The Autism Chair and Konecta Foundation launch the laboraTEA project to promote employment inclusion for autistic people
The Autism Chair of the University of Seville, Autismo Sevilla, and Konecta Foundation hosted a business event to launch the LaboraTEA project, aimed at fostering inclusive employment for autistic individuals.
Seville, February 13, 2025 – Today, the Autism Chair of the University of Seville, in collaboration with Autismo Sevilla and with the support of Konecta Foundation, has launched LaboraTEA, an innovative project designed to promote the inclusion of autistic individuals in the workforce and enhance workplace accessibility. The first initiative under this project took place at the Faculty of Psychology at the University of Seville, bringing together over 20 companies interested in learning about and implementing strategies for greater workforce diversity.
Access to employment remains one of the biggest challenges faced by people on the autism spectrum today. Despite their education and talents, unemployment rates within this group are significantly higher than in other populations due to barriers such as the lack of reasonable accommodations in hiring processes, low awareness, and rigid workplace environments. However, various studies and experiences have shown that, with the right support, autistic people can build successful careers and bring great value to their teams.
During the event, David Saldaña, Director of the Autism Chair, emphasized that “the goal of the LaboraTEA project is to provide tools and training to companies interested in creating a more accessible and diverse work environment. In the next phases of the project, we will conduct personalized meetings and consultancy sessions with companies to assess their needs and help them implement effective inclusion strategies.”
Meanwhile, Marcos Zamora, General Director of Autismo Sevilla, highlighted the realities of autism in the workplace, the contributions individuals on the autism spectrum make across different sectors, and the importance of workplace support systems. He also pointed out the benefits that hiring autistic individuals can bring to businesses.
From left to right:
Marcos Zamora, Director of the Autism Sevilla
David Saldaña, Director of the Autism Chair at the University of Sevilla
Paloma Gomez-Pierrad, Coordinator of Konecta Foundation in Andalucía
Paloma Gómez, Coordinator of Konecta Foundation in Andalusia, stressed “the importance of developing training programs like LaboraTEA, tailored to the needs of companies, to enhance their understanding and provide guidelines for adapting environments and processes, ultimately boosting the integration of autistic individuals into the workforce. One of Konecta Foundation’s key objectives is to generate knowledge; therefore, the project includes the creation of an inclusive employment guide for individuals with autism , compiling best practices in this field.”
Additionally, the business breakfast featured the participation of autistic professionals who shared their experiences in the workplace and their insights on how to create more inclusive and accessible work environments.
About the Autism Chair at the University of Seville
The Autism Chair is a leading institution in advocacy, training, and consulting on inclusion, accessibility, and neurodiversity in academic and professional settings. It has spearheaded numerous initiatives to improve access to higher education and employment for autistic individuals while fostering the creation of accessible environments. The Chair is supported by the University of Seville and Autismo Sevilla, with backing from Konecta Foundation, BEFESA, and Autismo España.