What can we do to improve employment for autistic people? Everyone on Tumblr just complains which doesn't really help me at all.
It's different for everyone as every autistic person has different support needs, but here are some examples in no particular order:
Allowed to wear headphones/earplugs (and not shamed for it!)
Clear tasks and written instructions - personally I find it very difficult to follow and remember verbal instructions and I know I'm not the only one
Allowed to have and use fidgets in the workplace
Able to work from home (ie, not forced to be in the office for the sake of being in the office)
Adjustable lighting or allowed to wear sunglasses
Not forced to work in an open plan office
Have a designated quiet space to decompress in
A company culture that accepts and encourages taking holiday/sick days
Bullying in the workplace should be taken seriously and not dismissed
No spontaneous meetings - have a schedule and stick to it
Less focus on the need for eye contact/handshakes in interviews
Less hoops to jump through when applying - why do I need to type my entire job experience into your form when it's all in the rΓ©sumΓ© I just uploaded? Why do I need several years of experience for an entry level job?
Don't put 'must work well in a fast paced environment' in your requirements. Work on making the environment less stressful and fast paced instead
Obviously not all of these will work for every person, and some might not be possible in some workplaces, but these are the kinds of things I would find helpful personally.
Fellow autistic people, feel free to add anything that would help you!
ellievsbear
yousharknotpass
annaxmalina
