you be productive. And it's going to build their confidence and it's also going to solve the worker shortage that everybody keeps talking about.

CATHY WURZER: So when and where is this job fair?

SHELETTA BRUNDIDGE: It is Thursday tomorrow from 10:00 o'clock to noon at 2200 University Avenue West in St. Paul right off the line. We put it there because people don't have to have a car to get there. It's at suite 240. You come right on in and there are 5 employers waiting on you, teens and adults with autism, hiring on the spot with some great jobs, and we just wanted-- this could change somebody's life, Cathy. It really could. If there's somebody with autism out there who hasn't been able to find a job, their parents are about to give up hope, and I just my prayer is that that person would show up.

CATHY WURZER: I hope they will. And Sheletta, you are a force of nature. Thank you for everything you do for the community.

SHELETTA BRUNDIDGE: Well, thank you for shining a light. Folks won't know about it if you don't give me a platform. So I thank you for allowing me to borrow a few minutes of your listeners' time and their ears. And if you don't know somebody, I pray that they would spread it to people that they do know and share this information.

CATHY WURZER: We will. Thank you, Sheletta. Talk to you later.

SHELETTA BRUNDIDGE: All right. Thank you.

CATHY WURZER: Thanks. Sheletta Brundidge is the founder and CEO of the podcasting platform and production company, Sheletta Makes Me Laugh.