Every year, Massachusetts General Hospital hosts its Aspire Spring Gala to raise funds and awareness in support of Aspire, a Mass General for Children service that specializes in helping children, teens and adults on the autism spectrum achieve success. This April, Aspire will mark its 25th year of fundraising, celebrating the strong, interconnected network Aspire has created since its founding. This “village,” formed through Aspire’s individualized programming and consulting in schools and workplaces, continues to expand to become more inclusive and diverse, enriching us all.
Aspire’s Internship Program connects employer partners with neurodiverse participants to offer workplace learning and resume building opportunities. Ausome Ventures Founders David Long and Dan Tatar know the advantages autistic interns bring to the workplace and are at the forefront of innovative business opportunities.
In June of 2024, David and Dan partnered with celebrity chef, Ken Oringer, to create a company called Chitarra Pastaria. Here, they partner with award winning chefs to craft high-quality, artisanal pasta using only the finest ingredients. The company is run with a team of entrepreneurs and culinary artists on the autism spectrum. The company understands the unique talent that neurodivergent employees bring to the workplace and values expression, communication, trust and warmth.
Jack Lewis, MEd, associate manager of employment services for Aspire, recently sat down with key members of Chitarra Pastaria’s team — including its Co-Founder Dan, Chitarra’s Direct Supervisor Calder Stames and one of its employees, Julia Agostino — to ask them questions about their experiences.
What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs interested in employing neurodivergent talent on the autism spectrum?
Calder Stames: It’s not much different than employing neurotypical individuals. We all face communication and scheduling challenges in our daily lives and when you get to know the team, and what works or doesn’t work for everyone, you adapt and make it work.
Dan Tatar: There’s a difference between hiring autistic talent and building a culture where that talent can become a way of making the company better. To be successful it’s about really understanding how this talent can make your company thrive, and a key part of that is really putting the effort into training, working with a program like Aspire and making neurodiversity a part of what you are.
How does it feel to be a part of a startup that hires autistic talent?
Julia Agostino: It’s so cool! I really feel that I am a part of a very important movement to show that neurodivergent people, especially those who are autistic, are very talented, hardworking and capable.
“This is a life-changing experience, and I am so grateful.”
What do you wish other employers knew about utilizing unique talents and strengths of neurodivergent individuals?
JA: I wish they knew how to accommodate my needs. For instance, my manager, Calder, is very good at working with me on any challenges I have. For example, I am going to put a Velcro tab on my apron because I have trouble tying it due to some fine motor challenges.
What advice would you give to other managers or employers on how to work with autistic interns?
CS: Getting to know your team has been the most effective tool. I’ve enjoyed sitting down with each employee and learning how they operate and where they want to lean into rather than just assigning tasks. This has kept them engaged, excited and wanting to come back daily.
DT: The types of things that will make you successful when hiring autistic talent overlap with what makes a successful team and company in general. It’s about building a strong culture, supportive environment and having approachable leadership. It’s about managers who are trained, people who listen and people who understand challenges and how to make tough decisions. If you’re setting up a company with neurodivergent talent, it’s a lot of overlap with just creating a culture.
What are some ways that Chitarra has helped you work through any challenges in the workplace?
JA: My bosses and co-workers at Chitarra are great at communication and understanding how we can all work best as a team to make sure Chitarra is a success. Some of my tasks have helped me improve my fine motor skills — for instance, packaging and using the machinery. My bosses are very patient and explain things slowly so I can process directions better.
What have been some of the successes and challenges of these business ventures?
CS: We have had many successes thus far, but the greatest has been the amount of learning that’s gone on for everyone involved — starting with how to make pasta from scratch to the boxing, shipping and teamwork involved. We have formed a new friend group in such a short time. Challenges have been figuring out where each person’s skill sets should be utilized. Everyone has come in with talents and we want to see them succeed but also push them to try new things to gain confidence.
DT: Start-ups are hard period, and it has nothing to do with hiring neurodivergent talent or not. Our successes aren’t just based on us setting up an environment for neurodivergent talent, but it starts with getting people who are motivated and excited about an opportunity and having the right people in the room to pursue the opportunity. Chitarra is lucky enough to have individuals from the autism community who are excited about building this start up together.
What are some highlights that you’ve enjoyed thus far from your work?
JA: I love so many things! We have hosted VIP visitors and made social media posts, cooking segments and just talking to Dave, Dan and Calder is helping me learn so much about entrepreneurship which is my goal in life. This is a life-changing experience, and I am so grateful.
To learn more about Aspire, click here.
To learn more about the 2025 Aspire Spring Gala, click here.
