Evanston, Ill. – Aspiritech today announced its recognition and celebration of the 12th Annual National Apprenticeship Week 2026 with an event at its Evanston headquarters on Thursday, April 30, from 4–7 p.m. CDT.
The event will mark Aspiritech’s first year as a Registered Apprenticeship program, coinciding with America’s 250th anniversary and underscoring the organization’s commitment to building a more inclusive and technically skilled workforce.
Attendees will have the opportunity to network with legislators, community leaders, and industry innovators, and to witness Aspiritech’s Cybersecurity Apprentices in action through live “blue hat” demonstrations.
The event will also offer tours of Aspiritech’s sensory-friendly workspace, which is designed to support neurodivergent professionals, along with light refreshments.
Individuals wishing to attend Aspiritech’s National Apprenticeship Week 2026 are encouraged to register on Evite.
“We are proud to support National Apprenticeship Week and prepare inclusive talent for in-demand jobs,” said Tanika Edmonds, Director of Workforce Development at Aspiritech. “Registered Apprenticeship is a career pathway that allows our community to earn an industry-recognized credential and receive on-the-job training with employers who help define and strengthen their skills as they work to build sustainable careers relevant to the needs of today’s workforce.”
Founded in 2022, Aspiritech Academy is a cost-free career training initiative built by Aspiritech, one of the largest neurodiversity-focused employers in the United States. The Academy was established on the principle that access to meaningful workforce training should not depend on an individual’s ability to pay, and that effective instruction must be intentionally designed with neurodivergent learners in mind.
With support from the Mitsubishi Electric Foundation (MEAF), Helping Adults with Autism Perform & Excel (HAAPE) and a growing donor community, the Academy has expanded its offerings to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving technology sector.
Its Registered Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Program, which is approved by the U.S. Department of Labor and currently available to neurodivergent Illinois residents, represents the Academy’s newest and most advanced pathway, guiding participants from foundational CompTIA Security+ certification training through 2,000 hours of paid, on-the-job experience with Aspiritech or a partner organization.
The program reflects Aspiritech’s broader mission to expand employment opportunities for autistic and neurodivergent adults by connecting them with in-demand careers in cybersecurity, a field projected to see 32% job growth through 2032.
National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) is a nationwide celebration where employers, apprentices and graduates, industry representatives, labor organizations, community-based organizations, workforce partners, educational institutions, and government agencies host events to showcase the successes and value of Registered Apprenticeship for strengthening our economy by developing a highly skilled workforce to meet industry needs and creating pathways for career seekers to enter in-demand jobs. This year marks the first full weeklong celebration in the spring, from April 26 to May 2, 2026.
NAW 2026 will include both apprenticeship events and proclamations across the country, reflecting the theme of “America at Work: Making America Skilled Again Through Registered Apprenticeship.” As the nation celebrates its 250th year and continues its reindustrialization, the NAW 2026 theme reflects Registered Apprenticeship’s prominence as a key strategy to ensure the American worker is equipped for the skilled jobs of today and tomorrow. This year also provides an opportunity to recognize the U.S. Department of Labor’s efforts to expand Registered Apprenticeship and exceed the 1 million active apprentice goal to meet industry needs.
By Tara May
WHEREAS, National Apprenticeship Week celebrates its 12th anniversary of raising awareness of the vital role Registered Apprenticeships play in creating equitable career pathways, allowing apprentices to earn while they learn, and preparing individuals for good, quality jobs and well-paying careers in Information Technology and Cybersecurity across the nation; and
WHEREAS, Aspiritech is a nonprofit organization with a mission of meaningful employment for autistic adults, fulfilled by operating a world-class technology company that is 90% autistic and by training and preparing autistic adults for meaningful employment, thereby creating inclusive career pathways that strengthen both individuals and the technology workforce; and
WHEREAS, Aspiritech Academy serves as a workforce development initiative that equips autistic adults and other neurodivergent individuals with industry-recognized technical credentials, professional skills training, and structured career pathways through Pre-Apprenticeship and Registered Apprenticeship Programs in Cybersecurity and Information Technology, ensuring participants are prepared to meet the evolving demands of today’s digital economy; and
WHEREAS, Registered Apprenticeship programs enable employers to develop, train, and retain a highly skilled workforce while offering career seekers access to paid, hands-on learning opportunities that lead to sustainable employment, long-term career growth, and measurable economic mobility; and
WHEREAS, Aspiritech recognizes the essential role Registered Apprenticeship plays in expanding inclusive workforce participation and creating access to career pathways for individuals who have been historically underserved, marginalized, or excluded from traditional employment opportunities, including individuals with disabilities, thereby advancing equity and strengthening our national workforce; and
WHEREAS, Registered Apprenticeship is a proven, industry-driven training model that strengthens the talent pipeline, addresses critical workforce shortages in technology and cybersecurity, improves job quality, and supports economic mobility for individuals and families while contributing to a more resilient and inclusive economy;
NOW, THEREFORE, I,Tara May, CEO on behalf of Aspiritech, do hereby call upon our industry partners, employers, community stakeholders, and the broader disability and workforce development communities to recognize and promote the value of Registered Apprenticeship and to celebrate National Apprenticeship Week, April 26 through May 2, 2026, in support of inclusive workforce advancement and meaningful employment for autistic adults.
IN SUPPORT.
