Samantha Craft, M.Ed. is the president and founder of Spectrum Suite LLC, the lead job recruiter for ULTRA Testing, an autism educator, the author of the blog and book Everyday Aspergers, Selection Committee Chair at the ANCA World Autism Festival and is active in autism groups locally and globally. She can be reached on Twitter at aspergersgirls & at info@myspectrumsuite.com.
A former school teacher with a degree in adult education, Samantha creates innovative, interactive and engaging presentations on the topics of autism/Aspergers awareness, acceptance, self-empowerment, and employment.
Sam is currently finishing a manuscript entitled “Autism in a Briefcase,” after over two years of almost daily research on employment issues surrounding the neurodiverse workforce, including her own survey of 180 autistics worldwide and one-on-one interviews of agency leaders and autistics.
Recent Articles (Spring 2017)
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-i-became-community-manager-neurodiverse-tech-company-ciampi
Neurotribe Finds Promised Land
Ultra Testing shows that autism in the workplace can be a feature, not a bug
Spectrum Suite Interview with Judy Singer (coming soon)
Spectrum Suite Interview with Bryan Chandler (coming soon)
Recent 2017 Public Presentations
May: Library Autism Awareness & Everyday Aspergers (Chehalis, WA, USA)
May: Westside Olympia Rotary Club Autism Awareness (Olympia, WA, USA)
June: South Puget Sound Community College Guest Speaker (Olympia, WA, USA)
June 21st:
Special Webinar Guest Speaker for a Special Mid-Week Session of ‘Alphabet 12’ Birmingham which takes place Wednesday 21st June 2017.
Link covering more details on purchasing tickets for the event.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/project-aspie-presents-asd-gender-and-parenting-tickets-35345872456
July: Panelist for Easterseals Thrive honoring the anniversary of the ADA, including topics on independence, pride, support and togetherness, including as ADA relates to education and employment. (Online on Twitter. Tentative date 7/20 at 6pm CST)
July: South Sound Olympia Rotary Club Autism Awareness (Olympia, WA, USA)
August: Shelton Rotary Club Autism Awareness (Shelton, WA, USA)
Fall TBD: Adults on the Autism Spectrum: Empowerment and Employment Workshop (Lacey, WA, USA)
October 2nd: Workshop Presenter: Aspergers on Fire at World Autism Festival (Vancouver, B.C., Canada)
Samantha (Marcelle) also works for ULTRA Testing at ultratesting.us and is writing her second book Autism in a Briefcase. ULTRA Testing is not affiliated with Spectrum Suite.
Here’s what others have had to say about Sam:
“We had a great turnout . . . The presenter was engaged, informative, insightful, and honest, and held a lively and extended Q & A session . . . We got a lot of positive patron feedback, verbal and written. Many people were touched, and I heard one patron say they were moved to tears. I will be recommending Samantha Craft to other branches.” ~ Organizer of local speaking event
“Beyond loving and brave.”
“Inspirational. Moved me to tears.”
“Authentic and from the heart.”
“I was highly impressed with what she had to share. I learned a lot.”
“. . . Your talk was amazing – we all learned so much. I so appreciate you taking the time to educate us!”
Aspergers on Fire: Self-Empowerment on the Autism Spectrum
Join Samantha Craft, an experienced lead job recruiter for an innovative technology company and well-known autism educator and author, as she explains how to gain self-empowerment as an autistic or as someone who supports an individual on the autism spectrum. As a professional with Asperger’s Syndrome and former schoolteacher, Craft offers a unique perspective in this audience-participation workshop, which includes cultural trends, misconceptions and myths, beneficial aptitudes and attributes, learning and thinking styles, barriers to success, concepts of effective self-advocacy, and more. Get ready to move, interact, and gain valuable insights about autism and self-empowerment!
During the workshop participants will be introduced to concepts, through a variety of learning methodologies, including group work, independent learning, and interactive participation.
Autism in a Briefcase: Tips on Recruiting and Retaining Untapped Talent
Enter the the realm of ‘Opportunity Makers.’ Take a look at how differences can be better, what an autistic employee can bring to a company, and ways to think outside the box with hiring practices. This session, written and developed by the lead job recruiter for an innovative technology company (with 80% of the software testers on the autism spectrum), introduces autistic traits, challenges, and strengths, and explains how to tap into a talented workforce. Learn the difference between diversity and inclusion in the workplace, the way to design an inclusion plan from the ground up, and how to avoid discriminatory practices and stereotyping. Unlike anything out there, this jam packed workshop provides all you need to implement innovative, organizational change that will benefit all employees.
Autistic Influencers: Paving the Way for Future Generations
Learn, from the founder of Spectrum Suites, LLC, autism community advocate and author, how to overcame adversity and challenges to create a balanced, productive, and content life. Samantha pulls from her personal experience of: corresponding with thousands of individuals on the autism spectrum, writing her memoir, receiving a late-age diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome, raising a son on the spectrum, living with her autistic partner, job screening neurodivergent job seekers, establishing an autistic support group and volunteer group. Explore topics of self-acceptance, self-empowerment, independence, self-advocacy, employment, personal boundaries, self-care, more. A hands on workshop you won’t find anywhere else, designed for anyone seeking to understand more about themselves, the autistic experience, and ways to give back to future generations.