by Shaun Heasley, Disability Scoop | October 28, 2022

One of the nation’s biggest names in casinos is betting on a plan to increase employment opportunities for adults with autism.
MGM Resorts is putting $1 million behind a vocational program aimed at training and hiring more people on the spectrum over the next five years.
The company said it will work with Grant a Gift Autism Foundation-Ackerman Center, a Las Vegas disability service provider, on the new effort.
“As the largest private employer in Nevada, we have a responsibility to contribute to social and economic progress of our community, including creating pathways to employment,” said Bill Hornbuckle, CEO of MGM Resorts. “Our vision for embracing humanity aligns with the incredible work of (Grant a Gift Autism Foundation-Ackerman Center) as they work to improve the lives of adults with autism in Southern Nevada.”
Through the initiative, teens and adults with autism will participate in a 12-week vocational readiness training program where they will learn job skills and have access to family services. They will then have the opportunity to apply for positions at MGM Resorts, the company said.
Individuals who are hired through the program will be able to receive on-site job coaching in addition to the typical onboarding for new employees.