PEORIA, Ill. – A program from Goodwill of Central Illinois aims to help neurodiverse young adults succeed in the workplace.
Beyond Barriers is an employment program that helps develop skills in such adults, such as resume building, mock interviews, and job search help.
Program Manager Austyn Harms says it can help neurodiverse adults get comfortable with skills that most people take for granted.
“It can be as simple as making eye contact and a handshake in an interview,” Harms said. “Something that’s very small to us, and that we’ve always kind of carried that with us throughout our careers, that’s a really big deal to someone that’s struggling to learn those skills.”
The program made its public debut on Thursday, but Harms says the program has been in the works and in development behind the scenes for the past few years. She says the program has already made significant results for some of its clients.
One example Harms gave is helping someone move higher up in their company, after being in the same position for five years. She says the person is interacting with customers more, learning new skills, and getting promoted.
Goodwill says it’s partnering with local employers, healthcare providers, and caregivers for the program.
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