- The Columbus Foundation launched the Utah Uniquely Abled Machinist Program to train autistic adults for manufacturing jobs.
- Partnering with Salt Lake Community College, the program addresses workforce shortages.
- The program aims to place graduates in careers, expanding Utah's manufacturing talent pipeline.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Columbus Foundation — a Utah-based nonprofit dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities — has partnered with Salt Lake Community College and the Utah Manufacturers Association to pilot the Utah Uniquely Abled Machinist Program.
The program is a vocational initiative designed to train adults with Level 1 autism for high-demand careers in advanced manufacturing.
Along with addressing the unemployment rate among autistic adults (60-90%), the program will also help quell the workforce shortage in Utah's expanding manufacturing sector.
Between 2019 and 2023, the Beehive State saw a nearly 12% increase in manufacturing jobs, according to an analysis of government data released in 2023 by the Economic Innovation Group, a centrist think tank.
"(Utah Uniquely Abled Machinist Program) is about closing two critical gaps at once — creating a path to meaningful, well-paying careers for individuals with autism, and supplying Utah manufacturers with the skilled talent they desperately need," Kristy Chambers, CEO of Columbus, said in a statement. "This is workforce development at its best."
The program will be modeled after the nationally successful Uniquely Abled Academy. Over the course of 12 weeks, students will combine 300 hours of computer numerical control machinist training with 60 hours of job-readiness instruction. Beyond that, students will be trained to program and operate precision machines while receiving personalized coaching, soft skills training and direct connections to hiring manufacturers.
Utah's manufacturing leaders se the initiative as more than a training program and a real solution to filling valuable jobs.
"This is not just a training program," Todd Bingham, president of the Utah Manufacturers Association, said in a statement. "It's a pipeline for untapped talent, and our industry is excited to welcome these future machinists into the workforce."
And with Utah manufacturers currently posting nearly 200 computer numerical control job openings, the Utah Uniquely Abled Machinist Program offers a timely solution to fill critical labor gaps.
The program's goal is to place 100% of its graduates into careers, with long-term plans to expand statewide.
More information about the Utah Uniquely Abled Machinist Program can be found here.
