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

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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.