Jobs for Adults With Autism: What This Investor and Father Learned in 15 Years
Biohacking Autism with Nadia Elkhatib.Show Notes
Autism employment is one of the biggest questions parents carry: what happens when my child grows up, and will they find real work and purpose? In this episode on jobs for adults with autism, venture capitalist and autism dad Brian Jacobs shares what 15 years of investing in autism employment and raising a son on the spectrum taught him about preparing your child with autism for adulthood. We get into why there is no single fix, why the job interview is an unfair social test for many on the spectrum, the small workplace accommodations that make the biggest difference, how AI could close the gap for adults with autism, and what meaningful work looks like for nonverbal and low-verbal young adults. It is a hopeful, practical conversation for any parent thinking about their child's working future. "The parents are the soldiers in the war. They are out there talking about it and making it okay to talk about employment for people on the spectrum." - Brian Jacobs Connect with Brian Jacobs: Moai Capital: https://www.moai.vc/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianjacobsvc/ Autism Impact Fund: https://autismimpact.fund/ AASCEND: https://www.aascend.org/ AASCEND Job Club: https://www.aascendjobclub.org/ Stanford Graduate School of Business faculty page: https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/faculty-research/faculty/brian-jacobs Connect with Biohacking Autism: Website: https://biohackautism.com Email: [email protected] Instagram: @biohackautism TikTok: @biohackingautism YouTube: @BiohackingAutism LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadiaelkhatib Subscribe to Biohacking Autism wherever you listen, and on YouTube, so you never miss a weekly episode. Companies and organizations mentioned: Ultranauts: https://ultranauts.co/ Daivergent: https://www.daivergent.com/ Auticon: https://auticon.com/ About Brian Jacobs: Brian Jacobs is a co-founder of Emergence Capital and the founder and Managing Partner of Moai Capital, a seed fund based in San Mateo. Over a career investing in technology startups, he has served on the boards of more than fifty companies, twelve of which have gone public, and he was twice named to the Forbes Midas List of top venture investors. He teaches venture capital financing at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and holds degrees in mechanical engineering from MIT and an MBA from Stanford. Through Moai Capital, Brian invests in companies expanding employment for adults on the spectrum, including Ultranauts, Daivergent, and Auticon, and he is a founding Limited Partner of the Autism Impact Fund. He also serves on the board of AASCEND, the Autism Aspergers Spectrum Coalition for Education, Networking and Development. He is the father of an adult son on the spectrum who works today as a software engineer. Medical disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast.
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More from Biohacking Autism with Nadia Elkhatib.
My son was nonverbal. I was told he would never speak, and that if a child does not talk by five, he never will. Jimmy started talking at eight. This is the 11-minute version of my episode on autism recovery: the stories you never hear, what recovery means, how Jimmy started talking, and the five things it takes.
Recovery from autism is possible. I’ve seen it, and my own son isn’t there yet. This is my honest answer after 22 years: the families who got there, why you never hear about them, what recovery means, how my son started talking at eight, and the five things it takes. THE LABS TO START WITH + THE COMMUNITY WAIT LIST https://biohacking-autism.kit.com/d9c8b01fd7 One sign-up. You get the exact baseline panel from this episode in one email, the episode summaries every week, and, if you tick the box, a place on the wait list for the private community. IN THIS EPISODE The recovery stories you never see on social media, and why Two sons, same house, same protocol, one recovered What recovery means and what it does not (the truck analogy) Where Jimmy is today, 22 years in Why there is no one protocol for recovery How Jimmy started talking at eight: Dr. Klinghardt, Babesia and artemisinin The five things it takes, in order Three things to do this week, not five WHAT YOU WILL HEAR Jimmy is not recovered. We have made real progress, and the work continues at 22. Artemisinin was one herb used under Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt’s care alongside pharmaceuticals, for an infection that had been identified. No doses or sources are given, and this is not a recommendation to buy it. The recovery stories are what parents told me directly and what I saw myself. They are not a study. WATCH ON YOUTUBE https://youtu.be/Ib0cyR6MJCE RELATED EPISODES Autism Biology From a Completely Different Point of View (the baseline): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8fnI3xC0ts The 6 Step Healing Order for Sensitive Autism Kids: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEbHibq0q9g MENTIONED Jenny McCarthy, Louder Than Words · Dr. Neil Nathan, The Sensitive Patient’s Healing Guide · Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt · Dr. Dayan Goodenowe FURTHER READING Fein D, et al. Optimal outcome in individuals with a history of autism. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2013;54(2):195-205. PMID 23320807. Kang DW, et al. Long-term benefit of Microbiota Transfer Therapy on autism symptoms and gut microbiota. Sci Rep. 2019;9:5821. CONNECT biohackautism.com · [email protected] · Instagram @biohackautism · TikTok @biohackingautism · linkedin.com/in/nadiaelkhatib If you know one parent who was given a deadline and zero tools, send them this episode. DISCLAIMER One family’s experience and what other parents told me directly. Not medical advice, no doses or treatment instructions. Please discuss any testing or treatment with a qualified clinician. I’m not a doctor. I’m a mother who has been doing this for more than 20 years.
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