ASAN and Freddie Mac Looking for Interns on the Autism Spect

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ASAN and Freddie Mac Looking for Interns on the Autism Spectrum

Freddie Mac, a leading mortgage finance company, is partnering with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) to create a more inclusive workplace. Starting next year, Freddie Mac will be offering 2-3 internships for young adults on the autism spectrum with backgrounds in statistics, mathematics, economics, computer science or information technology. ASAN will be working with Freddie Mac to provide employer training on accommodation needs and recruiting qualified applicants on the autism spectrum. We're looking for resumes from recent college graduates on the autism spectrum with the following qualifications:

* Degree or background in mathematics, computer science, statistics, economics, or information technology;
* Some experience with statistical modeling software, particularly SAS, SPSS, Stata, R, or SPlus;
* A strong work ethic;
* A willingness to work in a collaborative fashion to craft a job description that is both accessible and meets Freddie Mac's business needs;
* Applicants must either be currently in the DC Metro area or be willing to relocate to the DC Metro area for the duration of the internship;

These internship opportunities will be paid and may lead to further opportunities with the company. All internships will be based in the DC Metro area. Please email your resume to [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you!




The Autistic Self-Advocacy Network (ASAN) is a non-profit organization run by and for Autistic people, fighting for disability rights in the world of autism. Working in fields such as public policy, media representation, research and systems change, ASAN hopes to empower Autistic people across the world to take control of their own lives and the future of our common community.

It is easier to fire an intern compared to a fulltime employee. Its a way they can test out the autistic person without risking a wrongfull termination or discrimination lawsuit trying to get rid of them. It's great they are looking to hire autistic people but they are doing it in a way they can fire them easier. I guess they got to make sure the autistic person is not a complete freak before they hire them to a fulltime posistion. Calling them an intern is just a safety net incase they are a freak.

Sounds like a great opportunity, for those that might be interested.

Hopefully ASAN can successfully expand their efforts in the future, to other areas, for those autistic people that are not as fortunate to have acquired high levels of qualifications for the work environment, or who would be comfortable in an environment like the DC Metro area.

I have dyscalculia and holler at my brother every time the computer freezes.


I'm afraid I'm not a candidate.

As if someone with those qualifications needs help getting a job. And what a cruddy organization that is having this internship/job opening. Oh yeah, like anyone really expects that the ASAN will come up with opportunities for those on the spectrum who don't have stellar aptitude, after all their years of doing close to nothing.

Most companies have internships of some kind. And in the current market they may need help getting a job. And since ASAN currently has people in the white house I don't know how you can say nothing. Seems like you're just bitter to me.

Lots of individuals can't get jobs now. I don't see how it's to be congratulated that the elites running the ASAN are setting up a few jobs for their advantaged friends, with their high-end connections. There isn't a lot of help for those particularly in need of it.

how old do you have to be and what are the hours. i live in arlington so i would be interested.

You might be able to find out by emailing ASAN at [email protected]

That is their general email address for information.

My guess is you are probably going to have to be at least 18, because the qualifications required, include a college degree.

dalurker wrote

I think that this is wrong, I will finish my maths degree next May, and I would appreciate plenty of help and support in getting a job, and this is exactly the sort of job I was thinking of going for. I may be good at maths, but coping in job interviews and fitting into the social dynamic of a workplace is an entirely different matter.

I can't speak for everyone with aspergers, but although I would be potentially quite capable of doing one of these jobs, I don't have a clue how to "sell myself" to an employer like NT's can, I have no fashion sense for example and don't know what an employer would consider to be an "appropriate" attire for a job interview.

Like I say, I can't speak for everyone, but I know that despite the fact that I could potentially take on one of these jobs successfully, I am unfairly excluded by social factors, and I am willing to bet that there are many others in the same situation. And initiatives such as these can potentially help people like me to bypass these these exclusionary factors. And the fact that this initiative is geared towards people on the high end of the spectrum, dosen't make it a bad thing.

I really hope that an initiative such as this is launched in the UK. And I will be first in line to be part of it if it is, well done ASAN

Erm since they're advertising these internships on Wrong Planet, which is a random internet site to do with autism the talk about 'high end connections' only getting you an internship, is absolutely ludicrously absurd. Furthermore since ASAN are providing internships isn't that a good thing when lots of people can't get jobs? This is an argument that tries to say that black is white and blue is red and tries to hide the fact that one is being yellow.

This is true for a lot of us. It is exactly why the ASAN came up with this initiative.
In case you don't know them already, there is a UK company which employs autistics in IT roles.
Here is their website:
http://www.specialisternescotland.org/

There was a nice presentation about them at Autscape 2011.

Why don't you google some information on how to do job interviews? Put on a suit for a job interview. I don't have the intellectual advantages you do. I barely managed to get a degree at a mediocre college, and didn't come away with skills. I for one have numerous impairments, and am incapable of numerous jobs. I've been trying for years to get a permanent job. Where is my job that the ASAN is going to get for me?

dalurker wrote

It's not as simple as "googling how to do job interviews." If it were as simple as this, autistic people would just google how to cope in all social situations, and get on in every day life just fine. Because I have a different wiring of of the brain from my employer, he will misunderstand the things that I say, and will come to completely the wrong conclusions about me. Likewise i will struggle to understand what they expect of me, and this creates an unfair barrier to autistic people in the jobs market.

Unfortunately for me, these internships are in America, so ASAN won't be getting me a job either. But what they are doing here is still a good thing, although I agree that they should also take action targetted at autistic people with more impairments.

By the way thanks KenG for that link, I am a maths and statistics person though and my IT skills are pretty darn average. But I do know someone else who might be interested and I will forward it to them. And it is good to see companies reckognizing the benefits that autistic people can bring to the workplace

I doubt that an econ minor counts as a degree, right? My major's international studies.