Neurodiversity in the Workplace Launches Boston Hub
Growing local partnerships, community, and advocacy

Neurodiversity in the Workplace (NITW) has been working to secure more opportunities for neurodiverse workplaces in Greater Boston for the past few years. Joining the progress made with our existing partnerships with Dell Technologies, Thermo Fisher Scientific, HMEA and more, NITW has taken another step forward, with the launch of our second hub in Boston, joining our Philadelphia hub and home base, and building on previous work in the Boston area.

As the new hub gets more established, we’re actively seeking out Boston-area employers and recruiters, job seekers and self-advocates, educators and professionals–anyone interested in learning more about neurodiversity or advancing autistic and other neurodivergent inclusion in the workforce, for the benefit of all.

The NITW Boston hub, at its core, is a welcoming community of practice. Soon, Boston hub events (free and virtual) will cover topics such as neurodiversity inclusion as part of company culture, cultivating executive sponsorship for neurodiversity hiring initiatives, and legal considerations.

There is no cost to participating in the Boston hub! It’s a chance to learn from each other, and a way to keep the conversation, and individual or shared neurodiversity inclusion efforts, moving forward.

“Communities of practice are groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly.”
Etienne and Beverly Wenger-Trayner, pioneers in social learning

Meet our Boston hub lead

Amber Hescock Johnson, the newest member of the Neurodiversity in the Workplace team, is tasked with growing our Boston hub. She is a native of Metrowest Boston, Babson College graduate, and former writer and strategist for major brands with an emphasis on inclusion.

Boston hub goals include expansion of neurodiversity hiring into new industries and a wider array of roles. Parent of an autistic child, and identifying as neurodivergent herself, Amber has written about the need for creative fields to tap neurodivergent talent, most notably in “Autism as Advantage: The Case for Neurodiversity in Design.”

Those interested in joining the Boston hub, as a member of our community of practice with connection to local events and networking opportunities, are invited to contact her at ajohnson@nitw.org or 206-384-3133.

Boston partnership news

We’re thrilled to announce one of the first partnerships to join the Boston hub and community. NITW has teamed up with MIT’s McGovern Institute for Brain Research! In the coming weeks, a paid internship program for neurodiverse individuals will be fully underway. We are excited about this groundbreaking partnership and the many possibilities it holds.

Previously established and valued local partner, Dell EMC, is based in Hopkinton, MA, with more neurodivergent hires planned for the near future based on our previous successful hiring program collaboration. Several other Boston partnerships are currently in the works, and we can’t wait to share.