What does creating a diverse workforce mean to an organization? Most Social Responsibility departments think about shaping a well-rounded workforce that is equally represented by genders and includes a rich mix of ethnic backgrounds. But what about incorporating individuals with developmental challenges such as autism? How do they fit into your corporate diversity strategy?
I recently sat down with the Sr. Director, Legal & Corporate Responsibility at Veritas and Jack Hogan from the Autism Advantage Program to learn more about how the two organizations are working together.
The Autism Advantage program provides a six-week training course for individuals who want to learn basic data analytics/data science skills. After the initial training, students go through a mock interviewing process before they begin applying for jobs in the high-tech industry.
Click here to hear about Veritas diversity programs and the Autism Advantage Program on the Voice of Veritas podcast.
"At Veritas, we take a broad view of diversity. It is not just about gender or race. It's about creating a workforce that is diverse in thought, expression, opinion, and background -- all those different things. We believe that if we create a diverse workforce, it really is our competitive advantage and it will make us more successful in the work place." - Melynnie Rizvi
In the upcoming weeks, a team of HR professionals from Veritas will create a mock interview session for students from the Autism Advantage program. Students will answer questions that high-tech employers are likely to ask in a real-world setting. Further, a data scientist from Veritas will walk through a typical work day.
"Bringing someone on the autism spectrum into the workplace will certainly bring a different perspective", states Jack Hogan, "and it will make someone a better manager."
Learn more about Veritas Corporate Responsibility at www.veritas.com/company/corporate-responsibility and check out the Autism Advantage program at http://expandability.org/autism-advantage/
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