Autism Employability Guide
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Welcome
We want to enable more autistic people to progress into and within employment by equipping employers with the skills and knowledge to understand their needs.
This resource provides tools for employers to help support autistic people into roles within their workplace.
It aims to help autistic people entering the workplace, to be understood, to reduce anxiety associated with a new role, and enable all candidates to demonstrate their abilities with confidence.
50% of autistic people said that support, understanding or acceptance would be the single biggest thing that would help them into employment. (NAS,2016)
This guide has been developed in partnership with The Northern Area Autism Employability Working Group and The Northern Area Autism Reference Group.
Contents
- What is Autism?
- Talking about Autism
- Myth Busting
- The Benefits of Autistic Employees
- Reasonable Adjustments
- Job role and management processes
- Physical Environment and Equipment
- Job Role and Social and Cultural Practice
- Resources
What is Autism?
Autism is a lifelong developmental condition that impacts how a person communicates with, and relates to other people.
Being autistic means that you see, hear and feel the world in a different way from other people.
Autism is a spectrum condition and impacts people in unique different ways.
Like all people autistic people have their own strengths and challenges.
Statistics show that only 29% of autistic adults are employed despite them having the ability, skills and will to be employed. (ONS, 2021).
The NI 2021 Census reports that there are 35,400 autistic people living in Northern Ireland, which equates to 2 in every 100 people. (NISRA,2022).
Talking about Autism
Autistic people describe themselves and autism in different ways, so it is always best to ask the individual about their preference.
Autistic individuals prefer that terms such as high-functioning or low-functioning are not used, in addition to phrases such as ‘suffering from’.
When discussing autism support the use of the term ‘neurodiversity’.
This is a relatively new term for describing differences that are not necessarily disabilities, but recognises a different way of thinking outside of how a ‘neurotypical’ brain works.
An autistic person could identify as neurodivergent, which covers a range of differences in how the brain works.
When you meet an autistic person they may use varying terminology to describe themselves, some of which is highlighted below:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Autistic Person
- Non Verbal
- Autism Spectrum Condition
- I Have Aspergers
- Speaks Few or No Words
- Verbal
- On The Spectrum
- Person With Autism