Why hire people with autism?

People with autism can have strengths that are beneficial to employers. These include tenacity, attention to detail, and the ability to see things in a new light, or problem-solve in a different way. However many people with autism that are conducting their job search run into problems when looking for work. Many have discovered that work environments and people in those environments aren’t set up to be autism-friendly, therefore increasing nervousness and the likelihood that they won’t do well in the interview process or at the job itself.

Without the right support, the work environment can be confusing. Sometimes everything can become overwhelming – from the noises of clattering keyboards or ringing phones to the unspoken social rules of work life. Or, getting bombarded with questions during the interview process. It can feel like information overload.

So why is it worth to employers to change their ways and make their workplaces more autism-friendly?

Sometimes autism can mean people are skilled in areas that others aren’t. According to research, many people with autism have skills and interests that would be invaluable to employers. For example, many of the world’s most talented software engineers have been diagnosed with autism. In the case of technology-related fields, there is a strong need to have mathematics skills, understanding of complex systems and an appreciation for order – skills that many people with autism display. Furthermore, people on the spectrum thrive in careers like these as there is little need for social interaction in the field of technology because the computer operator usually works in his or her own space with just their computer.

That of course, is not the case for all people with autism. There are others with autism who lean more toward caring for animals, for instance. Many young people with autism bond easily with animals, and this could later result in pursuing a field related to caring for animals. Just like people without autism – those with autism have skills in many different areas. Employers just have to understand that they do things a little differently but at times can offer even more than someone without autism.

Not to mention, people with autism are incredibly driven to find work. In fact, survey results show that the vast majority want to work (80%.) It also showed that many autistic people are unemployed. The good news is that between 2018 and 2019, there was a change for the positive when it came to employment disability gap statistics.

In the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Jobs Report shows:

The employment-to-population ratio for working-age people with disabilities increased from 29.5 percent in June 2018 to 31 percent in June 2019 (up 5.1 percent or 1.5 percentage points).
For working-age people without disabilities, the employment-to-population ratio also increased from 74.5 percent in June 2018 to 74.9 percent in June 2019 (up 0.5 percent or 0.4 percentage points).

Here are a few more great stats about the changes in the employment landscape and how people with autism can be a true benefit to the workplace. Keep reading to learn more about how employers can make their workplace more autism-friendly to not only help reduce the disability employment gap, but to also attract the right kind of talent.

How can employers help people with autism?

Employers can play their part by making simple changes to the workplace to reduce the overload of too much information. Businesses can benefit from the potential of autistic employees and help them to be successful. How?

Offering apprenticeships, work experience, volunteering opportunities and internships to autistic people
Increasing their managers’ and employees’ understanding of autism and making their workplace autism-friendly.
Making the work environment autism and disability-friendly….

A few measures employers can take to make the work-environment friendly for people with disabilities

Ensuring employee has access to quiet, low stimuli workspace if requested
Providing the employee with a written description of weekly or daily job duties
Allowing for the use of paper notebook, digital personal data assistant or other task and scheduling assistance devices for employees with difficulty remembering or creating new memory
Establishing flexible hours, extended breaks, and work-from-home procedures to assist those who have difficulties with concentration and decision-making
Maintaining consistent job tasks for employees who have difficulties coping with rapid change
Allowing personal care attendants or job coaches to accompany employees to work
Ensuring large font options are available in printed documents for employees with low vision and audio versions of printed documents are available for employees who are blind
Providing handheld magnifiers or digital stand magnifiers for employees with low vision, but who may need to read printed material
Ensuring office and meeting spaces have enough room to accommodate a service animal sitting at the employee’s feet
Providing on-site American Sign Language services or Video Remote Interpreting to assist with in-person communication in the workplace, as well as providing employees with hearing disabilities access to Video Relay Services to aid in communication with outside parties
Purchasing office equipment that allows for height-adjustable work surfaces to accommodate different wheelchair heights and limb mobility
Shifting heavy-load lift and carry responsibilities to other staff and offsetting this redistribution of tasks with another comparable task for the employee needing that accommodation

Not all of these are required to make the workplace autism-friendly. Each person’s needs vary and at times accomodating for someone with autism requires little to no effort, as many people already have all of the equipment and devices they need to live their everyday life. However, employers can always take additional measures like the ones listed above in order to make the workplace even more autism-friendly.Take a look at this great resource for employers for more information.

Autism-friendly employers

As decreasing the disability employment gap becomes a larger initiative for the US, and employers slowly start to see that people with autism can truly provide a truly unique contribution to the workplace, we will see more and more employers putting these measures in place to attract talent of all kinds.

As an employer, you may be one of the first in your space that takes advantage of this untapped workforce. But you can also take a look at some of the world’s biggest companies and follow in their footsteps. For example, take Freddie Mac.

“ Unlike many other companies, Freddie Mac specifically reaches out to people with autism because they see autistic traits as being positives for their particular needs. To do this, they actually partnered with a group of autistic self-advocates–something that is most unusual in the corporate world.”

Here is a list of ten employers who offer jobs to people with autism for more reading.

What we do at PS to prepare students for life beyond high school

We offer students the resources and experience to see what life can be life after high school. The PS Academy Transition Program is designed to provide students with career, vocational and workplace exploration through tours to community businesses, incoming speakers, vocational assessments and interest inventories, aptitude assessments and a variety of hands-on, work-related experiences to assist students in determining their strengths, preferences, and interests. In addition, students are provided with opportunities to learn about their community and the resources available to them.

Volunteer opportunities to support job readiness are available through our school store; The Snack Shack; The Aris Foundation and other area businesses.

The Transition Programs also provide students with personal financial literacy classes, technology communication safety training, resume writing, and overall workplace readiness and social skills in the workplace.

As The Transition Program continues to grow it is our focus to provide the best possible opportunities for our students to thrive in whatever path they desire.

If you would like to know more about our transition program and what we do to make sure students are set up for future success, get in touch!