New center in Phoenix helps people with developmental disabilities to employ In the Precisionists’ Innovation and Technology Center in Phoenix, autistic people are prepared for a career through vocational training. Irene Snyder from FOX 10 reports. PHOENIX – Nearly half of 25-year-olds on the autism spectrum have never had a paid job, according to statistics from Autism Speaks. But experts say it is by no means their fault. The problem today is that many employers today simply are unable to adequately train and support people with the autism spectrum. That’s changing here in the Valley. Being precise is a skill that is useful in many work environments. For some it may be exhausting, but for others it just comes by itself. Students are enrolled at the Precisionists’ Innovation and Technology Center in Phoenix, which opened its newest location here just a few months ago. Here, students can learn the tools that are required for a career in areas such as cyber security, processing and data engineering. These students are particularly adept in these areas, and they all have one thing in common: a developmental disorder like autism. CEO Ernest Dianatasis founded The Precisionists (TPI) in 2018 and has so far trained and hired more than 10,000 spectrum employees. “Like any parent, the first thing they think about is what happens when our child grows up and how they should lead a life of independence and dignity,” said Dianastasis. “Not only do we give them the technical skills to do the job we hire them to do, but we also teach them life skills such as working in teams and giving presentations.” These skills come into play once these recruits are hired in various offices across the country. Here in Phoenix, Ian Mamone works as a Record Management Specialist. Ian has Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of highly functional autism. “I really like computers, I think it’s fun,” said Mamone. “I want a job as a software engineer and security analyst, and I think my job at TPI will help with that.” Ian has already helped test an app for SRP and he says working with a team on this project helped him become more confident. “It has helped me a lot and one way is communicating with colleagues,” said Mamone. Another new employee, John Bonifas, works as a contractor and data engineer. John explains that years ago he quit another job to go back to school because at the time he felt that there wasn’t enough staff support for someone with a disability. “They are only there to do their job, not to support you or make you successful,” said Bonifas. “So it was a real worry.” TPI was a godsend, according to John. “That really saved me. When I worked for the previous employer, I had to deal with things like office politics and unreasonable deadlines alone,” said Bonifas. “I was probably 50% less functional than I am now, and it was really, really stressful.” That’s not to say that his current job isn’t stressful. During the pandemic, some of the staff had to work from home, which can be difficult for those on the spectrum who rely on this job for socialization. However, Ernest Dianatasis says they did their best to get these employees back to the office as soon as possible – and in a safe way. Throughout the pandemic, they did not manage to lay off any of these employees. In fact, the company has grown 20% over the past year. “I think without COVID we would have grown by 70%, 80%, so don’t get me wrong, it had an impact – but I see it as a gain that we are actually growing and being able to maintain these jobs and to protect. “Said Dianastase. Ernest says that being successful in this business isn’t about being profitable in a financial sense. It’s about giving back and providing opportunities to learners like Ian and John who happen to also have a knack for precision. “We’re really preparing them for a career and that’s transformative,” said Dianastasis. More on The Precisionists: https://theprecisionists.com/ More headlines from Arizona
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