Avionics News August 2021 - 50

Advertisers Index
Addison Avionics Group . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Aero Standard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Aircraft Electronics Association . . . . . . . . . 25
Aircraft Lighting International . . . . . . . . 63
Aircraft Spruce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Aspen Avionics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Avionics News
FIRST AUTISM-FRIENDLY AVIONICS TRAINING
Continued from page 49
. . . . . . Inside Back Cover
AVweb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Cal Labs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
CiES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Dallas Avionics . . . . . . Inside Front Cover
EDMO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Back Cover
FLYING Magazine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Garmin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Green Mountain Avionics . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics . . . 1
Sandia Aerospace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Schweiss Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Stevens Aerospace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Tech-Aid Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
TGH Aviation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
50 avionics news * august 2021
" More recently, working again with Broward College, we
introduced the supply chain and logistics certification program that
allows for online training in eight different supply chain disciplines, "
Rothman said. " This provides adults multiple opportunities to work in
warehousing, distribution and supply management, areas where there's
significant demand for qualified people. "
Together with United Community Options, HAAPE built
SPECTRUMTECH, a training and employment center that prepares
and employs people on the spectrum to be software testers, quality
assurance testers and ADA website compliance testers.
" Of course, every person with autism is different than the next,
and no two have the same skill set, " McCaffery said. " But generally
speaking, those who are on the autism spectrum tend to favor activities
that are fairly predictable; in a more controlled environment. There are
some avionics and supply chain jobs that fit that bill precisely. "
To close the loop with its avionics training, Broward College sought
employers who may be interested in hiring graduates.
" Obviously, it doesn't make sense for us to put this program
together and put students through the program only to not get
employed anyway, " McCaffery said. " The purpose of this whole
program is employment. We've been working with a couple of
employers locally who are willing to be part of the conversation.
They're not committing to hiring anyone, but they are willing to
interview the candidates when the time comes. "
Attracting students
To identify interested students for the program, McCaffery plans to
continue working with both HAAPE and CARD. The college holds
information sessions for students and their families to learn about the
autism-friendly training programs and tour the school.
" Everybody, regardless of if you're on the autism spectrum or not,
likes to actually see things for themselves, " McCaffery said. " During
the information session, they have the opportunity to come in with
their family and see the facility, ask questions and get a sense for the
environment, maybe even sit in on some courses. "
Being able to preview the program and the environment
beforehand was incredibly helpful, according to Hopkins' mom, Ania
Krumenacker, as is having " real world " training.
" The training is very hands-on, " she said. " The setting and classes are
very similar to what it will be like when Zach has a job. When it comes
to autism, it's very important for him to follow along and see examples. It
makes it a lot easier to understand.
" People with autism have a special mind. Once they learn a skill,
they can notice things that maybe other people wouldn't have noticed
and then perfect it. I think this is a great opportunity for an adult with
autism to be part of a one- or two-year program and then be out there
working. That's really the key to success. "
Hopkins agreed and added, " I'm looking forward to the opportunities this
brings me. " q
Avionics News August 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News August 2021
