Exceptional Minds is a nonprofit provider of work readiness training and career placement services for one of the most underemployed groups of all disabled adults: people with autism. Last June, the organization graduated its largest class with 45% of the students already securing an internship or job prior to graduation (including employment with Nickelodeon, Mattel, Pixelogic, Academy Gold, and DreamWorks). More graduates reported being hired than ever before, with 86% of trackable graduates working in careers with upward mobility. Exceptional Minds was also able to provide 38 life-changing mentorships including an unprecedented collaboration with Netflix.
Exceptional Minds was recently able to connect virtually with eight partner organizations to conduct Employer Education and support employers by providing  the resources and tools to create a conducive workplace for neurodiverse talent. One important aspect of Exceptional Minds’ services is the ability to facilitate a sense of community and belonging among people with autism. Exceptional Minds helps people with autism pursue career tracks in digital arts – including animation, visual effects, 3D gaming, and more.
Its flagship program, the Academy, offers sequential training that leaves participants fully qualified to work in these fields. The artists are changing the face of inclusivity in the entertainment industry while contributing their skills to solve creative problems all across the industry. In the last 8 months, Exceptional Minds saw its highest rate of employment in its history with 25 graduates securing new industry employment and improving the output of companies all over Los Angeles.
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