An Accessible Expo

In 2022, as part of the City Librarian’s Innovation Challenge, Toronto Public Library (TPL) asked staff to submit ideas for workforce development initiatives. Recognizing Canada’s high unemployment rate among autistic adults, TPL librarians Tim Feller and Melanie LaFleche suggested an event at which neurodivergent job seekers could connect with employers and employment resources in a sensory-friendly environment. Their vision came to life in 2023, when nearly 200 people attended TPL’s Autism Employment Expo.

In 2017, only about a third of autistic Canadians ages 20–64 reported being employed. That’s a staggeringly low level compared with the nearly 80% employment rate among Canadians without a disability in the same age range. In addition, most library services for autistic people are aimed at children, leaving adults with autism spectrum disorder underserved. A library-driven, neurodivergence-friendly employment event was a clear way to help address both issues.

Toronto Public Library (TPL) librarians Melanie LaFleche and Tim Feller brought that vision to life as Inclusive Futures: Autism Employment Expo, an event designed to connect autistic adults to employers and job resources in a sensory-friendly setting. Mindful of the longstanding disability rights slogan “Nothing about us without us,” they and other TPL staffers spent months not only researching the needs of prospective attendees but also gathering input from autistic job seekers found through a Facebook group and local autism organizations.

Thanks to that input, it was clear from the beginning that the event had to reduce sensory overload for participants. We achieved this in part by hosting the expo at TPL’s North York Central Library, which offers a large space with lighting that can be muted. Our audiovisual technician adjusted that lighting appropriately. We also decided to create a dedicated quiet room with items such as fidget tools and noise-canceling headphones.

We contacted Toronto agencies that specialize in connecting autistic people to jobs, which led to partnerships with the Geneva Centre for Autism and the national government-funded Ready, Willing, and Able program. Other participants included community organizations that provide more general support services for autistic adults, and autistic-led organizations that offer peer support. Of the seven employers who attended the expo, most offered neurodivergent hiring initiatives, including EY (formerly known as Ernst & Young) and NATO Canada. A detailed event guide was sent to participants in advance, outlining what to expect.

On the day of the expo—October 26, 2023—nearly 200 autistic adults and support people, some of whom traveled from two and a half hours away, made the event a sold-out success. Once onsite, attendees selected color-coded badges to indicate the amount of communication they were comfortable with. A white badge meant “I am able to regulate my own interactions,” while a green one meant “I would like to interact, but have difficulty initiating.” Yellow indicated “I prefer to be the one to initiate conversations,” while a red badge meant “I do not want to have any conversations at this time.”

Nearly 200 autistic adults and support people made the event a sold-out success.

Feedback was very positive, with one guest noting in a survey, “There was an undeniable mood of hope, progress, understanding and inclusivity.” Another guest shared, “Fidget toys and color-coded communication labels were a thoughtful touch that made us feel seen and understood.”

The following year, the expo evolved into Autism Employment Resource Day. Based on feedback from attendees, more exhibitors were added, with an emphasis on community service agencies that support autistic job seekers. The event also featured a few employers and two autistic speakers who discussed autism, confidence, and disability rights at work. Similar to the expo, the event featured a break room, this time organized by Retreat, a local project focused on neurodivergent-inclusive spaces. It included comfortable seating, sensory regulation aids, and support from neurodivergent staff. To make the event even more sensory-friendly than the previous year’s, staff brought in floor lamps to provide softer or more directional light, while members of our facilities team helped mitigate unwanted sounds by removing a ticking clock and turning off automatic hand dryers in washrooms in favor of paper towels.

Both autism employment events were well received by attendees and exhibitors, with many participants expressing their interest in seeing more events designed for neurodivergent people. We look forward to hosting more innovative programming to meet the changing needs of our communities. We hope these events encourage other public library systems to support the needs of autistic and neurodivergent people and to develop inclusive offerings that reflect their experiences.