An often-cited statistic regarding the autism community is its high unemployment or underemployment rate which ranges from 80% to 90%. Of all the categories of disabilities, autism stands out as the highest for the unemployed.
I am not sure how this statistic is obtained, but based on personal experience, I know it’s more than accurate. Consider that it is only for individuals diagnosed or who identify as autistic. It doesn’t include a significant segment of undiagnosed workers over the age of 40 who have struggled their whole lives trying to hold on to their jobs. Autism was not widely addressed or diagnosed in children until the 1990s.
Employers need to know the challenges and benefits of hiring adults on the autism spectrum. This alone will help bring down this alarming statistic and strengthen our economy at the same time. The country is struggling with a dearth of workers to fill jobs and a low unemployment rate. So, let’s work better in hiring and managing people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other intellectual disabilities!
THE CHALLENGES
1. Perhaps the biggest challenge for both sides (employer and employee) is communication and social understanding. Some on the spectrum are either challenged or uncomfortable speaking up for themselves, whether it’s interpersonal concerns or working conditions. Many have difficulty picking up on facial cues or body language.
2. Anxiety is very common for adults with autism. There are so many common things we take for granted in our daily lives. Add to the above, fine or gross motor skills, processing, and spatial awareness issues, one can easily understand why there would be anxiety.
3. Jobs that require much multi-tasking and dealing with customers normally are not a good fit for autistic adults, primarily for the reasons already stated. Some ASD adults may converse well but still struggle with multiple tasks.
THE BENEFITS
Having a son and a 47-year-old nephew with Asperger’s Syndrome and having placed many autistic adults in jobs these past five years, I am well aware of the benefits of hiring these unique individuals. Employers need to know these benefits too.
1. So many companies now are really struggling with both hiring and retraining staff. When placed in the right job, autistic adults can be the most relied upon workers on board. They are dedicated and have high attendance rates.
2. Focus. Autistics are highly-focused on their work and many show great attention to details.
3. Many have above average intelligence and excel at problem-solving or figuring things out.
4. Unlike so many of your “typical’ employees today, ASD folks aren’t distracted by cell phones, texting, social media and outside activities. This helps in keeping them on task at work.
5. Many are honest to a fault. White lies are not in their DNA. They are straight shooters no matter how much that might hurt.
You may already have an idea of what kind of jobs would work for autistic adults based on the above. Maybe your workplace has such jobs. Here are some types of work or jobs to consider:
* Repetition, inspection, assembly, packaging
* Cleaning, dishwasher, bussing tables, serving, culinary
* Data entry, keyboarding, clerical, accounting
* IT, coding, computers, website development
* Animal care, grooming, pet sitting
To learn more about working with autistic adults and how an employment specialist or job coach specially trained in this area can help your business, visit Engaged Employment
Part 2 of this blog will show how managers have benefited from hiring autistic workers and how job coaches can help through training and “bridging the gap” between worker and supervisor.
