EMPOWERED EMPLOYERS
Designing Workplaces Where Everyone Thrives
Too often, the achievement gap faced by students with disabilities becomes an employability gap in adulthood as students exit the public school system. When neurodiversity is valued and supported in the workplace, everyone benefits—and all employees have the opportunity to thrive.
Companies that invest in accepting workspaces tap into the strengths of neurodivergent employees, leading to higher retention, stronger workplace culture, and a competitive advantage.
When leadership prioritizes accessibility and flexibility businesses don’t just meet goals—they drive innovation, engagement, and success.
With decades of experience working with neurodivergent individuals, our team is dedicated to empowering employers with actionable strategies rooted in experience. Learn more about how the Empowered team helps businesses design workspaces and harness the benefits of a neurodivergent workforce. Leveraging universal design ultimately provides better access for all. Let us support your company in creating an environment where all employees can thrive!
Empowered Workplace
At Empowered, we collaborate with nonprofit and private industry partners to promote understanding of neurodivergence in the workplace. Our mission is to expand cultures of acceptance while addressing the employability gap for neurodivergent individuals
Through partnerships with employers, we proudly contribute to the growing movement towards workplace cultures of acceptance, ensuring meaningful and sustainable employment opportunities.
Farming Futures: Inclusive Workforce Development Through Farming and AgriTourism
At Empowered, we believe in experiential learning and leveraging authentic partnerships to promote employability and community purpose. One of our most innovative focus areas is within agriculture and agritourism. Farms, greenhouses, markets, farm events, cottage-stays, and other land-based enterprises offer rich, hands-on environments where students with disabilities can develop essential workforce skills through meaningful, real-world experience.
We believe that experiential learning in agricultural settings provides unique opportunities for building confidence, independence, and job readiness. These environments naturally lend themselves to the principles of universal design—fostering routines, sensory-regulated spaces, and flexible tasks that can be tailored to a variety of strengths and needs.
By partnering with agritourism operations, we help create inclusive, productive experiences that benefit students, educators, and employers alike. These programs not only bridge the gap between school and employment but also demonstrate how valuing neurodiversity can drive innovation, engagement, and community impact.
Whether you're a farm owner, market manager, or educator interested in building a school-to-work pipeline rooted in nature and sustainability, we’d love to collaborate. Let’s grow inclusive futures together—one field at a time. To check out some of the real work that Empowered is doing visit https://auerfarm.org/
upcoming employer events
Coming in December 2025!
We are excited to partner with CORE XP
https://www.corebusinessxp.com/
Workshop Title:
Bridging the Employability Gap: Unlocking the Potential of Neurodivergent Talent
Session Description:
Despite representing a strong and diverse talent pool, adults with disabilities—including neurodivergent individuals—experience unemployment rates that are two to three times higher than their peers. Dr. Emily Daigle, Founder and CEO of Empowered, will explore how inclusive hiring and universal design can help employers close this gap, strengthen retention, and tap into a highly capable, often overlooked workforce. Participants will leave with practical, evidence-backed strategies for building accessible, productive, and sustainable workplaces.
Coming in December 2025!
We are excited to partner with NAFDMA
Workshop Title:
Growing Inclusive Workplaces: Leveraging Agritourism to Build Accessible Employment Pathways
Dec 4, 2025
Program Description
No matter your operation—whether you run a family farm, a market, or a thriving agritourism business—you’re here because you care about people and want to build a workplace where your farm can thrive and everyone can succeed.
In this session, you’ll explore how agritourism offers a powerful opportunity to build inclusive, real-world job experiences for young adults with disabilities. Dr. Daigle will introduce key concepts around neurodiversity, neurodivergence, and universal design, and guide you through practical strategies to make your workspace more accessible, flexible, and productive—without sacrificing your business goals.
Hiring people with disabilities not only honors the deep roots farms have in their communities, but it’s also a smart financial decision—driving lower turnover, boosting productivity, and strengthening workplace culture.
You'll learn:
● What neurodivergence really means and why it matters in today’s workforce
● How farms and agritourism spaces are uniquely suited to support diverse learning and working styles
● Actionable steps to create job readiness opportunities for youth with disabilities—plus strategies for partnering with local schools and community providers to develop realistic, sustainable hiring models
● How to apply the Zone of Proximal Productivity to support and retain neurodivergent employees
● Research-backed benefits of inclusive hiring—including stronger culture, community-purpose, higher retention, and innovation
Whether you’re new to inclusive hiring or looking to deepen your impact, you’ll leave with a renewed sense of purpose, a toolkit of ideas, and a vision for growing a workforce where everyone can thrive.
Leadership Summit 2025
Employers Association of the NorthEast (EANE) April conference
April 8 @ 9:00 am
Springfield MA (Sheraton Monarch Place)
Title of Workshop:
Fostering Inclusive Environments for Neurodivergent Team Members: Leveraging Universal Design to Optimize Engagement and Productivity
Presenter: Dr. Emily C. Daigle
Workshop Description:
No matter your industry or company size, you’re here because you’re committed to building a more engaged and productive workforce. In this one-hour workshop, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of key terminology, what neurodivergence truly means, and—most importantly—how to create inclusive workplaces that bridge the employability gap for diverse employees. Discover research-backed benefits for companies that embrace all learning styles, and walk away with actionable strategies rooted in universal design. Finally, explore the concept of the Zone of Proximal Productivity and learn how you, as a leader, can harness diversity to drive growth and achieve company goals.