What Benefits Can Autistic Workers Bring To Your Business?
Research tells us that young adults with autism are less likely to find work than their peers with other kinds of disabilities. This is a shame as autistic adults are actually very employable in lots of different jobs.
In fact, research from Colorado State University shows that people with autism have much better long term memory than normal adults and so jobs which irequire this attribute may be a good choice for people with autism. The sort of jobs that people with autism can do well in are are: programming, drafting, commercial art, photography, equipment designing, animal trainer, mechanic, computer troubleshooting/repair, small appliance repair, laboratory technician, web page design, building trades, video game designer, computer animation, building maintenance, factory maintenance, librarian/reshelving books, factory assembly work, restocking shelves, data entry.
And so if you receive applications from a candidate with autism it’s likely that they will be able to perform these roles well. But, there are also jobs that people with autism are likely to find difficult and these are: Cashier, Cook, Waiter/waitress, Casino dealer, Anything with oral dictation, Taxi dispatcher, Ticket agent (airline, circus, etc.), Market trader, Auctioneer, Receptionist.
If you are still not finding it easy to imagine a person with autism working well in your business then consider these four case studies which show how well people with autism are working in blue chip, multinational organizations.
SAP. Back in 2013, German Software company SAP announced its plans to hire hundreds of people with autism as the firm believes that people with autism have a unique talent for information technology. They expect that by 2020, 1% of its global work-force of 65,000 workers would be people with autism. SAP recognizes that people with autism are often highly intelligent and have a keen attention to detail. Since people with autism think differently, SAP believe that they will be able to spark innovation and enable them to handle the challenges of the 21st century more effectively.
Specialisterne. The majority of software testers, (75% at this Danish IT consultancy have Asperger’s syndrome or a form of autism spectrum disorder. The reason that people with autism are so suited to this role is because software testing requires excellent powers of concentration and a tolerance for routine tasks which are traits that people with autism often possess.
Microsoft. They have just announced a new program to hire people with autism at their headquarters in Washington and will be working closely with Specialisterne on this iniative.
Rising Tide car wash. This company in Florida has hired 35 employeeswho are autistic as they have such a great eye for detail.
I hope you can see that people with autism can, if placed well, perform to a very high level in many areas of the business. It’s just about finding the right position to suit.
Useful Links for students of all ages.
- Creating the Optimal Environment for a Kid with ADHD
- Suggested Classroom Interventions for Children with ADD & Learning Disabilities
- The Life-Changing Impact of Autism Service Dogs
- Addressing Special Education Needs for Students Learning English as a Second Language
- 22 Tips for Teaching Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders
- 50 Must-See Blogs for Special Education Teachers
- The Ultimate Guide to Water Safety for Parents and Caregivers of Children with Autism
- Teaching Your Child About Peers with Special Needs
And here are a few that high school and college educators, parents and students will find helpful:
- Teaching College Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Autism and Addiction: Coping with and Treating Your Dual Diagnosis
- Choosing a College: Planning for Teens with ADD
- College Resources for Students with Disabilities
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