Ryan Hammond, the Executive Director of the Eagles Autism Foundation, cited the unemployment rate for the autism community at around 85 percent. As the nation celebrates Disability Employment Awareness Month, it's timely to look at the Eagles' efforts to shrink that number.

EAF regularly hosts All Abilities Clinics, fundraising events, and more, but the organization's involvement transcends just working with youth. EAF has more than 35 neurodiverse staff members who work at Lincoln Financial Field, 26 percent of them entering employment for the first time.

Given the extremely high unemployment rate, the Eagles and EAF know how important it is to help the neurodiverse community enter the workforce.

"We are committed to practicing inclusion in everything we do as an organization," Hammond said. "With that commitment, it's critical we prioritize employment as one of the greatest needs of the community. We felt like this was an opportunity for us to make jobs accessible through our Game Day Staff program and amplify with a commitment to working with vendors who share an aligned mission."

Since the launch of the EAF Game Day Staff Program in 2021, 42 people have been supported. Of the staff, 19 are working additional jobs while 15 are either in college or graduated with a degree. Nine employees of the program are currently supported by a job coach.

Each staff member has a unique role, and it isn't just limited to Eagles games, with some staff working Temple games and concerts. While the opportunity presented on gameday leads to professional development, it also creates a sense of community outside of work hours for everyone involved.

"We try to have recreational based activities outside of work, because a lot of our Game Day Staff are looking for community and a way to make friends and meet other people," said Kirsten Saraceni, the Scientific Programs and Inclusion Initiatives Director for EAF. "We have a nice group chat with everyone, where staff talk about Philly sports and things that are going on."

Beyond the Game Day Staff Program, the Eagles also support external organizations that provide opportunities to the autism community. Inside the NovaCare Complex, the Eagles serve apple cider and apple butter from Ohana Farms.

Ohana Farms began in 2015 when Amanda and Conrad Radcliffe bought the farm with intentions to support their son, Cal, who has autism. Since then, Ohana Farms has turned into an apple farm where people with autism from three local schools — Melmark School, Vanguard School, and Hilltop School — come by weekly to give a helping hand.

"The students are getting real employment experience in a very understanding and accommodating environment, which I also think is really supportive of their employment journey going forward," Amanda Radcliffe said.

Amanda Radcliffe knows first-hand the impact having a job can have for someone in the autism community. She said Cal works at a Wawa every Tuesday and Thursday for 45 minutes to an hour, and while his paycheck sometimes is only $14, she can see how much it means to him to have the responsibility of working.

"He's so proud of his paycheck, and he so much looks forward to going to work, and it's become such an important part of his life that we are beyond grateful for," Amanda Radcliffe said. "I just really, really wanted to help other families have that kind of experience, especially with kids who need a higher level of support, because it's really difficult to find those opportunities."

At Lincoln Financial Field, the Eagles serve popcorn from Popcorn for the People, a Philadelphia-based company which hires adults in the neurodiverse community.

EAF, alongside Wawa and Nouryon, helped Popcorn for the People open its production facility in the city in 2024. The organization is doing so well that there is a waitlist for employees to join the staff.

Leslie Graham, the production manager for Popcorn for the People, moved to Philadelphia in 2023 for the job and as a long-time Eagles fan, she's grateful to see such strong support coming from her squad.

"I was so thrilled to be able to see my team (the Eagles) supporting so many people in this community," Graham said. "And when I say community, I should say it's rewarding to see the team that I love is supporting so many people in this city, not just Popcorn for the People. There's a lot of other companies that hire those on the spectrum that the Eagles also support. I'm very proud of the team for doing that. Very proud." — Written by Matt Ryan