December 2025 Newsletter

As 2025 comes to a close, we want to pause and reflect on what this year represented for the Neurodiversity Employment Network of Philadelphia.

It was a year that asked a lot of people and organizations. Hiring landscapes shifted, budgets tightened, and many in our community navigated transition and uncertainty. And still, this network showed up.

Across organizations, job seekers, educators, nonprofits, and community partners, what stood out most in 2025 was solidarity: a shared commitment to inclusion, connection, and the belief that neurodivergent talent belongs in every workplace. In a city like Philadelphia, where engagement and community matter, that commitment continues to move this work forward.

Building visibility across the ecosystem

At the close of 2025, NENPHL launched the Neurodiversity Employment Ecosystem Mapping Tool, a living resource designed to make inclusive employment efforts across Greater Philadelphia more visible and easier to understand.

The map highlights:

  • Employers at different stages of engagement, from learning to hiring
  • Nonprofits, educators, and service providers contributing expertise and support
  • A shared glossary and review process to ensure accuracy and accountability

The Ecosystem Map is now live and continues to grow. Its structure allows new organizations and initiatives to be added over time, creating an increasingly complete picture of the regional employment landscape. As it expands, the map will continue to support clearer pathways for connection, collaboration, and progress across the network.

Special thank you to Eagles Autism Foundation for funding our project and for our designer and developers: Talia Buckbinder, Brendan Moor, and Christian Lombard for creating the platform! 

Three programming tracks, one shared purpose

In 2025, NENPHL launched three programming tracks to bring greater focus and clarity to how the network convenes, and to foster strategic connections based on needs and content areas: 

  • Employer Evolution, centered on organizational growth and employer readiness
  • Early Career Professional, focused on individual growth and early employment pathways
  • Think Tank, designed for collective problem-solving and shared learning

Across these tracks, feedback consistently reflected strong alignment with community needs. Several events received ratings above 4.9 out of 5, including Advancing Inclusive Employment Opportunities and Fostering Inclusive Workplaces. Participants repeatedly shared that they valued the content being shared and that they made relevant professional connections at events to advance their workplace goals. 

Connection across different networks

Throughout the year, NENPHL brought together people and organizations that do not always share the same rooms but do share values.

Given the difficulty facing organizations that value diversity, equity, and inclusion, NENPHL made the strategic decision to partner with groups that share our passion for inclusive workplaces. This included Philly SHRM, Independence Business Alliance, EmpathyTech, CHOP, Legal Clinic for the Disabled, and Young Involved Philadelphia. 

Philadelphia is a city that engages, and this network reflects that spirit. When inclusion is framed not as a checkbox, but as a shared responsibility, progress becomes possible.

Thank you for being a part of this work

None of this happens without you! 

Thank you to everyone who attended an event, partnered with NENPHL, shared expertise, asked thoughtful questions, or stayed connected during a complex year. Your participation strengthens the regional ecosystem and reinforces that neurodiversity, inclusion, and access are not only important, they are foundational to the future of work.

Special Thank You:

NENPHL Board of Directors: Joe Riddle (President), Cherie Fishbaugh (Treasurer), Christine Delaurentis (Secretary), Amy Gillespie, Peg Monaghan, Mike Ghesser, Kevin Davis, Gretchen Rose, Ev Smith, Ryan Hammond, Mark Livingston, Krista DeGuffroy (Emeritus), Amanda Radcliffe (Emeritus), Craig Single (Emeritus), Jose Velasco (Emeritus).

NENPHL Advisory Board: Ev Smith (BoD Liaison), Andrew Arboe, Daniel Rothenberg, Jillian Hughes, Robert Schmus, Shelley Tanner, Nikki Kuhn

NENPHL Interns: Gregory Pagano (Website), Melena Walter (WCUPA-CCS Outreach)

Volunteers: NENPHL Committee members, special thank you to Sasha Birosik and Shelley Tanner for event support and Gabby Robertson-Cawley for graphics/communications support

Help shape what comes next

If you’ve been part of the NENPHL community this year in any way, we invite you to complete our End-of-Year Survey. Your feedback helps guide how we design programs, strengthen connections, and continue building meaningful pathways to employment.

👉 Complete the End-of-Year Survey

Thank you for moving through 2025 with us, and for continuing to believe in what’s possible when people come together with intention! See you in 2026!

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