People with autism often struggle with job interviews. A company is recruiting people on the autism spectrum for firms in need of skilled workers.
autism and employment
Positive well-being may protect against depression in people with autism
In an Autism Research study of 36 newly employed adults with autism spectrum disorder who were participating in a supported employment program, positive well-being–or a sense of happiness and life satisfaction–was associated with a lower risk of developing depression over 12 months of follow-up.
Apart from a slight increase in daily living skills and a slight decrease in job satisfaction, other measures of mental health and well-being remained stable over time, suggesting that intervention programs that specifically target mental health and well-being in the workplace may be needed to improve outcomes.
“While previous research has tended to focus on the negative aspects of mental health such as depression and anxiety, in this study we felt it was also important to focus on positive well-being–a construct often overlooked in autism research in adulthood. There needs to be more mental health research involving adults with autism, and it is particularly important to understand what predicts good mental health and better outcomes overall” said lead author Dr. Darren Hedley, of Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, La Trobe University, in Australia.
The firm whose staff are all autistic
Peter, Evan and Brian work at a small technology firm based by the beach in Santa Monica, testing software and fixing bugs.
On first inspection it seems like any other Los Angeles-based company, with tasteful art on the white walls and calm-inducing diffusers dotted about.
Peter describes the working atmosphere as “quiet, but fun”, and especially likes the fact that there is no pressure to socialise, while Evan says of his employers that they are “very accommodating and understanding”. Brian describes his office as “unique”.
Auticon is one of only a handful of companies that cater exclusively for employees who are on the autistic spectrum.
Formerly known as MindSpark before being acquired by German-based Auticon, the firm was founded by Gray Benoist who, as the father of two autistic sons, saw few options in the workplace that could cater for their needs.
“Both are incredibly capable and smart and deserve an opportunity to be able to express that,” he told the BBC on a recent visit to the company.
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Job Searching on the Autism Spectrum | Tony Attwood and Zach Zaborny | EPIC Assist
In this video Tony and Zach share their knowledge about the skills you’ll need for a job interview. They discuss important aspects of personal presentation, responding appropriately to open-ended questions, planning your journey to the interview location, and most importantly, practicing the interview scenario. Tony also shares insights about interpreting body language and language cues to help you make a positive impression.
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EPIC Assist has joined forces with Asperger’s Syndrome expert Professor Tony Attwood to develop a three-part series about employment on the Autism Spectrum. The video series also features EPIC’s own Zach Zaborny, who brings his lived experience of Asperger’s Syndrome to the discussion. The videos are beneficial not only for those on the Autism Spectrum, but also people wishing to increase their awareness and confidence around disability.
More below
Should I Disclose My Autism to a Prospective Employer?
Autism and employment
IF YOU HAVE AUTISM spectrum disorder, should you disclose that fact when you’re interviewing for a job? If you’ve been hired without sharing your spectrum disorder with your boss, should you tell him or her about it?
For people with ASD, whether to disclose their diagnosis is a complex and deeply personal question, says Leslie Long, vice president of adult services at Autism Speaks, a research and advocacy organization that focuses on autism across the spectrum and throughout the life span of people with ASD and their families. “Disclosure is a very individualized decision,” Long says. The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits employers from discriminating against people with ASD. It requires employers with 15 or more workers to provide a reasonable accommodation for an employee with a disability.
Though the law is clear, and some firms recruit people on the autism spectrum, there’s no guarantee a prospective employer or a work supervisor will welcome someone with ASD. Long has spoken to people with ASD who have disclosed their spectrum disorder to a boss or a prospective employer. Some had good experiences, in which their boss or potential manager was supportive and, when needed, provided reasonable accommodations called for by the ADA. Other people with ASD have told her they felt stigmatized after disclosing their spectrum disorder. “I don’t think people (with ASD) should disclose unless they need to,” Long says.
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