Brilliant Thoughts: Employing and Developing People with Autism with Thomas D'Eri
About 80% of people with autism are either unemployed or underemployed. Thomas D'Eri and his family knew they needed to do something to help Andrew, his brother on the autism spectrum, lead the full adult life he was capable of. So Thomas opened Rising Tide Car Wash with his father ten years ago; they now have a chain of three car washes employing more than 90 people with autism. Today, he talks with Tristan about designing an organization around people with autism and their talents, including structured hiring processes, job auditions, training programs, and consistent feedback. They also discuss the individual level of purpose and how people with autism have different social skills than neurotypical people. His lessons for hiring, training, and developing staff can be used by all types of companies. Thomas D'Eri is the author of The Power of Potential: How a Nontraditional Workforce Can Lead You to Run Your Business Better. Follow Rising Tide Car Wash on Facebook and Instagram. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.