Pete Bradley, Vice President and General Manager for Casino Operations at Dover Downs Hotel and Casino, discussed the resort’s experiences in hiring people with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Pete, President of the board at Autism Delaware, spoke of his family’s personal history and told the story of his late son, who was diagnosed with ASD. He praised the organization’s programming and related his hiring experiences with the group’s POW&R initiative. POW&R matches employers with employees, working with them both to get the client integrated into the job, then fading back. He recommended the program to any employer, emphasizing the low or no cost of any accommodations needed, and praising the employees his resort have hired, noting they learn the job, they are reliable and they help his bottom line. He reminded us to look at the ability, not the disability. He noted that his resort is a major employer in the region, with 500 hotel rooms, 2,000 slots and over $140 million in revenue each year and the POW&R hires are vital employees for Dover Downs, not charity. The best part, as they are helping his organization, their lives are being improved through social interaction and gained independence.
