An Introduction to autism in the workplace and higher education Employment, HE, FE Training and Consultancy Service

What do you know about autism? Discuss the questions below in pairs: 1. What percentage of the population has a diagnosis of autism? 0.1%, 1.1% or 9.2% How much has the number of students with autism attending university increased in the last 10 years ? 50%, 650% or 1000%? 3. What percentage of people with autism are in full time employment? 15%, 32% or 58%? 4. How many people with autism say they have left or lost a job because of their condition? 8%, 28% or 43% What strengths are commonly associated with people with autism?

What is autism? Life-long developmental condition No one known cause Difficulties in two main areas Social Communication and Interaction Restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviour, interests, or activities Affects 1.1% of population 4:1 ratio (male/female) “It explains how my brain works, and how other people behave in weird ways.” 3

The Autism Spectrum Asperger syndrome Autism (Classic) Average I.Q. Mild learning disability Above average I.Q Moderate learning disability

What is equality? “Everyone is a genius, but if you judge a fish on it’s ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid” – Albert Einstein

Employer’s Perspective Ciaran at Norton Rose LLP “Ciaran has an unflagging eye for detail which is perfect for his role in compliance. He is also as focused at the start of the day as he is at the end of the day, which is very rare for most people!” Ciaran is Master Data Manager in the Compliance section of Norton Rose’s Partnership Office. Sarah at Goldman Sachs “Sarah was a highly valued member of the Internal Support team. She quickly demonstrated that she was very conscientious and thorough so the team had complete faith in her to deliver work on time and to a high standard. This meant that we were able to increase her responsibilities and, in turn, Sarah added more value to, and gained more from, her time with us.” Sarah spent a six month placement with Goldman Sachs as an Administrative Support Officer.

Strengths Attention to detail Methodical approach Good memory for factual information Strong problem solving skills Strong numerical skills Different way of thinking Specialist knowledge and skills Reliable Resourceful 7

Common metaphors: people can take these literally and this can cause anxiety and confusion. In English these are common metaphors utilised in communication. There might be other aspects to BSL that deaf people with ASDs users that might cause confusion 8

Social Communication and Interaction Might interpret language in a literal way May find it difficult to join in the ‘banter’ or make ‘small talk’ May not pick up on non verbal gestures/facial expressions/hints Difficulty with understanding ‘unwritten rules’ 9

Restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviour, interests or activities Difficulty understanding instinctively other people’s thoughts and feelings May have difficulty with new or unfamiliar situations Difficulty dealing with unexplained or unplanned change 11

Light bulbs v. lasers “I have these very focused interests and they are not as varied as other people. I compare it to light bulbs versus lasers. A light bulb will shine its light everywhere and shine all over everything. Whereas a laser only concentrates its light on a very small point but it will be a very intense point. Sometimes I wish I could just suddenly open myself to all these other things. But, I can’t do it. I just make the most of focusing my energy on what I know and what I like. I do wish I could just open my mind a bit. It’s very difficult.”

Other characteristics Anxiety and co-occurring mental health conditions Sensory sensitivities - hyper or hypo Single attention Special interests Problems with ‘executive function’ Perfectionism Anxiety Individuals with an ASC will usually have high levels of anxiety; this will be for a number of different reasons. These might be linked to not knowing what the future will hold for them, be it the immediate or long term, hence the love of routines. It may be the confusion they feel relating to many of the unwritten social rules of the workplace. High anxiety levels will impair individual’s ability to communicate and to perform their role. Single Attention Many people with an ASC have a difficulty in switching from between tasks in the workplace. Many people with an ASC will have difficulty in “multitasking”. As one young man with an ASC eloquently puts it “one of the main differences between normal people and autistic people is that you guys have divided attention, whereas we autistic folk have single attention…this means we can become absorbed by one thing and devote our entire attention to it!” Special interests: People with an ASC may develop an intense, sometimes obsessive, interest in a particular hobby. Some are very knowledgeable in their chosen field of interest, whether it is trains, computers, a particular TV show or something else. Sensory difficulties: Most people with an ASC experience sensory difficulties; these can be in one or all of the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, or taste). For example, bright lights, loud noises, overpowering smells, particular food textures and the feeling of certain materials may cause anxiety, pain or discomfort. Some people have utilised their sensory sensitivities in employment, especially in creative roles, within the media, music or art. 13

Benefits to whole organisation A disability confident organisation will: Have motivated employees and students working to their full potential Attract the right people Have higher productivity levels at reduced costs Deliver innovative products and services Have stronger customer and student relationships and satisfaction Offer more professional development to its’ workforce and student population Avoid costly and resource-intensive tribunal claims

Employment Training and HE Services Workplace assessments Training for Managers and Colleagues Training for HR Professionals Training for employment professionals Training for employees with autism Training for HE Careers advisors Training for HE Mentors Training for HE Needs Assessors Training for general HE staff

Further Information Employment Training Service: www.autism.org.uk/working-with/employment.aspx Employment.training@nas.org.uk 020 7704 7450 Business Disability forum: www.businessdisabilityforum.org.uk Autism Services Directory: www.info.autism.org.uk

David, Graduate with autism A message from David “My message to employers would be that people with autism can make very good employees. They can be very loyal, very dedicated, very passionate and very hard working. They can give their 110% best. But they do need support and they may need encouragement and reassurance. To good employers that shouldn’t be a problem. That’s a key message. Autism is not a condition that employers should be frightened about. With a little bit of investigation, a little bit of research, they’ll soon discover that people with autism have got good qualities which could really enhance their businesses. I think it’s all about creating a workforce which is disability-friendly. Ultimately, it’s about having employers who value difference, diversity and don’t treat people who behave differently in a negative way” David, Graduate with autism