Event Details

Join Leigh Anna Nowak, CARD-USF, and Scott Fontechia, The Learning Academy at USF, as they draw from their experience and expertise to present on the topic of autism and the workplace. This presentation will help answer questions about what autism is and how it affects individuals differently. Attendees will learn about the “quirks”,  the challenges, and the competitive edge these individuals on the spectrum may possess. Discover the reality of unemployment for this population and some tips for success when looking to hire, manage, or simply communicate more effectively. Learn more about your friends, neighbors, patrons, coworkers, loved ones, or strangers you don’t always understand as this diagnosis increasingly becomes more prevalent.

Presenter Bios:

Leigh Anna Nowak is the Coordinator of the Ft. Myers branch office for the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities-University of South Florida (CARD-USF).  For the past fourteen years, Leigh Anna has supported the autism spectrum disorder community in the five counties served by the CARD-USF Ft. Myers branch office at Florida Gulf Coast University. Leigh Anna has a Masters degree in Social Work.  Prior to moving to FL in 2004, she had over 16 years experience in Minnesota serving people who have intellectual and other  disabilities, in home and community based supports, and in the area of Guardianship and Conservatorship.

Scott Fontechia, Employment Specialist and Job Developer at The Learning Academy at the University of South Florida, is a USF alumni who has been working with individuals with an autism diagnosis for 8 years in many different capacities. Scott has been providing employment services to adults diagnosed with ASD through The Learning Academy at USF for over 3 years – check out this article on the program’s success!