Growing Inclusive Workplaces: Leveraging Agritourism to Build Accessible Employment Pathways

No matter your operation—whether you run a family farm, a market, or a thriving agritourism business—you’re here because you care about people and want to build a workplace where your farm can thrive and everyone can succeed.
In this session, you’ll explore how agritourism offers a powerful opportunity to build inclusive, real-world job experiences for young adults with disabilities. Dr. Daigle will introduce key concepts around neurodiversity, neurodivergence, and universal design, and guide you through practical strategies to make your workspace more accessible, flexible, and productive—without sacrificing your business goals.
Hiring people with disabilities not only honors the deep roots farms have in their communities, but it’s also a smart financial decision—driving lower turnover, boosting productivity, and strengthening workplace culture.
You'll learn:

●    What neurodivergence really means and why it matters in today’s workforce

●    How farms and agritourism spaces are uniquely suited to support diverse learning and working styles

●    Actionable steps to create job readiness opportunities for youth with disabilities—plus strategies for partnering with local schools and community providers to develop realistic, sustainable hiring models

●    How to apply the Zone of Proximal Productivity to support and retain neurodivergent employees

●    Research-backed benefits of inclusive hiring—including stronger culture, community-purpose, higher retention, and innovation

Whether you’re new to inclusive hiring or looking to deepen your impact, you’ll leave with a renewed sense of purpose, a toolkit of ideas, and a vision for growing a workforce where everyone can thrive.