ENGLEWOOD, Colorado — Some neighborhoods, including autistic communities, are especially hard hit during tough economic times.
About 85% of people with autism face unemployment, according to Forbes. But since 2016, Inglewood College has been working to change that. A major upgrade is currently underway.
It’s called TACT, which stands for Teaching the Autism Community Trades. It’s the only center in the country, and as of this week, has a brand new, state-of-the-art facility specifically designed to help neurodiverse students learn.
According to founder Danny Combs, TACT has this new space because it brings value to local employers.
“Companies that hire our graduates, who normally compete with each other, have put aside competing with each other to work together to make this possible,” said Combs of the 18,474-square-foot space. I stood in the open garage and said, “All of these organizations recognize that the neurodiverse community has so much to offer. We are supporting the workforce of the future by helping the
While 70 major donors, totaling more than $4 million, helped purchase and refurbish TACT’s hands-on classrooms and workspaces, Combs said the organizations that graced the walls of the donors were: He said he believes that money and effort are contributing as an investment.
TACT boasts an 83.3% graduate employment rate in a community plagued by unemployment and underemployment.
“There’s plenty of room for students working on cars and other things,” said Peter Machnik, a TACT graduate who got a job at a local car dealership right after completing the course. “I’m very lucky to have a job because I want to get a car. I’ll find a used one when it warms up so I don’t have to drive my parents’ car.”
When Machnik studied with TACT, the quarters were much smaller and the tools less modern. He admits to being a little jealous of the facilities available to freshmen, but he’s grateful for the opportunities his time spent there gave him.
Macchnik moved to the Denver area with his family in 2020 to attend TACT among other things.
“It makes a big difference. It helps the students,” he said of the instructors who studied with the program.
A new, larger space and continued donations from community members and organizations will allow TACT to host more students in the years to come. But for founder Danny Combs, who was inspired by his autistic son to launch his TACT seven years ago, the bigger lesson isn’t for the students, it’s for the community at large.
“One in 44 people is diagnosed with autism. 5.4 million adults…that’s a big group to be overlooked,” said Combs. “And when they saw what I think [our students] What they can do and all the value they bring, how hard they work, what they can rely on…I think it’s eye-opening and game-changing. “
