How to Harness The Power of A Neurodiverse Workforce in Northwest Arkansas

About the Show:"We must not only learn to tolerate our differences. We must welcome them as the richness and diversity which can lead to true intelligence." ~ Albert EinsteinDepending on who you listen to here in Northwest Arkansas, we have more than 10,000 open positions that need to be filled.  Most of the significant regional companies - Walmart, JB Hunt, Tyson, Simmons, and the University of Arkansas, are all hiring. It is a numbers game. The more firms recruit and interview, the more they can hire new talent.  Of course, you want to find the right talent for the right jobs, but there may be many talented individuals in our community here in Northwest Arkansas that should be noticed.  According to Daymara Baker, founder of Neurodiverse employer Rockin Baker, there are more than 4,000+ Neurodivergent people in Northwest Arkansas.  All potential workers could or should be employed to fill many of these jobs that are available in the region.  We spent some time discussing navigating the Neurodiverse workforce with Daymara and Margaret McCabe, former Dean of the University of Arkansas Law School and the parent of a Neurodiverse young adult who works with Daymara at Rockin Baker. If you have been on the fence about hiring someone from the Neurodiverse community, this is the episode for you to gain some understanding, insight,  and perspective.  You may just be one hire away from your next great team member.Daymara and Margaret make an excellent case for why this part of the workforce should be noticed.  All this and more on this episode of the I am Northwest Arkansas podcast.Important Links and Mentions on the Show*Email Daymara BakerEmail Margaret McCabeDaymara Baker on LinkedInWebsite for Rockin BakerMargaret McCabe on LinkedInRockin Baker Cadet TrainingDaymara Baker Podcast EpisodeOctober is National Disability Employment Awareness MonthFayetteville Public LibraryArkansas Advocates for Children and FamiliesNWA CouncilUniversity of ArkansasNeurodiversity Image courtesy of Dr. Nancy DoyleThis episode is sponsored by*Signature Bank of Arkansas "Community Banking at its Best!" Try Canva For Free Today! Northwest Arkansas Council - "Life Works Here!" *Note: some of the resources mentioned may be affiliate links. This means we get paid a commission (at no extra cost to you) if you use that link to make a purchase.Connect more with I am Northwest Arkansas:Grab our Newsletter Email Us at [email protected] With Our Facebook Page Connect With Us on Threads Connect With Our Instagram Connect With Our LinkedIn PageJoin The Facebook Group Connect with our Fearless Host, Randy Wilburn on LinkedInThank you for listening to this I am Northwest Arkansas podcast episode. We showcase businesses, culture, entrepreneurship, and life in the Ozarks. Consider donating to our production team to keep this podcast running smoothly. Donate to I Am Northwest Arkansas Mentioned in this episode:Winetopia 2026Winetopia 2026 Date: Friday, October 16th Time: 7-10pm Place: Stonebreaker Hotel on Markham hill Winetopia is Restore Humanity’s biggest annual fundraiser and brings together the very best of Northwest Arkansas (restaurants, artisans, small businesses, and (community members) to support our work. While the event raises essential funds for children in Kenya, its heartbeat is entirely local. There are over 100 local businesses who contribute auction items, regional chefs and beverage makers who showcase their craft, and the hundreds of residents gathering to celebrate community generosity. Winetopia strengthens local partnerships, elevates homegrown talent, and reinforces Northwest Arkansas's identity as a place where global compassion is fueled by local collaboration. Winetopia is a beautiful demonstration of how a united local community can create life-changing impact for children and families worldwide. Winetopia 2026