AuSM Workshop – A Realist’s Guide to Employment Supports

A person sits at a desk using a laptop while wearing over-ear headphones and smiling. They hold a pen and appear to be engaged in an online meeting or focused work. The setting looks like a home office, with shelves, a calendar on the wall, and a small vase with dried flowers in the background.Date: September 10, 2026; 9-11:30 a.m.
Presented by: Abbie Wells-Herzog
Pricing: $59.99 (non-member), $49.99 (member), $39.99 (autistic individual)
Held Virtually: workshop available for purchase for one month after the workshop

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While various employment policies and programs in Minnesota have experienced cuts and shifts, autistic and disabled adults will always continue to seek opportunity, security, and purpose through work. In this session, career autism specialist and AuSM board leader Abbie Wells-Herzog will help participants understand the lay of the land in 2026, clarifying updates and misinformation related to Minnesota’s vocational rehab services and DHS employment services. Furthermore, Abbie will discuss strategies for attaining reasonable accommodations at work, offering a balanced approach to self-advocacy within employer policy and culture.

Objectives:

By the end of the session, participants will…  

  1. Identify current pathways to employment support for autistic and disabled adults in Minnesota, including recent changes affecting access and eligibility.

  2. Distinguish accurate, up-to-date information from common misunderstandings related to vocational rehabilitation and state employment services.

  3. Analyze how workplace policies and organizational culture influence disclosure, support, and job sustainability.

  4. Apply practical strategies for requesting reasonable accommodations in ways that balance self-advocacy, personal goals, and employer expectations.

  5. Develop informed next steps for pursuing employment that supports stability, purpose, and long-term success.

Presenter

Abbie Wells-Herzog is a former MN Vocational Rehab Counselor and Autism Specialist. She has spent all her working career supporting and advocating for people with disabilities, especially young adults. She is a mom of two fabulous autistic adult daughters and the only neurotypical in her family.

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