Rangam Consultants Inc. Promotes a Comprehensive Approach for Employment in the Autism Community
Award-winning staffing and information technology company Rangam Consultants Inc. has undertaken an initiative to employ adults on the autism spectrum through a combination of proprietary, collaborative and self-sustainable employment models.
Somerset, NJ, February 2, 2015 (Newswire.com) - According to Rangam President Hetal Parikh, the company has a threefold mission plan to financially assist high-functioning individuals with autism.
An integral part of the plan is to hire individuals on the spectrum who can fully contribute to a company’s operation and success. To accomplish this, Rangam has already started engaging employees with Asperger’s for contract positions and is on the lookout for more individuals who have skills such as data entry, industrial assembly, warehouse stocking, inventory processing and more.
"Rangam will partner with various service providers to bring together additional resources, like providing specific training to individuals, facilitating transportation, and even helping the employer with payroll management. We will also train hiring managers on how to effectively work with individuals on the spectrum."
Hetal Parikh, President, Rangam Consultants Inc.
Rangam is also collaborating with a top autism science and advocacy organization to develop a special employment program that will connect employers with employable individuals on the spectrum. This program will enable employers to post open job requirements and recruit qualified workers with autism throughout the country. Candidates with autism will be able to upload their video résumé via a custom-designed mobile app and web portal. Speaking about the scope of the project, Ms. Parikh said, “Rangam will partner with various service providers to bring together additional resources, like providing specific training to individuals, facilitating transportation, and even helping the employer with payroll management. We will also train hiring managers on how to effectively work with individuals on the spectrum. Development of the application and the portal is underway and is expected to be completed soon. We are working with our offshore units in India to expedite this project.”
Third, Rangam is in the process of setting up a self-sustainable farming model that will provide both financial independence and therapeutic treatment to individuals with autism in New Jersey. Farming is very seasonal, so Rangam is also considering adding greenhouse and hydroponic farming. To keep from “reinventing the wheel” in agricultural practices, the company is in talks with the Middlesex Regional Educational Services Commission and Eden Autism Services to conduct a feasibility study about the proposed model.
Ms. Parikh said Rangam is mobilizing fresh resources to fast track the farming program. Nived Parikh and Nishali Parikh are two of the young volunteers who will be working as Technology and Innovation Associate and Outreach and Fundraising Associate, respectively. Both of them have hands-on experience in working closely with special needs students from their volunteerism with Eden Autism Services, Easter Seals New York and Foothills Acres Rehabilitation in Hillsborough, NJ.
“A holistic approach is necessary to move mountains,” said Nish Parikh, Rangam Vice President. “Unemployment is a critical issue facing the autism community in the U.S. About 50,000 new adults will reach working age by January next year. Unfortunately, a majority of these individuals will be without a college degree or diploma. Rangam’s commitment is to help them find jobs that match their skill levels,” Mr. Parikh emphasized.
