JCC's Bio Blend program is making the workforce more equitable

This article was written for our sponsor, Johnston Community College.

Many young adults on the autism spectrum struggle to find jobs. According to research from Drexel University's A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, nearly 60% of adults with autism in their 20s have lower rates of employment than their peers. They can also struggle with the transition from education to the workforce. To help students overcome this challenge, Johnston Community College has launched the Bio Blend program to provide training and opportunities for students on the autism spectrum. It is funded in part by the National Science Foundation. Bio Blend is specifically designed to expand access to careers in engineering and bioprocess technology for students on the autism spectrum, provide skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the workforce and reduce the stigma surrounding neurodivergence.

After the success of the first Bio Blend project, JCC is planning BioBlend 2.0. “Out of roughly 10,000 students (in the entire college), only 20 identified as having autism,” said Julie Griffin, Bio Blend career coach and project coordinator. “We knew that there were more students with autism on our campus who could be successful in our programs, so that really supported our directive.”

JCC plans to work with the Johnston County Public School, local community focus groups, and state and nonprofit organizations that support individuals with autism to recruit students for the program. Once on campus, students will have support from JCC’s accessibility services group to ensure that they succeed in the bioprocess technology field.

The program's goal is to help businesses connect with individuals on the autism spectrum who have the skills and abilities they need to succeed in the workforce. “You have this whole group of individuals who are being overlooked,” Griffin said.

One of the critical components of BioBlend 2.0 is the e-portfolio. Accessible to all students in the program, the e-portfolio helps students become an advocate for themselves and empowers them to showcase their mastered skills, especially in overcoming obstacles such as interview anxiety, social anxiety and other communication challenges like English as a second language.

Bio Blend also teaches resume writing and interviewing skills, which can be a typical barrier for these students looking to enter the workforce.

Camille Collins, a biotechnology instructor at JCC, is an alumna of the BioBlend program. She went through the first version of the program when she decided to switch careers. After graduating from high school, Collins enrolled in college as a biology major, but life happened and she was unable to complete that degree. However, as her kids got older and a career change seemed like a good opportunity, she decided she wanted to get back into the sciences and enrolled at JCC.

Collins enrolled in the biotechnology classes for BioBlend 1.0, which gave her incredible experience and opportunities to begin a new, fulfilling career. The program was invaluable to her, allowing her to receive her DeltaV certification – a key credential to pharmaceutical manufacturing employers – and to have networking experiences that saw her land a new job before graduation. (DeltaV is a software application used in pharmaceutical manufacturing, and JCC was the first community college to offer this certification.) Through the program, Collins learned how to write her resume in a way that got through to the hiring manager and to highlight her skills and abilities in a way that was transferable to the workforce.

Now Collins has found her new career as a biotechnology instructor at JCC and is helping students enrolled in the program, like herself, get the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in their future careers. “I wanted to be able to offer that success to other people,” she said. “Having the experience of actually doing it myself makes it easy for me to talk to students about what it's like.”

Using her experience and insight as a program graduate, Collins understands the challenges and barriers that individuals on the autism spectrum face when seeking employment. She can help these individuals overcome these challenges and barriers and gain gainful employment.

The Bio Blend program continues to expand and reach more students on the autism spectrum, making the workforce more equitable for all. “[I hope] we’re able to help employers understand the employability of people with different abilities. Different abilities do not mean inability. Helping students see their potential instead of the roadblocks in front of them is a big part of what I look forward to, ” Collins said.

This article was written for our sponsor, Johnston Community College.