Ford to hire adults with autism in pilot program

DETROIT -- Ford Motor Co. is launching a pilot program this week to hire adults with autism.

Ford will create five positions in product development suited to the skills and capabilities of workers with autism for the program, called FordInclusiveWorks, the automaker said in a statement last week.

The program was developed with Autism Alliance of Michigan. The alliance is funding the training program tied to the jobs.

Ford's vehicle evaluation and verification test lab will participate in the program. There, workers will log and prep tires for test vehicles, the automaker said in the release. 

"The work is highly structured, requires a great deal of focus, and calls for a high level of attention to detail and organization," the release said. "Skills required to complete this task safely and with a high level of quality lend themselves to strengths typically associated with individuals with autism." 

The program is aimed at reducing the unemployment rate among the population of adults with autism, which ranges from 75 to 90 percent unemployed nationally. 

"Individuals with autism bring a unique set of talents to our business," Felicia Fields, Ford group vice president of human resources and corporate services, said in the statement. "We recognize that having a diverse and inclusive workforce allows us to leverage a wider range of innovative ideas to make our customers' lives better." 

Ford will evaluate the performance of the five new employees after an undetermined time and potentially offer permanent full-time employment, it said. 

In the U.S., it's estimated that more than 3.5 million people and one in 68 children being born have autism spectrum disorder -- a complex brain condition associated with poor communication skills -- according to a 2014 Center for Disease Control and Prevention study.