Autism is defined as a broad range of developmental differences characterised by challenges with social and communication skills. It is often referred to as a spectrum disorder hosting a range of traits and variability. Every autistic person is individual in their traits and how it affects them. For me, I would liken it to being in a foreign country and not understanding the language or customs. Trying to navigate your way through communication and an understanding of the people around you, without really knowing how to make contact. Due to a misrepresentation in media the stereotypical views on a person with autism is someone like rain man, or a child who can’t do their work properly, is non-verbal and rocks back and forth. While this is the case for some, I can safely say, it’s definitely not the case for me and the majority of the autistic people I have met. You are much more likely to have interactions with an autistic person who struggles but can appear ‘normal’ to the untrained eye. That is often the nature of the disorder, a mask is put up to protect and hide those traits that wouldn’t fit into a neurotypical world.
So, how might interactions differ when communicating with someone on the spectrum. Autistic people often struggle with social norms like eye contact and spatial awareness, this can sometimes be interpreted as coldness or a sense of entitlement. Another example is social exhaustion. Often interactions with others can be extremely tiring for an autistic person, this can lead to burnout where the person appears uninterested, upset or boring to their peers. Another common issue is processing times. For some autistic people it can take longer for them to understand a task and fulfil it. This can be frustrating in a fast paced environment and can often seem like that person is not pulling their weight. This can lead to tension in the work place. However, there are often simple ways on which I have found that my colleagues can help me with these struggles. For example, allowing me the space to have my down time. Think about providing a break area with lower noise levels, fewer people and where there are no expectations to talk. Being understanding that I’m not always on ‘top form’ with my social interactions and that isn’t me being rude, it’s me taking the time I need in order to be the best worker I can be. Allowing someone on the spectrum the time to sit with information, digest it and complete the task. Sometimes it might take us a little longer but what is done, will be done well. If you have an expectation for time management or work quantity be upfront about this so we can calculate the best way to get this done. Also try to avoid information dumping, assigning multiple tasks or new pieces of information at a time can be overwhelming. Use clear and direct instructions outlining the task and your expectations.
If you are someone who is on the spectrum some things that I have found to be helpful in my work place are finding a safe person who I feel comfortable reporting back to about my day any difficulties and successes. Being honest and open in my communication and advocating for myself if I do not understand something. Finding common interests with my peers to talk about, in a work place setting you already have your work to talk about. Allowing myself time to decompress away from others. Remember there are often huge benefits to being on the spectrum and when others around you understand they will be able to utilise your skills and abilities to improve the quality of your own work.
To summarise autism can be difficult in any workplace but with simple understanding and allowances, people on the spectrum can thrive and be a real asset to the team.
Georgie Timbers