Beyond Accommodations: Supporting Autistic Professionals in Education. Practice based guide for employers and employees

Abstract

This guide is intended to support neurodivergent people working by providing information and practical suggestions based upon the views and preferences of neurodivergent adults. Autistic people can have poor employment outcomes, are under-represented in the workforce, and often experience discrimination and poor mental health (Buckley et al., 2021; Bury et al., 2021; Wood et al., 2022). Employment is often precarious (short term, part-time, low paid) and individuals are underemployed or overqualified for their current roles. Although, as not all autistic people are diagnosed or choose to share their autistic identity, the literature may not reflect the true picture. It is therefore important that we increase our understanding of the challenges facing autistic people not only in gaining employment but within the workforce. This study draws on the experience of autistic professionals working in health and education because professionals working within health and education are well placed to become influential positive role models (Lawrence, 2019). The guidance is based on information obtained during a review of published literature and interviews with thirty-four autistic people who work in professional roles within health and education in Scotland. They were asked about their experiences of training, recruitment, and employment, particularly factors that offered them support, and factors which challenged them. They also provided recommendations for improving training, recruitment, and employment for neurodivergent people in the future. The guide was also reviewed by people working in management and human resources roles across health and education. This guide is intended to provide information which will support neurodivergent people in employment. Often adjustments to language, mindsets and actions do not cost money and can provide benefit to the whole diverse workforce. Throughout this guide we have included direct quotations obtained during interviews with autistic professionals. This guide and the research on which it is based was conducted by a team which includes autistic and non-autistic researchers. Although our focus has been on autistic people, it is well known that most autistic people experience co-occurring mental health and neurodevelopmental differences. Similar experiences are shared by people with ADHD or who identify as neurodivergent.