Creating a supportive work environment involves understanding how to work with autistic adults effectively. Whether you are a manager, team leader, or working in any other position, you aim to maintain a happy and balanced workplace with your autistic colleagues. After all, it’s important to ensure all employees feel comfortable and empowered.
Together, we’ll learn how you can improve your workplace, support autistic adults, and foster an inclusive environment for everyone.
Common challenges autistic workers face
It is an unfortunate reality that employers don’t always look at things in this light. The reality is that autistic adults can sometimes face bullying based on preformed biases, as well as potential discrimination.
Because of the lack of understanding, a lot of people struggle when working with autistic adults. Studies show that some behaviors associated with autism could cause barriers, either with the autistic person or a neurotypical coworker. These often include:
- a lack of communication methods and social skills,
- repetitive behaviors and movements,
- sensory issues and overload.
Other conditions can often occur alongside autism, such as ADHD, anxiety, and depression. The work environment might not provide enough support, leading to misunderstandings like:
- stigma about autism,
- lack of support services and modifications during interviews and employment,
- absence of necessary accommodations.
Tips for working with autistic adults
The fact you’re here means you’re already making the first step in creating a more inclusive workplace for everyone. Working with autistic people doesn’t have to be challenging. Here are tips that can help both you and your neurodivergent co-workers enjoy your work environment.
1. Promote understanding
A good starting point is to promote an understanding and inviting environment that avoids preconceived autism stigma. Educate employees with clear, up-to-date information and invite family members or autism advocates to speak and answer questions.
Addressing the lack of support services and modifications is crucial. Job coaches who understand autism can help train and support employees, ensuring a less stressful learning environment.
Providing necessary accommodations is also important. Tools for nonverbal communication or writing difficulties can make a significant difference. Stay informed about helpful technologies and accommodations, and consult with professionals to plan and provide the needed support.
2. Do the research
The first step is always to be aware and do the research. Also, getting to know employees and coworkers is a must for any business to succeed.
There are services that can help provide both employer and employee support that could help improve the work environment. For example, vocational therapy may be especially beneficial for both employees and employers.
Vocational training can help provide the individual with support like:
- potential workplace modification and/or accommodations,
- placement,
- restoration of physical and/or mental ability,
- counseling,
- continuing education,
- additional workplace training.
As an employer, it is good to know about vocational and other therapies and ways that you can offer support. Staying up to date, keeping in contact, and getting to know your employees generally helps boost morale and may help inspire everyone to do the same.
3. Consider adding an idea/question box to the door
A positive work environment will help foster inclusion and the potential for quality feedback from employees. Adults with autism may have difficulty communicating, so you should think about ways to make it easier for them.
One way could be adding a simple box to the door where everyone can submit their ideas or questions. This is a box that could be set up outside a direct supervisor’s door, lunchroom, or other easy-access area where someone could fill out a slip of paper and put it inside.
It would be a good idea to check in with these ideas so people don’t feel it’s been a waste even putting in their idea. Always remember – it’s easier to share ideas where you feel comfortable and accepted.
4. Organize Zoom meetings
Zoom meetings have made a world of difference for many different people, from classrooms to homes to the office. It has become an area that people are becoming more comfortable using.
If someone is having a hard time communicating, there is a chat box where they can type in their ideas to be read by the other attendees. There are other tools like this that make it easier to communicate and interact in a less stressful way.
5. Use different communication apps
There are numerous ways to communicate without it being face-to-face, including various apps available for this purpose. One of the ways they are helping autistic adults is by alleviating some of the social anxiety and sensory overload that can occur face-to-face.
The tools are also there to help make it a little easier to navigate different areas like social skills, time management, and calming strategies if they are feeling overloaded.
6. Get to know each other
Getting to know your employees and fellow coworkers should be an ongoing goal. If you have a work environment where people are accepted and receive support and praise, then I would go ahead and say that it sounds like you’re well on your way.
Try the next fun team-building activity you found on that Pinterest board! It will be those fun ideas that help foster the team-building spirit and keep the self-esteem and morale of coworkers increasing.
There is no definitive list of meet this and do that because there are so many different people, personalities, needs, etc. That is what helps make a diverse workplace work for the best.
Find what works best for your workplace
We have discussed ways of making workflow easier for the autistic employee and how that works in a happy, open, and inviting work environment. It’s important to remember that the relationships start during the job interviews and continue through the employment journey.
Many adults with ASD diagnosis may have specific expectations of the work environment, just as there are expectations for them as employees. Finding the synergy and flow and what tools and support would best help build up and make these expectations realities that benefit the employees and employers.
With a little bit of out-of-the-box thinking with an ear that is ready to hear what may need to change, the work environment can be a place that is understanding and accepting of the many differences that can make up a diverse workplace.
FAQs
Q: What is the best way to work with someone with autism?
A: The best way to work with someone with autism is to communicate clearly and provide structured, consistent routines while being patient and understanding of their unique needs and perspectives. Creating an inclusive environment that accommodates sensory sensitivities and encourages their strengths can greatly enhance collaboration and productivity.
Q: How to be successful as an autistic adult?
A: Success as an autistic adult involves leveraging one’s unique strengths and seeking support when needed, such as through specialized career counseling or therapy. Building a supportive network of understanding friends, family, and colleagues can also foster a positive environment for personal and professional growth.
Q: How to deal with autism anger in adults?
A: To manage autism-related anger in adults, it is essential to identify and address underlying triggers through personalized strategies like sensory adjustments, clear communication, and coping techniques such as mindfulness or behavioral therapy.
References
Gal, E., Golan, O., & Goldfarb, Y. (2021). A Self-Determination Theory Approach to Work Motivation of Autistic Adults: A Qualitative Exploratory Study. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10803-021-05185-4
Gonzales, M. (2022). What Life Is Like for Autistic Workers: These employees often face discrimination, bias and bullying in the workplace.
Cope R, Remington A. The Strengths and Abilities of Autistic People in the Workplace. Autism Adulthood. 2022 Mar 1;4(1):22-31. doi: 10.1089/aut.2021.0037. Epub 2022 Mar 9. PMID: 36605563; PMCID: PMC8992926. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36605563/
Black, M.H., Mahdi, S., Milbourn, B., Scott, M., Gerber, A., Esposito, C., Falkmer, M., Lerner, M.D., Halladay, A., Ström, E., D’Angelo, A., Falkmer, T., Bölte, S. and Girdler, S. (2020), Multi-informant International Perspectives on the Facilitators and Barriers to Employment for Autistic Adults. Autism Research, 13: 1195-1214. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.2288
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