This giving season, help us nurture opportunity and belonging for our team and community.
Your donation supports the programs that empower neurodivergent individuals to flourish in meaningful careers at Aspiritech and beyond.
On October 18, Aspiritech’s Shine the Light Gala brought together a community of supporters who understand what’s possible when autistic talent is supported, valued, and given space to thrive. More than 140 guests gathered to celebrate our nonprofit’s mission and to champion inclusive employment for neurodivergent adults at Aspiritech and beyond. The evening was filled with connection, storytelling, and a shared commitment to shaping a future filled with opportunity and inclusion.
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, sponsors, and friends, this year’s gala raised $90,000 in support of Aspiritech’s internationally recognized employment, training, and community programs. These funds directly strengthen our ability to provide meaningful jobs, skill-building pathways, and comprehensive supports for autistic adults across quality assurance, accessibility, data, cybersecurity, and other tech roles.
This year’s Shine the Light event marked Aspiritech’s return to fundraising galas after a hiatus that began with the Covid-19 pandemic. The enthusiasm of our October 18 attendees—which included Board Members, Advisory Board Members, community supporters, senior leadership, and several Aspiritech team members—demonstrated to us that we are still surrounded by people who believe in our mission of meaningful employment for adults on the autism spectrum.
Also in attendance was Moshe Weitzberg, who—along with his wife, Brenda Weitzberg—founded Aspiritech in 2008, sparking the neurodiversity employment and inclusion movement we’re still championing today.
Throughout the evening, guests heard powerful stories from team members and partners who experience every day what a neurodiversity-affirming workplace can make possible.
Robin Kacyn, Aspiritech’s Director of Inclusion & Outreach, reflected, “I well remember our first galas, and think fondly on my time spent organizing and attending. In this post-pandemic world, where connection looks so vastly different than it did just a few years ago—it quite literally brought tears to my eyes to see our community come together in-person to celebrate and support our mission, our company, our accomplishments and, most importantly, our team.”
One of the night’s most resonant moments came from Dan Auerbach, an Engagement Manager who has worked at Aspiritech since 2018 and supplies our company Slack with On This Day (OTD), an at times educational and at times humorous look through historic events that occurred, as the name implies, on the day of publication.
Dan shared personal reflections on finding belonging, growth, and stability in a workplace that recognizes and celebrates neurodivergent strengths, even if impostor syndrome gets in the way sometimes:
A former supervisor of mine once summed up the people here—summed up the company as: “A corporate culture of acceptance, integrity, and deep-rooted impostor syndrome.”
For those who don’t know impostor syndrome, it’s a belief that you are an impostor. Basically, you are pretending that you know what you’re doing, when the reality is the people at Aspiritech do know what they’re doing. They just don’t believe they know what they’re doing.
Dan’s telling of his story, which was humorous and self-deprecating at times, entertained the audience and encouraged our generous attendees to open their checkbooks a little further.
From his first application in 2014—when government shutdowns, resume filters, and a long grad school detour threatened to derail him—to becoming the “infamous Dan Auerbach” on our largest client project, he reminded everyone that meaningful employment is more than a paycheck.
Rather, fulfilling work means confidence, growth, and the independence to build a life on your own terms. It means being part of a community that sees your strengths, values your perspective, and supports your potential. Dan’s journey is a perfect example of how the right opportunity can transform a life, and why every donation helps us open doors for more autistic adults to thrive.
This speech and other moments throughout the evening told a larger story of progress, partnership, and the collective impact of a community determined to increase access to meaningful employment for autistic adults.
Aspiritech leadership at the gala: Kayley Bogdan, Robin Kacyn, Tara May, Lindsay Holley, and Julie Finerty
Aspiritech would not exist without the people who generously give their time, expertise, and resources. We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who made our 2025 Shine the Light Gala a success:
The generosity of our donors and table sponsors made it possible for Aspiritech team members to attend the event free of charge.
Our community’s support ensures that Aspiritech, a Chicago-area nonprofit rooted in disability inclusion and workforce development, continues to provide world-class opportunities for neurodivergent professionals.
As the year draws to a close, Aspiritech faces both a growing opportunity and a growing need. More autistic adults are seeking stable, supportive pathways into the workforce than ever before. More businesses are turning to us for inclusive tech services, accessibility expertise, and neurodiversity hiring partnerships. And more families are looking to Aspiritech for community, structure, and hope.
The funds raised at the Shine the Light Gala lay a critical foundation, but end-of-year gifts are what allow us to expand, evolve, and respond to increasing demand. Your support helps us:
For donors who care about disability inclusion, neurodiversity employment, and the future of inclusive tech, this is a high-impact moment to give.
The 2025 Shine the Light Gala made one thing clear: When a community unites around the power of neurodivergent talent, real change becomes possible.
Robin shared, “This evening was really special. The food was great, everyone looked fantastic, and it was festive and a lot of fun—but the true meaning, for us, was to see our Aspiritech community come together to build up our work, support our mission, combat misinformation, and center the stories of our team members at a time when so many in our orbit feel targeted and misunderstood. The energy in the room was palpable. I won’t forget it.”
If the evening has inspired you, or if you believe in creating a world where autistic adults have access to meaningful careers, we invite you to join us in this work by donating today.
Your end-of-year gift ensures Aspiritech continues to cultivate potential, grow opportunity, and shine a light on what good things can happen when we build a more inclusive future together.
“We hired them for the mission. We’ve kept them because they are excellent.”
Aspiritech, NFP
