President Barack Obama greets Jasper Mann and his parents, Billy and Gena Mann, before signing H.R. 2005 - Combating Autism Reauthorization Act of 2011, in the Oval Office, Sept. 30, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza). This image stands in stark contrast to the current administration's stance on autism.
A message to U.S. Health Secretary Robert Kennedy.
Despite your comment, people with autism do in fact pay taxes. We've placed students at television and radio stations and recently called a 2022 grad about editing work. His name is Paul. He was hired by a TV station after graduation and now works two jobs. He has autism and paid his taxes, on both jobs.
Not only are you wrong on the issue of civic contribution and quality of life of people on the spectrum. It seems you have a fundamental misunderstanding of the topic and where it comes from.
If you really want to find someone with autism who doesn't pay taxes, just look at Elon Musk. Or you can ask your boss about his taxes. Read Key Takeways from Donald Trump's Tax Returns by CNN, or read the ones available at taxnotes.com.
Regardless of misconceptions about autism, people on the spectrum are valuable contributors to society who fulfill civic responsibilities like paying taxes, as evidenced by Paul's successful career in the television industry. While some wealthy individuals might avoid tax obligations through various means, this doesn't reflect the reality of most people with autism who diligently meet their financial responsibilities.
A powerful example of exceptional achievement within the autism community is Dr. Temple Grandin. In 2010, Time magazine recognized her transformative impact by naming her to their "Time 100" list in the "Heroes" category. Her groundbreaking work continued to receive acclaim with the Double Helix Medal and Ashoka Fellowship in 2011, acknowledging her pioneering contributions across multiple fields.
Watch Dr. Grandin talk about her experience with autism:
It seems you also forgot about all the families, companies and organizations that know the real value of human beings. All of these are examples of opportunities for people on the spectrum:
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Auticon: An IT consulting firm that exclusively employs autistic adults as consultants, offering tailored support and accommodations to ensure workplace success 1, 2, 3, 5, 6.
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Microsoft: Their Neurodiversity Hiring Program provides an extended, supportive interview process and ongoing resources to help autistic employees thrive in roles across the company 2, 5, 6, 7.
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SAP: The Autism at Work program, launched in 2013, has hired hundreds of neurodiverse employees globally, focusing on leveraging their unique talents in technology and business operations 2, 5, 6, 7, 8.
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Dell Technologies: Dell’s Autism Hiring Program rethinks traditional interviews and provides mentoring, coaching, and professional development for autistic employees 1, 2, 6.
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Ford Motor Company: The FordWorks initiative recruits and supports autistic individuals in IT, product development, and manufacturing, with a dedicated employee resource group for ongoing support 1, 6, 7.
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JPMorgan Chase: Their Autism at Work program offers comprehensive support and accommodations, recruiting autistic talent for roles in banking, cybersecurity, and more 5, 6.
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Capital One: Through its Autism at Work program, Capital One provides internships and full-time roles, with a strong support network for neurodiverse employees 1, 7.
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DXC Technology: The Dandelion Program connects autistic adults with meaningful careers in technology, coding, and robotics, providing specialized training and workplace accommodations 1, 5, 6.
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Freddie Mac: Their “Seen, Heard, and Empowered” initiative mentors and supports neurodiverse employees in various roles, particularly in finance and mortgage services 5, 6.
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Rising Tide Car Wash: A social enterprise that primarily hires autistic individuals for car detailing roles, providing meaningful employment and skill development 5, 6.
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Lowe’s: The home improvement retailer partners with advocacy groups to create job opportunities and an inclusive work environment for autistic employees 2.
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HP: The Spectrum Success Program removes traditional hiring barriers and offers multi-level support for autistic candidates 6, 8.
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Google: Google Cloud’s Autism Career Program, in partnership with Stanford, trains managers and provides coaching to ensure successful onboarding and retention for autistic hires 6.
These companies demonstrate that autistic individuals can and do excel in a wide range of professional environments, from technology and finance to retail and automotive services, when given appropriate support and inclusive hiring practices.
So stop punching down, maybe get your friends to start paying taxes.