Pete Bradley, Vice President and General Manager for Casino Operations at Dover Downs Hotel and Casino, and President of the Board at Autism Delaware, discussed the resort’s experiences in hiring people with Autism Spectrum Disorder through the group’s POW&R initiative.   He described how 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 improved through social interaction and gained independence. He also spoke about the family services offered by the non-profit agency, from family navigators to help with finding and applying for services, to social activities and peer training.  He told of his family’s personal history and the story of his late son, who was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.  He described their efforts to find programming for his son, his lasting effects on his younger children’s compassion and their desire to serve the community.