West Babylon group to tout benefits of hiring autistic adults

A West Babylon nonprofit plans to make the case to employers why hiring more adults with autism is not only good for the community, but good for business amid a tightening labor market.

The Winters Center for Autism, in conjunction with the Suffolk County Labor Department, will host a virtual workshop Wednesday. Christine Ponzio, the Center's executive director, will discuss how companies can work with the nonprofit — which trains neurodiverse job seekers — to find workers willing and able to join their workforce.

The tight labor market has "actually helped employers think outside the box, be more willing, more open, and think about their workforce differently and really embrace neurodiversity," Ponzio said.

Mark Boehrer, director of Human Resources for Long Island Select Healthcare, and Fritz-Gerald Lochard, director of operations in medicine, will also be sharing success stories on hiring adults with autism during the one-hour session.

The free online workshop will be held on Wednesday, May 11, from 10 to 11 a.m. To register, visit bit.ly/3MKJek4.

U.S. employers posted a record 11.5 million job openings  in March, meaning the country had two job openings for every one unemployed American last month, according to new data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Ultimately, Ponzio said, the workshop is meant to be a resource for business owners who are willing to look beyond the traditional talent pool while giving a chance to a community of workers traditionally excluded from the workforce.

In 2021, only 19.1% of Americans with a disability had a job, compared to 63.7% of those without a disability, according to federal data.

“It’s good for adults who really want to share their talents, have a sense of purpose, and have a sense of belonging," Ponzio said. "It’s also very good for business. Helping businesses understand the benefits is really what I see this presentation focusing on.”

The Winters Center for Autism is affiliated with the Winters Family Foundations, created by the late Joe Winters and his wife, Michele, in January 2020. Joe Winters had helped build Winter Bros. Waste Systems into Long Island’s largest garbage collection business.