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At Vista Autism Services, employment is not about creating special jobs or lowering expectations. It is about identifying real skills, matching them to real work, and supporting people as they contribute alongside their coworkers like anyone else.
That approach has guided Vista’s Adult Employment Services for years, and it is one reason the program consistently achieves outcomes well above national averages. More importantly, it is why the people Vista supports are not simply placed into jobs, but encouraged and prepared to build meaningful careers.
Behind those outcomes is a dedicated team of Career Developers and Employment Specialists, and a growing network of employer partners who believe that talent comes in many forms.
As MaryLou Winters, Manager of Adult Employment Services at Vista, puts it, “Partnerships in the community with employers that have an interest in diversifying their workforce are essential to the work that we do.” Those partnerships make it possible to align real skills with real opportunities and to support long-term success for both employees and employers.
One employer that exemplifies this philosophy is VF Corporation, a long-standing partner that has helped redefine what inclusive employment looks like in practice.
VF Corporation does not create roles for people with autism. Instead, they hire into the same roles, with the same expectations, that they would offer any other employee. The focus is not on disability, but on dependability, consistency, and skill.
As Jenn Thompson, HR Manager at VF Corporation, explains in a video highlighting the partnership, inclusive hiring at VF is driven by results. “There’s no motive to doing this other than being able to identify top talent,” she says. “A role I’d give to someone on the spectrum is the same role I’d give to anyone else, without a job aid or additional support. It’s about filling opportunities with talented people.”
Jenn points to performance as the proof. Vista-supported employees consistently demonstrate strong attendance, high performance, and a willingness to cross-train and integrate into teams. “Take the chance,” she adds. “Don’t let a schedule, a job trainer, or any small modification be a barrier to having amazing talent.” That approach has worked so well for VF Corporation that the company is expanding it across its distribution centers.
While outcomes and partnerships tell part of the story, the real work of Adult Employment Services happens in everyday workplaces, through steady preparation and hands-on support tailored to each role.
In restaurant and café settings, where routines matter and pace can change quickly, Vista-supported employees are contributing in ways that keep businesses running smoothly. At The Lunch Ladle in Lancaster, morning prep now includes a reliable extra set of hands, with responsibilities expanding as confidence and independence grow. At Savory Café in Hershey, behind-the-scenes work helps keep service moving during busy periods, creating a clear sense of purpose and pride from the very first shift.
Office and administrative placements reflect a different kind of alignment, where experience and attention to detail matter most. At CLG Services, a return to familiar office work followed a long and uncertain job search, resulting in a role that draws directly on established skills and prior experience.
Retail and customer-facing environments bring their own challenges and opportunities. At Cubby’s Ice Cream Café in Hummelstown, taking on a second job marked an important milestone, with consistency and positive energy quickly becoming part of the team dynamic. At Oakhurst Beverage in Harrisburg, a strong first impression during a working interview led to a smooth transition into daily responsibilities that rely on pace, accuracy, and teamwork.
Each of these placements reflects the same foundation: thoughtful preparation, consistent coaching, and employer partners willing to see ability first. Over time, that approach allows support to fade, independence to grow, and employment to become not just sustainable, but meaningful.
These stories represent only a fraction of the work happening every day through Vista’s Adult Employment Services. Vista is grateful to the employers named here, and to the dozens of additional hiring partners and work experience sites who open their doors each year.
Together, they demonstrate a shared belief: employment works best when people are treated like employees first, supported thoughtfully, and valued for what they bring to the job.
Interested in hiring, exploring employment, or supporting someone who is looking for the right fit? Vista’s Adult Employment Services connects individuals and employers through meaningful, real-world opportunities.
Employment Services at Vista Autism Services
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