Job Club is a AASCEND Project of information and speaker series on employment for adults on the autism spectrum.
AASCEND Job Club
The AASCEND Job Club is a AASCEND Project of information and speaker series on employment for adults on the autism spectrum. All programs are free of charge.
Who: Adults on the autism spectrum, families, mentors and professionals all welcome. For more information, please contact: coach.danmiddleton@gmail.com or info@aascend.org
When: 1st Saturday of the month, 10:00am – 11:00am Pacific Time (usually, but check here to be sure...)
Where: online via ZOOM (link will be sent to subscribers during the week before the meeting)
Additional weekly online Job Club meetings are Mondays, 5:00-6:00 PM Pacific Time.
At all Job Club meetings attendees on the spectrum offer their experience and perspectives on the presentations.
Devon Morgan and Jose Escobar, Futures Explored
Job Coaches, Devon Morgan and Jose Escobar from Futures Explored
July 12, 2025
Benefits of Job Coaching and Employment Services
Devon and Jose will talk about what job coaching is, how you can get access to it and how to leverage it for a successful career.
Dr. Tiffany Jameson, Grit and Flow
Dr. Tiffany Jameson, Grit and Flow,
Self Advocacy- The importance of knowing how you work best.
June 7, 2025
The "I Work Best When..." Framework is a comprehensive guide designed to empower neurodivergent professionals to identify, communicate, and advocate for their optimal working conditions. Developed by grit & flow ™, this framework encourages individuals to understand their learning and working preferences, communicate their needs clearly, and partner with employers to implement accommodations that benefit everyone. It covers the evolution of self-advocacy from early education to workplace environments, offering actionable strategies and tools for sustained professional success and inclusion.
Learning Outcomes:
- Self-Awareness – Participants will learn to identify their unique working styles, strengths, and sensory needs that support their productivity and well-being.
- Effective Communication – Participants will develop the language and confidence to articulate their working preferences and advocate for accommodations that foster their success.
- Collaborative Problem-Solving – Participants will practice framing self-advocacy as a partnership, co-creating solutions with employers to enhance team performance and innovation.
- Lifelong Advocacy – Participants will understand that self-advocacy is an ongoing journey and learn strategies for adapting and refining these skills throughout their careers.
Link to Tiffany's Grit and Flow Company
Kelly Roehm, The Resume Realist
August 2, 2025
Kelly Roehm is a career coach, author, and speaker dedicated to helping people turn ambition into achievement. As the founder of The Resume Realist, Kelly has spent years identifying what works-and what doesn’t–when it comes to career success. She has helped over 400 professionals, from entry-level to senior executives, land ideal roles, negotiate higher salaries, and build strong personal brands. Her approach blends evidence-based career strategies, positive psychology, and a deep understanding of individual strengths.
Contact info@aascend.org with any questions.
Sara Trail, Connected Employment
September 6, 2025
Sara Trail, M.Ed. has an extensive background in education and has worked with many neurodivergent individuals, primarily those with developmental disabilities. Since earning degrees from UC Berkeley and Harvard, Sara has continued to serve and advocate for neurodivergent individuals in navigating their housing, education readiness, and employment opportunities. a deep understanding of individual strengths.
You Tube Video of their services
Topics- Paid Internship Program and other employment services like Career Pathways, Job Readiness, and Entrepreneurship Training
Samantha Kelly- Beyond Neurodiversity
November 1, 2025
Accommodation and Advocacy
Navigating your job search can be difficult -- even more so when you're neurodivergent. In this session, we'll discuss how to discover our professional needs to be successful in the workplace, walk through a formula to communicate those needs, and showcase how to advocate for our needs in both job interviews and while in the role."
Salesforce- Lucia Rios
Salesforce, Lucia Rios, Workforce Navigator Program Manager.
May 3, 2025
Lucia Rios, will speak to these topics:
Workforce Navigator program
Independent living
Salesforce ECO system
Mentorship and training
Lucia was born with spina bifida and a wheelchair user, has dedicated her career to disability advocacy and creating inclusive opportunities. With over 15 years of experience supporting individuals with disabilities in workforce development and self-advocacy, she now serves as the Workforce Navigators Program Manager in the Office of Accessibility at Salesforce. In this role, Lucia coordinates a virtual mentorship program and identifies training opportunities to help individuals with disabilities build meaningful careers within the Salesforce ecosystem. She continues her mission to advance equity, inclusion and access in the workplace
Monthly Guest Speakers
The Job Club provides monthly guest speakers so all members can hear from employment professionals, career coaches and employers. Our guest speakers will provide new career tools, how to navigate the government employment disability departments. We will also have employers present their job opportunities and techniques to apply for accommodations to get the best job.
April 5, 2025
Donna Feingold of HireAble has over 40 years of experience working with individuals with disabilities. For nearly 28 years, she was the executive director of several Bay Area nonprofit agencies that provided employment and independent living services. She started her own consulting business, Finding Golden Solutions, over 3 years ago and is also a certified Work Incentive Practitioner. She will present this agenda.
Agenda:
- Understanding the difference between SSI and SSDI/CDB and the different rules for each program on how earnings impact benefits
- Review of common Work Incentives
- How to manage an Overpayment
- ABLE Accounts
Monday Job Club Meetings
Keith Halperin facilitates the hour long meeting to help job seekers through specific job search issues they face. Keith will help coach you through the situation. Click the LEARN MORE to connect with Keith and get the Zoom Info.
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