The Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles will host the first-ever Autism in Entertainment Conference on April 5. The event will feature several companies in both gaming and entertainment, and aims to link creative adults on the spectrum with entertainment employers.
The nonprofit Orange County Asperger’s Support Group is hosting the conference along with the Autism in Entertainment Workgroup, with support from staffing and consulting firm Zavikon. Funds were in part provided through a grant from the California Department of Developmental Services.
The upcoming conference will invite attendees to a full day of panels, seminars, and more. Options for attendees include separate tracks of panels targeting prospective employees, employers, and caregivers. From Ubisoft discussing its neurodivergent employment program to between-session entertainment such as mini-documentaries, the conference aims to keep guests engaged.
The “Employment Options Within Gaming,” panel (moderated by Marlene Sharp) welcomes some toy industry veterans, with speakers Warren Davis (creator of Q*BERT), Jamie Johnson (Game Gen), Christopher Tremmel (creator of SEGA’s Booger Man), Genna Rosenberg (GennComm), and Kenn Viselman (itsybitsy, Teletubbies, Thomas the Tank Engine, Meteo Heroes) discussing available jobs in the world of game design, as well as what employers want in a potential employee.
Autism in Entertainment expects to see around 350 attendees at this year’s event, consisting of adults with autism, caregivers, family members, and assistants, as well as potential industry employers. Registration for the event is free for professionals with autism and entertainment industry hiring entities. More information is available on the official webpage.