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In this episode of Voices of Community, hosts Erin Schirm (Executive Director, Meristem) and Harry Lane speak with Sarah Howard, a graduate of Meristem’s Transformative Autism Program (TAP).

Diagnosed with autism later in life, Sarah shares her journey of self-discovery and the realities of navigating college, work, and adult life while learning to advocate for herself in systems not always designed for neurodiverse individuals. Her story offers an honest look at the challenges — and the resilience — that come with finding your voice and building confidence as an autistic adult.

In this episode:

• Sarah’s late diagnosis and how it reframed college and early career
• Common barriers autistic students and employees face in institutions
• Practical ways to identify resources and build a self-advocacy toolkit
• What educators, employers, and peers can do to make inclusion real

#VoicesOfCommunity #Autism #Neurodiversity #SelfAdvocacy #Inclusion #Meristem #TAP

Learn more at meristem.pro and tapautism.org.

Share your questions and learn more about us at meristem.pro and tapautism.org

Send us a text

Special guest Marnie Harris from Shepherd Hotels joins hosts Harry Lane and Erin Schirm from Meristem to explore how Shepherd Hotels is creating meaningful careers for individuals with developmental disabilities. Together, they discuss inclusive hiring practices, staff training and coaching strategies, and the impact of fostering workplaces where everyone can contribute their talents.

In this episode:

• How Shepherd Hotels builds a culture of belonging through inclusive employment
• Marnie shares real stories from the hospitality floor—successes, challenges, and lessons learned
• Harry and Erin connect the conversation to Meristem’s mission of preparing neurodiverse young adults for greater independence
• Insights into how businesses can lead the way in accessibility and workforce inclusion

…and more!

#inclusion #neurodiverse #hospitality #employment #meristem #shepherdhotels

Learn more about our work at meristem.pro and tapautism.org

Share your questions and learn more about us at meristem.pro and tapautism.org

Send us a text

Special guests Jacob and Jordan from Ventures ATL join Harry and Erin from Georgia to talk about how their non-profit is tackling the 80% unemployment rate of neurodiverse individuals.

Check out Ventures ATL on their website here.

In this episode:

• The mission of Ventures ATL
• Jacob and Jordan share how they got involved with Ventures ATL, and how their non-profit has evolved over the years.
• Harry and Erin discuss support strategies with Jacob and Jordan for neurodiverse employees.

…and more!

#workskills #neurodiverse #jobseekers #meristem

Share your questions and learn more about us at meristem.pro and tapautism.org

Send us a text

Dive into all things Department of Rehabilitation with Harry and Eric as they sit down with Spencer Hoke, Regional Business Specialist at D.O.R.'s Fair Oaks' office.

In this episode:

• Spencer shares his personal story about growing up with a learning disability, and how that fueled his passion for helping individuals with disabilities get jobs.
• Harry and Eric ask Spencer about how someone starts getting signed up for D.O.R. services.
• Spencer shares success stories from his time at DOR, and how employers have responded to their inclusive hiring trainings.

...and more!

#workskills #neurodiverse #jobseekers #meristem

Share your questions and learn more about us at meristem.pro and tapautism.org

Send us a text

Brandon is BACK and giving an update on his life since his last interview! He sits down with Harry and Erin to talk about his experience in the Disney College Program, moving away from California, and potentially graduating from Sac State soon.

In this episode:

• An update on Brandon’s life
• His experience in the Disney College Program and how the program showed him that he wanted to pursue a career in hospitality
• His potential graduation from Sac State this year

…and more!

#workskills #neurodiverse #jobseekers #meristem

Share your questions and learn more about us at meristem.pro and tapautism.org

Send us a text

Harry and Eric Steward, the director of Meristem’s Work Skills program and the Transformative Autism Program, sit down with Grant Harris, a published author and chief diversity executive. Grant talks about his experience with a late autism diagnosis, his journey with self-advocacy, and his journey with building his diversity, equity, and inclusion consulting firm.

In this episode:

• Lessons in self-advocacy from Grant and the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace
• How Grant’s late diagnosis helped him to understand himself better
• Grant’s journey with being an entrepreneur and helping businesses navigate inclusion “from the boardroom to the mailroom”
• Tips for employers and employees in accommodations and self-advocacy in the workplace

…and more!

#workskills #neurodiverse #jobseekers #meristem

Share your questions and learn more about us at meristem.pro and tapautism.org

Send us a text

Harry and Erin sit down with New York Times best-selling author J.D. Barker about the intersection between autism and creativity – J.D.’s journey with a late autism diagnosis and how autism has contributed to his major success as an author.

In this episode:

• J.D. details his life before and after his diagnosis at the age of 22
• How autism helped J.D. realize his potential as an author, and how it actually equipped him for success
• Ways that J.D. loves to give back to the autism community, and his toolkit for those who have autism to handle large scale social interactions

…and more!

#workskills #neurodiverse #jobseekers #meristem

Check out J.D.'s website for information on his latest book and links to follow him on social media!

Share your questions and learn more about us at meristem.pro and tapautism.org

Send us a text

In this episode, Harry & Erin interview Ivon Perez to talk about Goodwill's Expandability Program, how the Expandability Program works to break workforce barriers, and how Goodwill has benefitted from the TAP employer trainings.

Share your questions and learn more about us at meristem.pro and tapautism.org