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BlogNACo Partner Resource This blog post is sponsored by NACo partner CAI. Explore our latest blog on leveraging neurodiversity for a stronger government workforce.An alternative solution for the government workforce crisis
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Blog
An alternative solution for the government workforce crisis
NACo Partner Resource
This blog post is sponsored by NACo partner CAI.
Explore our latest blog on leveraging neurodiversity for a stronger government workforce.
The prevalence of neurodiversity
An estimated 15-20% of the world's population exhibits some form of neurodivergence, which includes things like dyslexia, ADHD, and the autism spectrum disorder.[1]
Neurodivergent individuals possess a wide range of valuable skillsets that can solve complex business challenges. Despite this, unemployment for neurodivergent adults runs as high as 30-40%.[2] Recently, banks, tech firms, and other enterprises have boosted their own efforts at recruiting and retaining neurodiverse talent–and now, government agencies are starting to follow.[3]
Neurodiversity in the workplace is a must have to an organization's diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Neurodivergent individuals can bring exceptional value to organizations, businesses, and government agencies alike.
Benefits of neurodiversity in the workplace
Some common strengths of neurodivergent individuals include high concentration levels, perseverance, superior problem-solving abilities, and excellent pattern recognition. According to Harvard Business Review and the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), these individuals tend to do well in analyzing data, creative thinking, and innovation.[4] These skills are ideal for careers in technology, finance, legal, cybersecurity, and healthcare research, among others.
When organizations provide career opportunities for neurodivergent individuals, they may experience direct benefits, like an increase in productivity and quality of work. Specifically, our neurodiversity employment program, CAI Neurodiverse Solutions, has a proven approach for utilizing neurodiverse workforces to solve business needs.
The CAI Neurodiverse Solutions approach
CAI collaborates with our clients to identify areas of opportunity to commence or extend existing neurodiversity engagements. CAI Neurodiverse Solutions teams engage in strategy sessions to assist clients in solutioning opportunities that bring business value, while affording neurodivergent individuals meaningful career opportunities.
To source talent, we partner with neurodiversity-support organizations, colleges and universities with neurodiversity programs, and government organizations, among others, to identify neurodivergent individuals who are eager to enter a supportive work environment that values their contributions and supports their needs.
When recruiting neurodiverse talent and placing candidates within job roles, CAI Neurodiverse Solutions leads with a “people first” approach with the intent of placing candidates in the right role, in the right environment, with the appropriate supports to position them for successful careers.
Our unique approach includes teams of 4-6 neurodivergent individuals. Following a successful placement determination, each neurodivergent associate is mentored by a neurodiversity certified-team leader who is responsible for providing training, ongoing supervision, support, and coaching in addition to reviewing work output. These team leaders are tenured professionals who possess the requisite soft skills, structure, passion, inspiration, and desire to lead and develop associates.
Because positioning neurodivergent employees for success is primary to the overall placement process, the support accommodations provided by these team leads is as important as directly connecting their capabilities and skillsets to their job role. This methodology has proven to be successful in the career development of our neurodivergent associates, and we've seen firsthand how neurodivergent individuals can thrive in both technical and non-technical roles. Clients of ours have reported that after 3 months, the CAI Neurodiverse Solutions team performance was equal to or exceeded neurotypical peers who had 2 or more years of experience.
Consistent client success
In our public sector working engagements, we have several examples of job roles our neurodivergent associates have filled based on their abilities and skills matching what is needed for each project.
This first working engagement example represents an innovative path for attracting highly capable and skilled associates to be deployed in both the public sector and the higher education sector. When the University of Pittsburgh uncovered a need for additional IT resources to support their application testing routines, a CAI Neurodiverse Solutions team of Quality Assurance (QA) Analysts, including this candidate, helped to create an automated testing solution for the university. As a result, testing that previously had taken several days to perform was now being done in a couple of hours by this team. The successful implementation of these automated testing solutions led to the creation of a QA automation team at the university.
