You may think that an active warehouse or pallet operation is the last place you would find an autistic person working. But John Vaccaro, owner and president of Bettaway Supply Chain Services of Plainfield, New Jersey, wants to change public perception when it comes to the abilities of people on the autism spectrum. This crusade is personal for Vaccaro because one of his children is an autistic young adult.
Vaccaro’s son, Frankie, is 25 years old and has been in a work placement and training program with the Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services. Frankie currently works at a pizzeria, but he previously worked at Bettaway when the company provided jobs during the pandemic for Rutgers program participants. John Vaccaro noted, “The experience we had with the Rutgers program convinced us that we could do more.”
As a result, Bettaway is partnering with WeMake to launch a structured hiring, training and skills development program providing long-term jobs and career opportunities for adults on the autism spectrum. WeMake is a non-profit skills development and workforce management organization dedicated to the autistic adult community. It has created a model program and support resources designed from the ground up to enable companies to establish and sustain meaningful workplace opportunities designed to help autistic adults succeed on their own in compatible work environments. At the same time, the program provides participating businesses with dependable, skilled, high-performing employees at a cost that is typically lower than that for workers hired from traditional temporary agencies.
Bettaway is one of the largest providers of warehousing, distribution, supply chain and pallet management services for beverage producers in the Northeast. The WeMake program was launched last month, building upon Bettaway’s experience providing career opportunities for autistic adults.
Unique Program Designed to Provide Long-term Employees
“Our mission is to create, inspire and implement an innovative approach to meaningful careers for people with autism, with everything from the environment, the processes, qualified support staff, job training and management coaching, all built around shared needs and goals,” said Moe Siddiqu, WeMake’s founding executive director.
Since 2017, WeMake has successfully deployed its model in multiple industries. Clients include pharmaceutical, e-commerce and manufacturing businesses. WeMake worked with one manufacturing company to utilize autistic employees to assemble and package small parts used in vinyl fencing and railing products. Employees in the Bettaway program will be running e-commerce packaging lines, handling data entry and administrative functions, and providing janitorial services.
In its history, the WeMake program has processed more than two million units with a 99.7% accuracy rating across multiple clients. “That proves our teams have the accuracy and attention to detail to ensure the client’s orders are fulfilled efficiently and accurately,” stated Siddiqu.
Unlike a traditional work environment that asks individuals with autism to adjust to them, WeMake has built the world’s first workspace centered around employees with autism, with the ability to focus on each staff member’s unique abilities and needs.
Filling Needs for Jobs and Workers
With about one in 68 children in the United States having been identified with Autism Spectrum Disorder, the lack of programs and sustainable work situations for adults with autism will only become more acute, explained Tony Lesenskyj, WeMake’s founder and chief executive. “When your child has autism, you look at the world in a whole different way,” he commented.
There is a real need for work placement and training for people on the spectrum. And they can be amazing workers who contribute to a company. Vaccaro recognized, “Half of the people on the spectrum who work for us you wouldn’t recognize have a disability if you walked through the building.”
Siddiqu added that the 3PL space is ideal for WeMake because of the industry’s persistent labor shortage, and the type of work to be done. “This is something we can put into a teaching curriculum,” he noted. “These are long-term jobs that are not going away, provide stability and consistency, and even offer opportunity for development and advancement, all of which help instill pride, confidence and self-esteem in these autistic adults.”
Bettaway’s Vaccaro said the company is currently developing the curriculum and job specifications to bring WeMake candidates on board. “In consultation with WeMake, we’ve identified the type of work that these individuals are best at,” he noted. Those include warehouse logistics jobs like freight handling, unloading merchandise and goods from trailers and shipping containers, inventory put away and control, pick-and-pack preparation of eCommerce orders for fulfillment, light assembly and kitting of products, and shipping.
By the end of this year, Bettaway expects to bring in 15 candidates under the WeMake program, supported by two board-certified behavioral analysts, who serve as coaches with specific behavioral skills training to help participants successfully engage with the program. They’ll also have help from other WeMake resources, including counselors, skilled training professionals and staff with experience helping autistic adults learn and succeed.
Could This Fit the Pallet Sector?
Vaccaro made it clear that this is not a magic bullet to solve all workplace needs or find cheap labor. He admitted, “There is an investment in hiring and involving autistic workers. Beyond the positive community impact, you are getting an employee who is very loyal and shows up for work.”
Autistic employees are paid competitive wages compared to other workers. The biggest cost of the program is having supervisors who are trained to work with people on the spectrum. But Vaccaro compared the cost to hiring personnel through a temporary or staffing agency.
The key to integrating workers on the spectrum is to have managers and mentors who are empathetic and will work with these employees to encourage their success. Eventually, these autistic workers can become leaders for their peers. Vaccaro explained, “That’s where I really get inspired, seeing these individuals with so much potential earn their success and, really, fulfilling a dream for themselves and their parents.”
Employing autistic workers can provide a stable source of labor; people you can depend on for the long run. To be successful, a program needs to be supported by management and co-workers.
Why Create a New Program?
Bettaway is creating the change that Vaccaro hoped would have already existed for his son. He recalled, “When Frankie was getting older, we looked around and noticed that there were very few quality programs for those on the spectrum.”
Vaccaro admitted that most parents wonder, “What happens to my adult, autistic child after I die?” Parents want their children to have a good life and to develop useful skills and find valuable work. He recalled that the 21st birthday is usually a time of celebration for most parents and young adults. But in an autistic household, it can be filled with fear and concern over the future. He explained, “The 21st birthday is not a good day for those on the spectrum. All public programs and assistant stops.” There is a popular phrase in the autism community, they say, “The bus stops coming.”
By creating a program, Vaccaro stated, “Our ultimate goal is to provide long-term employment for people with autism.” He hopes that when the bus stops coming, Bettaway can create opportunities for people on the spectrum.
Editor’s Note: If you would like to find out how you can set up a similar program, contact WeMake at www.wemake.works or e-mail info@wemake.works.
