A new collaboration between the Fowler School of Engineering and the Thompson Policy Institute on Disability (TPI) aims to expand career opportunities through inclusive artificial intelligence.
Neurodivergent adults bring creativity, talent, and innovation to the workforce. Yet traditional hiring systems and career support services often fail to reflect the ways they learn, communicate, and demonstrate their strengths.
At Chapman University, a new interdisciplinary pilot project is working to change that. The initiative focuses on developing an AI-powered virtual career coach designed to provide personalized, accessible support for neurodivergent adults as they prepare for employment and navigate career opportunities.
As the platform evolves, the team envisions expanding access to tools that help neurodivergent adults navigate the workforce with confidence and pursue careers aligned with their strengths and goals. The project is about more than technology. It is about creating pathways to purpose, independence, and inclusion.
Collaboration at Chapman
The project is co-led by Erik Linstead, a professor at Chapman’s Fowler School of Engineering, and Meghan Cosier, executive director of the Thompson Policy Institute on Disability and a professor at the Attallah College of Educational Studies. Together, they bring two of Chapman’s powerhouse teams to the work: the Fowler School’s Machine Learning and Affiliated Technologies (MLAT) Lab and the Thompson Policy Institute on Disability.
This partnership combines expertise in artificial intelligence, disability studies, inclusive education, and accessibility. Together, the teams are creating a platform designed to address real-world barriers while centering the strengths and experiences of neurodivergent individuals.
The MLAT Lab has deep roots in this work. Founded in 2015 by Professor Linstead, the lab was inspired by his family’s personal connection to autism. Over the past decade, the lab has applied artificial intelligence and machine learning to projects that support individuals with autism and other forms of neurodiversity, while advancing research at the intersection of technology and human impact.
TPI has a similarly mission-driven history. Established at Chapman University in 2015 through a gift from the Thompson Family Foundation, the institute has become a leader in advancing disability policy, inclusive practices, and community partnerships across California and beyond. Through research, professional learning, and systems change efforts, TPI works to improve outcomes for individuals with disabilities across education and community settings.
Together, MLAT and TPI bring complementary strengths to the project. Their collaboration ensures the platform is grounded in both technological innovation and the lived experiences of the communities it aims to serve.
“This is where engineering meets humanity,” Linstead said. “We’re using AI not just to innovate, but to create accessible tools that truly empower people.”
Thompson Policy Institute Director Audri Sandoval Gomez added, “At the Thompson Policy Institute, we believe technology should open doors, not reinforce barriers. This project reimagines career coaching by centering the strengths of neurodivergent individuals.”
Expanding Opportunities
A recent $26,000 gift from the Thompson Family Foundation is helping launch a new initiative that combines artificial intelligence and inclusive design to create accessible career coaching for neurodivergent adults.
The project also provides Chapman students with opportunities to take a leading role in developing technology with real-world impact. Undergraduate and graduate students are actively involved in designing, building, and testing the platform.
As the project progresses, students will continue testing and refining early prototypes to ensure the platform remains user-centered, accessible, and responsive to the needs of neurodivergent adults.
Looking Ahead
The team views this pilot project as the beginning of a larger effort to expand access to career resources and employment opportunities for neurodivergent individuals.
As the AI-powered coach evolves, the long-term vision is to provide personalized support that helps users navigate job searches, prepare for interviews, build workplace confidence, and pursue careers aligned with their goals and strengths.
More than a technology project, the initiative reflects a shared commitment to creating pathways to purpose, independence, and inclusion. By bringing together engineering, disability expertise, and student innovation, Chapman University is exploring how artificial intelligence can create meaningful opportunities and lasting impact.