In another instance, a state's major tolling agency needed to verify images related to tolling, and recognized they needed external support to achieve this. CAI Neurodiverse Solutions provided the necessary talent for this job in the form of Manual Image Verifiers. The neurodiverse team became responsible for ensuring the accuracy of the license plates captured in the toll lanes for commuters without a transponder. They also identified, documented, and notified management of repetitive abnormities discovered while processing images. The Manual Image Verifiers accomplished an average processing time of at least 350 images per hour.
Lastly, a state's Department of Transportation (DoT) needed to digitize 27,000 paper files as they began their business modernization journey. A team of data support analysts uploaded and digitized 2,000 to 2,200 documents a day, working tirelessly to accomplish this huge task.
Conclusion
A growing number of prominent companies have reformed their human resources processes in order to access neurodiverse talent; among them are SAP, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), Microsoft, Willis Towers Watson, Ford, and EY.[5]
Despite these corporate initiatives, career opportunities for neurodiverse talent in the public sector has, to date, been minimal. Some of the existing barriers for hiring neurodivergent individuals in government jobs include: no stated evaluation criteria in procurements, traditionally rigid hiring processes, and an absence of internal programs that support diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts, which can result in a lack of support for being openly neurodivergent and perpetuate non-conducive work environments for neurodiverse individuals.
Neurodiversity employment programs can provide an alternative solution to the local government workforce crisis since the underutilized talent pool of neurodivergent individuals is not typically considered and evaluated in public sector procurements.
Since 2013, CAI Neurodiverse Solutions has partnered with our customers to provide hundreds of neurodivergent individuals employment in rewarding, long-lasting careers, who have provided value, connected DEI goals, business needs, and sourcing solutions.
Contact us to take the steps towards partnering with CAI and starting a neurodiversity employment program.
[1] Doyle, Nancy. Neurodiversity at work: A biopsychosocial model and the impact on working adults. British Medical Bulletin. September 2020. https://doi.org/10.1093/bmb/ldaa021
[2] Carrero, Yesenia. “The Center for Neurodiversity and Employment.” Werth Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, September 29, 2021. https://entrepreneurship.uconn.edu/neurodiversitycenter/
[3] Rueter, Thad. “Why and How Public Agencies Should Hire Neurodivergent Pros.” GovTech, May 1, 2023. https://www.govtech.com/biz/why-and-how-public-agencies-should-hire-neurodivergent-pros
[4] "Unique skill sets neurodiverse staff can bring to a company." International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards. July 7. https://ibcces.org/blog/2021/07/07/unique-skillsets-neurodiverse-staff-can-bring-to-a-company/
[5] Austin, Robert D., Pisano, Gary P. "Neurodiversity as a Competitive Advantage." Harvard Business Review. May-June 2017. https://hbr.org/2017/05/neurodiversity-as-a-competitive-advantage/
NACo Partner Resource This blog post is sponsored by NACo partner CAI.2023-07-14Blog2023-07-14
NACo Partner Resource This blog post is sponsored by NACo partner CAI. Explore our latest blog on leveraging neurodiversity for a stronger government workforce. |
The prevalence of neurodiversity
An estimated 15-20% of the world's population exhibits some form of neurodivergence, which includes things like dyslexia, ADHD, and the autism spectrum disorder.[1]
Neurodivergent individuals possess a wide range of valuable skillsets that can solve complex business challenges. Despite this, unemployment for neurodivergent adults runs as high as 30-40%.[2] Recently, banks, tech firms, and other enterprises have boosted their own efforts at recruiting and retaining neurodiverse talent–and now, government agencies are starting to follow.[3]
Neurodiversity in the workplace is a must have to an organization's diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Neurodivergent individuals can bring exceptional value to organizations, businesses, and government agencies alike.
Benefits of neurodiversity in the workplace
Some common strengths of neurodivergent individuals include high concentration levels, perseverance, superior problem-solving abilities, and excellent pattern recognition. According to Harvard Business Review and the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), these individuals tend to do well in analyzing data, creative thinking, and innovation.[4] These skills are ideal for careers in technology, finance, legal, cybersecurity, and healthcare research, among others.
