April is Autism Awareness Month, and we're enormously grateful there's a month set aside for advocates to educate and mobilize awareness about the strengths, talents, and challenges of those with autism! But to truly stick, we know that the work of autism awareness and action must go on daily and throughout the year. Gandhi's quote gives a lot of food for thought. Work, at its heart, is what fulfills and completes us, gives our lives meaning and direction, provides independence. His point awakens us to see the place of work for those who struggle with employment such as those with autism -- the need for an empowering "hands-up" approach instead of a solution that offers only handouts.
We're very inspired by our friends at Aspiritech, an entrepreneurial software-testing company in Highland Park IL that is built around the skills of those with Asperger's. Their workplace focuses on a skills-building, team-building approach that's fantastic and is a great model for us. Check out the poster they created as a team exercise on the job, and be inspired to learn about the many contributions people on the spectrum can share with the world!