Co-Mentorship: A Catalyst for Success

It is estimated 85% of autistic college graduates are under- or unemployed (David et all., 2023). This is in part due to a lack of tailored support and understanding in traditional workplace structures.

Building on principles like reverse mentorship (Novak, 2023), NEXT CONNECTS is a cooperative co-mentorship model for neurodiverse professionals. At its core, NEXT CONNECTS strives to challenge a typical one-way transfer of knowledge, encouraging a reciprocal exchange of insights and experiences between co-mentors. This initiative is designed to address autistic unemployment, promote bi-direction learning, build inclusive workplaces and develop workplace allies.

This Strategic Report looks at the impact of co-mentorship and the NEXT CONNECTS co-mentorship program on aspiring autistic professionals as well as established neurodiverse professionals.