When organizations provide career opportunities for neurodivergent individuals, they may experience direct benefits, like an increase in productivity and quality of work. Specifically, our neurodiversity employment program, CAI Neurodiverse Solutions, has a proven approach for utilizing neurodiverse workforces to solve business needs.
The CAI Neurodiverse Solutions approach
CAI collaborates with our clients to identify areas of opportunity to commence or extend existing neurodiversity engagements. CAI Neurodiverse Solutions teams engage in strategy sessions to assist clients in solutioning opportunities that bring business value, while affording neurodivergent individuals meaningful career opportunities.
To source talent, we partner with neurodiversity-support organizations, colleges and universities with neurodiversity programs, and government organizations, among others, to identify neurodivergent individuals who are eager to enter a supportive work environment that values their contributions and supports their needs.
When recruiting neurodiverse talent and placing candidates within job roles, CAI Neurodiverse Solutions leads with a “people first” approach with the intent of placing candidates in the right role, in the right environment, with the appropriate supports to position them for successful careers.
Our unique approach includes teams of 4-6 neurodivergent individuals. Following a successful placement determination, each neurodivergent associate is mentored by a neurodiversity certified-team leader who is responsible for providing training, ongoing supervision, support, and coaching in addition to reviewing work output. These team leaders are tenured professionals who possess the requisite soft skills, structure, passion, inspiration, and desire to lead and develop associates.
Because positioning neurodivergent employees for success is primary to the overall placement process, the support accommodations provided by these team leads is as important as directly connecting their capabilities and skillsets to their job role. This methodology has proven to be successful in the career development of our neurodivergent associates, and we've seen firsthand how neurodivergent individuals can thrive in both technical and non-technical roles. Clients of ours have reported that after 3 months, the CAI Neurodiverse Solutions team performance was equal to or exceeded neurotypical peers who had 2 or more years of experience.
Consistent client success
In our public sector working engagements, we have several examples of job roles our neurodivergent associates have filled based on their abilities and skills matching what is needed for each project.
This first working engagement example represents an innovative path for attracting highly capable and skilled associates to be deployed in both the public sector and the higher education sector. When the University of Pittsburgh uncovered a need for additional IT resources to support their application testing routines, a CAI Neurodiverse Solutions team of Quality Assurance (QA) Analysts, including this candidate, helped to create an automated testing solution for the university. As a result, testing that previously had taken several days to perform was now being done in a couple of hours by this team. The successful implementation of these automated testing solutions led to the creation of a QA automation team at the university.
In another instance, a state's major tolling agency needed to verify images related to tolling, and recognized they needed external support to achieve this. CAI Neurodiverse Solutions provided the necessary talent for this job in the form of Manual Image Verifiers. The neurodiverse team became responsible for ensuring the accuracy of the license plates captured in the toll lanes for commuters without a transponder. They also identified, documented, and notified management of repetitive abnormities discovered while processing images. The Manual Image Verifiers accomplished an average processing time of at least 350 images per hour.
Lastly, a state's Department of Transportation (DoT) needed to digitize 27,000 paper files as they began their business modernization journey. A team of data support analysts uploaded and digitized 2,000 to 2,200 documents a day, working tirelessly to accomplish this huge task.
Conclusion
A growing number of prominent companies have reformed their human resources processes in order to access neurodiverse talent; among them are SAP, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), Microsoft, Willis Towers Watson, Ford, and EY.[5]
Despite these corporate initiatives, career opportunities for neurodiverse talent in the public sector has, to date, been minimal. Some of the existing barriers for hiring neurodivergent individuals in government jobs include: no stated evaluation criteria in procurements, traditionally rigid hiring processes, and an absence of internal programs that support diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts, which can result in a lack of support for being openly neurodivergent and perpetuate non-conducive work environments for neurodiverse individuals.
Neurodiversity employment programs can provide an alternative solution to the local government workforce crisis since the underutilized talent pool of neurodivergent individuals is not typically considered and evaluated in public sector procurements.
Since 2013, CAI Neurodiverse Solutions has partnered with our customers to provide hundreds of neurodivergent individuals employment in rewarding, long-lasting careers, who have provided value, connected DEI goals, business needs, and sourcing solutions.
