The NeuroX New Jersey Conference and Ideathon is set to take place at the Heldrich Hotel and Conference Center in New Brunswick on Oct. 29. This groundbreaking event focuses on advancing neurodiversity hiring through public and private partnerships, with a special emphasis on how artificial intelligence can play a pivotal role in creating new opportunities for neurodiverse workers.

The conference, led by its creator Drew Peloso, aims to build meaningful connections between neurodiverse individuals — often an underrepresented group in the workforce — and potential employers. However, the event goes beyond merely matching candidates with jobs; it seeks to inspire long-term innovation in how organizations approach neurodiversity hiring, particularly through the integration of AI technologies.

Stakeholders from various sectors, including government, industry, academia, investment, entrepreneurship, and philanthropy, will convene to explore how artificial intelligence can expand the career opportunities available to neurodivergent individuals. The event’s agenda includes over a dozen panels and presentations, with input from global AI leaders like Nvidia and Microsoft, top universities, and key state organizations. Among the academic partners is Rutgers’ Center for Adult Autism Services, which is helping to shape the event’s discussions on workforce development and neurodiversity.

“At NeuroX, come prepared to learn how access to an incredibly talented and untapped labor pool will advance your business and stimulate economic growth in the state,” Peloso said. “We’re bringing together a wide range of disciplines, all along the neurodiversity career chain. You ’ll also hear from leading artificial intelligence researchers and practitioners, and we’ll focus on the intersections.”

The conference will serve as a launching pad for the NeuroX Network, a new initiative designed to increase employment opportunities for neurodivergent individuals. The network will provide a platform for ongoing collaboration between stakeholders, ensuring that the momentum created by the conference leads to lasting change.

One of the most anticipated moments of the day will be the keynote address by Tim Sullivan, CEO of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA). Sullivan’s address will focus on how New Jersey, home to one of the largest neurodivergent populations in the country, is striving to become a leader in neurodiversity hiring initiatives.

In addition to the keynote, the main stage will feature presentations on critical topics such as:

• • “Neurodiversity at Work, and AI: Intersections of Hope and Promise” – a fireside chat on the role AI plays in enhancing neurodiversity in the workforce.
  • “Where New Jersey Delivers” – a discussion on how the state is at the forefront of AI development and neurodiversity support.
  • “State Aid” – an exploration of how New Jersey’s Departments of Labor & Workforce Development and Higher Education are partnering to upskill neurodiverse talent and provide businesses with the resources to enhance neurodiversity hiring.
  • “My NeuroX Journey” – top executives from major corporations share their personal career journeys within NeuroX initiatives.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to engage in several breakout sessions throughout the day. These sessions will dive deeper into specific topics, such as:

• • Morning Breakout Session: Neurodiversity in the Workplace and AI
  • Midday Breakout Session: Investing and Entrepreneurship in NeuroX
  • Afternoon Breakout Session: AI and the N.J. NeuroX Career Journey

These smaller, focused discussions will give participants the chance to explore AI’s potential to enhance neurodiversity in education, employment, and entrepreneurship. From AI tools in K-12 education to neurodivergent entrepreneurship, the sessions will address every stage of a neurodivergent individual’s career journey.

“We are excited to bring a neurodivergent perspective to the overall conference design and this much-needed discussion,” co-founder Dan Gauthier of 7Magnolia, a neurodivergent-owned design firm co-producing the event, said.

The New Jersey Conference promises to be an important milestone in the ongoing effort to create more inclusive work environments for neurodivergent individuals, leveraging AI to unlock their full potential. This is an event not only designed to educate but to foster actionable change, helping to shape the future of work for a community that has long been underserved.