Hill Top Prep’s Director of Postsecondary Transition Amy Gillespie has been named to the Neurodiversity Employment Network’s Board of Directors. Gillespie, who helps students and families navigate the transition to life after high school in her role at Hill Top, is excited to be a part of an organization whose mission is to, Connect employers, academics, providers, vendors, job seekers, and other allies in the Greater Philadelphia region to enable neurodivergent individuals to gain meaningful employment. She looks forward to helping the board focus their efforts on the upcoming generation of neurodiverse individuals in the Greater Philadelphia region.
“ My role on the board is communicating the roles companies play in opening the doors for kids even when they’re in high school. When our students meet our alumni who work in these jobs, it’s amazing for them to see these people in suits working for multinational corporations… I want to remind employers that they have to start when neurodiverse students are young, so they know what they can aspire to be,” Gillespie said.
The Neurodiversity Employment Network serves as a free network to share knowledge about neurodivergent inclusion and empowerment in the workplace, a place to bring together existing organizations working in this space in the Greater Philadelphia Region to promote communication and collaboration, and a central hub of activity around neurodiversity employment in Greater Philadelphia where you can find information about available resources, organizations, events, and more.
Gillespie joins Hill Top Prep Board Member Joseph Riddle, the Executive Director of Neurodiversity in the workplace, on the Neurodiversity Employment Network board. The Board also includes representatives from the Eagles Autism Foundation, Drexel University’s Autism Support Program, the Dub-C Autism Program at West Chester University, SAP Autism@Work, Xactly Corp, and Vertex. Inc.
Gillespie, who recently finished a professional certificate in Learning Differences and Neurodiversity through the Landmark College Institute for Research and Training (LCIRT), is passionate about the impactful work already taking place and anticipates making contributions to better hiring practices moving forwards.
“I think it’s such an amazing thing that people are stopping to say, ‘Hey, you know what? The traditional HR interview where half of your evaluation is whether you can bond over small talk might not always be the way to find the best person to fill that job.’ It may be overlooking people who really have great talents but struggle socially.”
About Hill Top Preparatory:
Hill Top Preparatory School provides life-changing experiences for bright and creative students who struggle to achieve academic and social success due to performance-based learning differences including ADHD, high functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders, specific learning disabilities, or anxiety. Through strong family-school collaboration Hill Top prepares students for future success in college, work, and life as independent adults. Hill Top Preparatory School is an accredited, nonprofit (501c3) institution.
About the Neurodiversity Employment Network:
Neurodiversity Employment Network’s mission is to connect employers, academics, providers, vendors, job seekers, and other allies in the Greater Philadelphia region to enable neurodivergent individuals to gain meaningful employment.