Contact us to take the steps towards partnering with CAI and starting a neurodiversity employment program.
[1] Doyle, Nancy. Neurodiversity at work: A biopsychosocial model and the impact on working adults. British Medical Bulletin. September 2020. https://doi.org/10.1093/bmb/ldaa021
[2] Carrero, Yesenia. “The Center for Neurodiversity and Employment.” Werth Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, September 29, 2021. https://entrepreneurship.uconn.edu/neurodiversitycenter/
[3] Rueter, Thad. “Why and How Public Agencies Should Hire Neurodivergent Pros.” GovTech, May 1, 2023. https://www.govtech.com/biz/why-and-how-public-agencies-should-hire-neurodivergent-pros
[4] "Unique skill sets neurodiverse staff can bring to a company." International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards. July 7. https://ibcces.org/blog/2021/07/07/unique-skillsets-neurodiverse-staff-can-bring-to-a-company/
[5] Austin, Robert D., Pisano, Gary P. "Neurodiversity as a Competitive Advantage." Harvard Business Review. May-June 2017. https://hbr.org/2017/05/neurodiversity-as-a-competitive-advantage/

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Blog
The County Countdown – September 26, 2023
Every other week, NACo’s County Countdown reviews top federal policy advocacy items with an eye towards counties and the intergovernmental partnership. Watch the video and explore NACo resources below on some of the top issues we're covering this week. -
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Federal Nexus: Using Federal Resources to Support Housing
Sep. 25, 2023 , 1:00 pm – 2:00 pmCounties and the federal government work together to support local communities in addressing housing affordability. Federal funding is used by counties to administer housing programs and assist low-income residents. -
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‘Dr. Drew’ applauds progress in mental health care, but ‘still progress to be made’
“It’s not that hard to treat,” Pinsky said of the mental health crisis. “We just need the resources, we need the beds, we need the psychiatrists.” -
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Two-county solution offers urban Nevada kids a rural retreat
Clark County, Nevada youths now have access to a new 4-H camp in neighboring Lincoln County, which will retain jobs it would have lost when a corporate retreat center closed.
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Local Regulations, Building Codes, and Fees: Improving County Regulation Systems to Enhance Efficiency
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National Council of County Association Executives Annual Meeting
October 23, 2023 – October 27, 2023We are pleased to announce that registration for the 2023 NCCAE Annual Meeting in Asheville, N.C. is now open. Following your conference registration, a hotel registration link will be provided, affording you the opportunity to secure your accommodation conveniently.10239:00 am<p>We are pleased to announce that registration for the 2023 NCCAE Annual Meeting in Asheville, N.C. is now open.
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Financing, Lending, and County Tax Policy: County Programs Aimed at Supporting Residents and the Construction of Housing Units
November 6, 2023 , 1:00 pm – 2:00 pmInvestment – often a blend of financing, lending, and county tax policy – is required to successfully develop new housing, maintain existing housing stock, and navigate housing support systems. Looking holistically at county financing, tax and policy touchpoints can help foster housing affordability.11061:00 pm<p>Investment – often a blend of financing, lending, and county tax policy – is required to successfully develop new housing, maintain existing housing stock, and navigate housing support systems.
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December 4, 2023 , 1:00 pm – 2:00 pmHousing is a foundational element to community prosperity, contributing to health, economic mobility, safety, and resilience. Sometimes the conversation around housing can be limited to finances, but engaging with the community to reframe the conversation to one about community property can gather support for housing projects.12041:00 pm<p>Housing is a foundational element to community prosperity, contributing to health, economic mobility, safety, and resilience. Sometimes the conversation around housing can be limited to finances, but engaging with the comm
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Responsible for all matters pertaining to housing, community and economic development, public works, and workforce development including the creation of affordable housing and housing options for different populations, residential, commercial, and industrial development, and building and housing codes. Policy Platform & Resolutions 2022-2023 2022 NACo Legislative Prioritiespagepagepage<p>Responsible for all matters pertaining to housing, community and economic development, public works, and workforce development including the creation of affordable housing and housing options for different populations, residential,
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