NC State values the career development of every student. The Students Moving Forward career-program is specifically designed for NC State students who identify as being on the autism spectrum/Asperger’s. Each fall and spring semester, we engage our students in critical career development competencies and connect them with employers who value neurodiversity. Students do not need to have an official diagnosis to join and may participate on an as-needed basis.
What We Do
Students Moving Forward (1) provides evidenced-based career guidance for students who are autistic/on the autism spectrum; (2) cultivates a sense of community for students and strengthens their social and professional networks; and (3) helps students obtain and successfully navigate paid, degree-related internships and full-time post-graduate opportunities.
During the fall and spring semesters, students participate in a total of 10 group meetings (five per semester). Each meeting has its own topic and frequently hosts guest speakers from various industries and organizations that actively support neurodiversity.
If you would like to register for Students Moving Forward, please use this link. You may register at any point during the semester and registration does not mean you are obligated to attend each meeting (but we hope you will).
Meeting dates and times for the spring 2020 semester are as follows:
- Monday, February 10th, 5:30pm
- Monday, February 24th, 5:30pm
- Monday, March 2nd, 5:30pm
- Monday, March 23rd, 5:30pm
- Monday, April 6th, 5:30pm
Each meeting is 90-minutes in length and will cover a specific topic relevant to career readiness. Topics include areas such as resumes, cover letters, mock interviews with employers, Q&A panels with employers, discussions on making the transition from student to professional, and more.
Students Moving Forward is fortunate to have established partnerships and support from campus partners such as SAS, the UNC TEACCH® Autism Program, and the LiNC-IT internship program.
As a member of Students Moving Forward, our students will have direct contact and multiple interactions with recruiters and industry leaders from across the NC. In addition, we welcome new partnerships and are always interested to speak with reputable organizations serious about hiring a neurodiverse workforce.
On October 26th, from 11am – 2:30pm, the Career Development Center held the first Students Moving Forward: Connecting North Carolina’s Workforce career summit. This event was sponsored by SAS and was a huge success! We had 67 students from across North Carolina attend from NC State University, Wake Tech, Duke, UNC, ECU, Durham Tech, and many more colleges/universities.
Due to the success and clear need for this event, we will be holding another career summit during the fall 2020 semester. Interested employers, colleges/universities, and students please contact Wes Wade at wjwade@ncsu.edu.
Information about the career summit:
The summit is for students who identify as autistic/being on the autism spectrum across the entire state of North Carolina–all colleges and universities are welcome! This is an opportunity for colleges and universities across NC to unite and support neurodiversity in career development. If you are a college or university student and identify as being autistic/on the autism spectrum, this summit is for you.
What to expect at this event
- To hear and learn from local professionals and students who identify as autistic/on the autism spectrum
- A mini-career fair with employers and organizations who embrace neurodiversity and are actively recruiting neurodiverse students
- Free food and a chance to expand your social and professional network
Registration
- Students register here: TBA
- Employers register here: TBA
If you are a student, staff/faculty, employer, or a parent with additional questions concerning Students Moving Forward, please contact Wesley Wade at wjwade@ncsu.edu