Autistic and neurodiverse individuals continue to face significantly lower employment rates than their peers. This gap can be reinforced when interventions focus primarily on perceived deficits rather than strengths, sometimes unintentionally undermining confidence and self‑advocacy. KF‑Stride® (Kessler Foundation Strength Identification and Expression) is a research‑backed, online program designed to help autistic and neurodiverse youth and adults prepare for meaningful employment.

nTIDE is a joint effort of Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire’s Institute on Disability. The nTIDE team tracks employment trends for people with and without disabilities, issuing monthly reports that reflect the impact of economic changes on the workforce. These reports use data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) but are customized by UNH-IOD to focus on working-age adults (ages 16–64). nTIDE is funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR; 90RTGE0005) and Kessler Foundation.
 

00:00: Introduction & Welcome Andrew Houtenville, PhD, Research Director, Institute on Disability University of New Hampshire University

18:40: Overview of National Trends in Disability Employment (nTIDE) Jobs Report Release Shoshana Marin, Public Policy Fellow Association of University Centers on Disabilities  

28:00: Guest presenter: Helen Genova, PhD Associate Director, Center for Autism Research, Kessler Foundation