Offering the Proper Accommodations for Autism in the Workplace
It is estimated that during the next decade, more than 500,000 young people with ASD will turn 18. It’s hard enough for high school students and college graduates to find employment as it is, but for young adults with ASD, it is can be even a bigger obstacle (Silverman, 2013).
According to Autism Spectrum News, the unemployment rate of those diagnosed with disabilities has continued to range from 72% to 88% between 1997 and 2011 (Greenburg & Jimenez, 2014). Even though many individuals with ASD are striving to attain employment, many employers are still reluctant to offer opportunities for these individuals to integrate into the working environment with the necessary accommodations.
This is highly unfortunate and shortsighted, as research has determined that, with the proper training and supports, individuals with disabilities can succeed in the workplace. Learning how to complete regular job duties associated with the position, taking proper lunch and other breaks, or attending an employee assistance program can have a positive impact on an employee with ASD (Greenburg & Jimenez, 2014).
NonPereil Institute in Plano, Texas, is one company that is making strides to train individuals with ASD for the work setting. Tasks that require the ability to hyper-focus with limited interaction with people such as software programming or 3D modeling are ideal for employees who have ASD. NonPereil has two dozen employees with ASD thriving with these kinds of tasks.
Another company in Guildford, Connecticut, called Roses for Autism, hires older students with ASD and gives them opportunities to engage in numerous aspects of business, including marketing, shipping, inventory management, data entry, and website maintenance (Greenburg & Jimenez, 2014). Learning opportunities such as these allow participating students not only to familiarize themselves with the business, but they also encourage proper work ethic.
A Fortune 500 company in North Texas has also been taking advantage of this “untapped labor market” by hiring a dozen people with disabilities. Jim Pierce, the vice president of Corporate Administration at Alliance Data, described one of his employees with ASD as “a phenomenal worker.”
Organizations such as NonPereil, Roses for Autism, and Alliance Data are proof that individuals on the autism spectrum can prosper in the workplace in certain roles and when the proper supports are in place. Hopefully, in the next few years, other organizations will continue the trend of employing more individuals with ASD.
References
Greenburg, A., & Jimenez, R. (2014, March 1). Identifying employment opportunities and providing support. Autism Spectrum News.Retrieved from http://www.mhnews-autism.org/back_issues/ASN-Spring2014.pdf
Silverman, L. (2013, April 22). Young adults with autism can thrive in high-tech jobs. Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/04/22/177452578/young-adults-with-autism-can-thrive-in-high-tech-jobs
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