Miami, Nov. 19, 2024 – Miami Dade College (MDC) will host education leaders and representatives of local organizations for a roundtable on increasing workforce skills and employability for neurodiverse individuals. Set for Friday, Dec. 13 at 9 a.m. at MDC North Campus, the event will feature Miami-Dade County Commissioner Raquel Regalado; Dr. Larry Rothman, chair of Helping Adults with Autism Perform and Excel (HAAPE); MDC trustee Dr. Anay Abraham and MDC Executive Vice President and Provost Dr. Malou C. Harrison as moderator. This is a private event open to working media.
“At MDC, we are dedicated to empowering the neurodivergent community by fostering inclusive workplaces,” said MDC Executive Vice President and Provost Dr. Malou C. Harrison. “Through strategic partnerships with forward-thinking employers, we strive to create meaningful job opportunities that harness the unique strengths and talents of neurodivergent individuals. Together, we are building a future where diversity and inclusion are at the heart of every successful organization.
Other panelists will include Max Skalatsky, Global Vice President, Head of Product Localization at SAP; Lily de Moya, CEO of The de Moya Foundation; Darnel Joseph, Cloud Solution Architect at Microsoft; Jia Kruger, Vice President of People & Culture at El Car Wash; Dr. Mason Mason, Education Leadership Executive at Apple; Catherine Campbell, Director of Inclusion Strategies/ Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Baptist Health South Florida; and Vanessa Vila, Executive Director at Our Grounds.
Each will share how their organization has created workforce opportunities for neurodivergent individuals and provide insights and recommendations to employers on how the neurodiverse community can be supported. The discussion will be followed by a Q&A and conclude with the development of a resource hub for employers including follow-up meetings to track progress and share best practices.
MDC currently supports the local neurodivergent community through two programs: The Kendall Learning Academy (KLA) and Student Transition and Resource (STAR) Academy (at the Wolfson Campus) which were launched in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
KLA was established to support an underserved segment of the population by reducing their unemployment rate. KLA assists neurodivergent students in transitioning from high school to college and offers them the opportunity to earn a 20-credit Business Intelligence Professional College Credit Certificate. This program aims to prepare students for careers as Business Intelligence or Computer Systems Analysts. The initiative is a collaboration between MDC, Miami Dade County Public Schools, and local feeder schools and it is available beginning each summer term. Recently, MDC celebrated the graduation of its first cohort of KLA students and the second cohort is now enrolled.
STAR Academy was created to address the gap in postsecondary education options for students with intellectual disabilities, who have historically had limited access to higher education institutions and the opportunities they provide. The College was awarded a $1.3 million grant by the Florida Center for Students with Unique abilities to launch STAR Academy, as a Florida Postsecondary Comprehensive Transition program for students with intellectual disabilities. STAR Academy aims to increase students’ academic and occupational skills, leading to industry-recognized certifications, such as the Florida Ready to Work (FRTW) Credentials and the Safe Staff Food Handler Certification, and meaningful employment by providing students with intellectual disabilities access to college-level education, offering tailored courses, career training, and personalized support services to help them build independence and job readiness. Students enrolled in STAR Academy earn stackable certificates leading to Rooms Division Operations or Culinary Arts Management Operations, which can help students secure lucrative jobs in bustling culinary and hospitality fields in Miami.
According to Deloitte Insights, between 10-20% of the world’s population is estimated to be neurodiverse. This term includes conditions such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and Tourette’s syndrome. In the United States, 85% of people with autism are unemployed, compared to just 4.2% of the overall population.
For more information about the roundtable, contact Dr. Jessica Franchi-Alfaro at jfranchi@mdc.edu and Liliana Castillo Segura at icastil1@mdc.edu.
WHAT: MDC to Host Roundtable on Neurodiversity in the Workplace
WHEN: Friday, Dec. 13
8:30 – 9 a.m. Registration and breakfast
9:05 – 11 a.m. Roundtable
WHERE: MDC North Campus, 11380 NW 27th Ave., Room 3249