Did you know that an autism diagnosis can be a strength at work? It’s an amazing thing when a person’s perceived challenges can simultaneously be their strengths, which is often the case with autism. 1 in 70 people are on the autism spectrum, and with the right support, can all achieve a great quality of life at work. In this article we explore strengths that commonly present in autism, what’s required to help them transfer to the workplace, and the pathways to diagnosis.
Symptoms of autism; communication and behaviour
First, to help you better understand how autism presents in adults, here is a list of common symptoms:
Communication:
- Getting very anxious about social situations
- Avoiding eye contact
- Not understanding social “rules”, such as not talking over people
- Finding it difficult to make friends or preferring to be on your own
- Seeming blunt, rude or not interested in others without meaning to
- Finding it difficult to understand what others are thinking or feeling
- Finding it difficult to say how you feel
- Taking things very literally - for example, you may not understand sarcasm or phrases like “break a leg"
- Dominating conversations and providing excessive information on the specific topics you are interested in
- Using repetitive or unique language
Behaviour:
- Having the same routine everyday and getting very anxious if it changes
- Having a very strong reaction or no reaction at all to sensory stimuli, such as textures, sounds, smells and taste
- Preference for highly specific interests or hobbies that you spend a lot of time on
- Having trouble regulating your emotional responses
It is unlikely that a single person will display all of these symptoms. There is also a misconception that the spectrum is linear. In fact, autistic people can display a wide range of characteristics in their strengths and challenges, which can appear more like a constellation.
Moreover, autism can present differently in women and men. For example, autistic women may be quieter, may hide their feelings, and may appear to cope better with social situations - therefore making it harder to spot.
In the workplace
Despite some initial difficulties, autistic employee can be very successful in their field of work due to their unique style of thinking. This can include above average:
- Attention to detail
- Concentration
- Persistence
- Problem solving
- Visual thinking
- Memory
- Empathy
- Independence
However, maximising their productivity and even sustaining their employment can be difficult without proper diagnosis and support. This not only impacts the individual negatively, but also the employers and co-workers who miss out on valuable workplace contributions from neurodivergent employees.
Book an assessment for an autism diagnosis
Knowing exactly what supports are best for autistic employees are often individual and context specific. This is where psychological intervention can be necessary. A neurocognitive assessment carried out by a registered psychologist will produce a personalised, comprehensive diagnostic report, including: diagnosis, recommendations for support and adjustments in educational and/or vocational settings, as well as individualised strategies to manage symptoms.
Book an ND Screening for a psychologist's opinion
If it is unclear whether an assessment is needed, a neurodevelopmental screening can assess whether the symptoms presented are clinically significant enough for further testing.
Book workplace mental health therapy for support and adjustments
If you already have an autism diagnosis and are feeling anxious or overwhelmed at work, you can access both supports and adjustments through our workplace mental health services.