Autism & Employment Forum 2012 

Attend Session II for FREE. See below for details!

The Autism Society of Minnesota (AuSM®) invites you to our
 Autism & Employment Forum 2012.
Hosted by 3M, the 2^nd annual event will be held on October 9, 2012.
 
More than 1,600 attended last year’s forum, and we expect the 2012 event to be just as successful. Representatives from our highlighted companies – Cargill, Best Buy, Medtronic, Target, and Wells Fargo – will be in attendance and some will share personal experiences of hiring and retaining those living with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and the benefits these individuals have brought to their corporations.

Your presence at the Autism & Employment Forum 2012 helps AuSM realize its mission of enhancing the lives of those affected by ASD through employment opportunities.

Why autism?

Autism is the fastest growing developmental disability in Minnesota, making it more important now than ever to reach out and work together to foster education, change, acceptance and investment. 

Despite deficits in social interactions, workers on the spectrum excel in many areas employers desire in their top employees - singular focus, loyalty, high productivity and innovative thinking. With adaptations, you can create an environment that supports all employees while welcoming the gifts of the autism spectrum into your workplace.

With more than 40 years of experience in education, advocacy and support, AuSM has dedicated significant time and resources to foster relationships with corporations across Minnesota and to help professionals understand the benefits of employing adults with autism.

Learn how top MN companies have put autism to work!

Why employment?

Talent and skills aren't enough to get hired. And doing a job well doesn't ensure job security. Not when social deficits stand in the way. But with awareness comes acceptance.

This forum sets things in motion for individuals with ASD to focus on their talents and gifts to get employed and keep their jobs. Come and learn what employers are doing to support employees, like you, who bring dedication, productivity and innovation to their companies. Educators, families and individuals with autism will learn how to turn autism into an asset through meaningful work.

Keynote Speakers  

Dr. Stephen Shore 

Dr. Stephen Shore, Author and Professor at Adelphi University, focuses his research on matching best practice to the needs of people with autism.   

Individuals with ASD who have achieved post secondary education or have highly developed skill areas often have difficulty selling themselves in job interviews and maintaining working relationships on the job. Drawing on his personal and professional experiences as an adult living with autism, Shore will share the strategies he has used successfully to find and secure employment and to meet the expectations of employers for people throughout the autism spectrum.

Randy Lewis

Randy Lewis, Senior Vice President for Supply Chain and Logistics at Walgreens in Deerfield, Ill., is responsible for the design and operation of the Walgreens supply chain network including operations, engineering, IT systems, and inventory management. In addition to imports, Lewis manages Walgreens’s domestic network of 20 automated distribution centers and one of the U.S.’s largest private fleets to supply the 8,300 Walgreens stores throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

Lewis was instrumental in introducing a new concept to Walgreens that would transform the company’s distribution centers and employment opportunities. Walgreens’s two newest distribution centers employ an inclusive and integrated workforce composed 40 percent of persons with disabilities (PWD) who are held to the same work standards and earn the same pay as “typically-abled” fellow workers. As a result of this success of serving both shareholders and the community, all distribution centers now include people with disabilities. Lewis's division recently achieved the milestone of having people with disabilities as 10 percent of its workforce. 

day of the event

Please read this information carefully.

• The forum will take place at the 3M campus in Maplewood, Minn.  It is located within 3M building #224. Please see attached map for directions. Signs on campus will direct you to parking areas. 
• DO NOT park in 3M visitor parking. If you do park there, you will be rerouted by 3M security to the event parking area.   
• Please arrive early. This will give you time to park and check-in at registration. A minimum of 30 minutes may be required. Be prepared to walk from your parking space to the event location. We encourage car-pooling. 
• Due to 3M security, all pre-registered attendees will need to check-in at the registration desk. There are no tickets so please bring your confirmation e-mail. At check-in you will receive a 3M badge and be escorted by 3M personnel to the event. You are not allowed to wander around the facility. 
• Please plan to attend the session for which you are registered. Seating is limited and based on arrival. There is no guarantee that you will be allowed in a session if it is sold out and you are not registered.  
• Please share all of this information with any guests you add to your registration.  

Registration is closed as of 10/05/12. Walk-ins are welcome if space is available. Session II (7:00 to 9:00 pm) generally has the most availability. 

More Information

Seating is first come, first serve (no guarantees for late arrival or group seating).
Visit www.ausm.org to become a member of the Autism Society of Minnesota.
To purchase more than 10 seats, call for group rates – 651.647.1083 ext. 19

Cancellation Policies
Notification of Cancellation: If an event is cancelled or postponed, AuSM will attempt to notify you via phone, using the phone number provided with your registration. We also will post notice of cancellations and postponements on www.ausm.org.

Cancellation By Registrant: Refunds less a $10 processing fee will be given for cancellations received in writing to events@ausm.org 7 business days prior to the event. Following this date, no refunds will be given. Requests for transfer of registration to another individual will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Cancellation By Event Organizer: AuSM reserves the right to cancel an event due to low registrations or other circumstances that make the event non-viable. If AuSM cancels an event, registrants will be offered a full refund. If the event is postponed, registrants will have the option to either receive a full refund or transfer registration to the same event at the new, future date.

Content and speakers are subject to change.