AIE Conference Supporting the Bridge to Employment

The Autism In Entertainment Conference was held on Friday, April 5, 2024 at the prestigious Skirball Cultural Center. This one-day, in-person conference will brought together industry leaders and advocates to explore ways to bridge the gap between the autistic community and the entertainment industry. Our goal was to provide a platform that would empower individuals with autism to showcase their talent and creativity, and to help them find meaningful employment opportunities within the entertainment industry.

The conference featured a general session called Supporting the Bridge to Employment featuring Michael Luna (Department of Developmental Services), Hilary Kokenda (Zavikon), and Maureen McIntyre (Department of Rehabilitation) who explore employment supports available.

About the Organizers
The conference was organized by the Autism In Entertainment Working Group, led by the Orange County Asperger’s Support Group with support from Zavikon an employment agency whose mission is to place neurodivergent individuals and those with disabilities in career-oriented, meaningful jobs, and they utilize a supported placement model to set both employer and employee up for success. The conference is funded by a Department of Developmental Services (DDS) Grant designed to help Regional Center consumers find employment.