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Designing a Sensory-Friendly Workplace for Autistic Adults
Autism is a lifelong condition, yet there is a noticeable lack of research on adults on the autism spectrum (Fairbank, 2023). Despite limited studies, challenges are emerging, one being a lack of sensory-friendly workplaces (Pryke-Hobbes et al., 2023). While the struggles of entering the workforce...
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An Autistic’s Vision for Lasting and Successful Workplace Neurodiversity
Consider Dan Burger, a gifted and autistic computer science student at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN. In spite of the challenges he faced along his journey through school and into the workforce, Burger's exceptional abilities at visual problem-solving and dealing with large amounts of data...
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Six Steps for Greater Autism Inclusion In The Workplace
Imagine you have an employee who excels at pattern recognition, thinks “outside of the box” and has extreme attention to detail. Yet, they might not enjoy making eye contact or be the best at reading social cues. This was the case for one company’s new hire that I learned about during...
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Ensuring Safety in an Inclusive Workplace
According to the Office of Disability Employment Policy, “Americans on the autism spectrum experience substantial challenges to attaining competitive integrated employment opportunities that match their interests, gifts, and talents. They experience substantial unemployment and underemployment,...
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Fostering a Healthy Workplace Requires a Holistic Approach
Our home lives have invaded our workspaces, and vice-versa. The whole person, not just the employee, shows up at work, and likewise, it’s not just mom or dad who shows up at home. Because of the pandemic’s significant impact on employee work-life balance, employers can no longer assume...
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Implementing Common Sense Practices to Improve the Psychological and Emotional Safety of Autistic Adults in the Workplace
I hired five adults on the autism spectrum. Am I a hero? No. Do I have all of the answers? No. However, after years of actively listening to autistic adults describe their emotional struggles whilst they desperately tried to maintain employment in the traditional workplace, I am committed to taking...
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Uniquely Human Podcast #9 – Honoring the Culture of Autism with Michael John Carley
Episode 9 - Honoring the Culture of Autism with Michael John Carley Overview Michael John Carley joins us to discuss the importance of respecting autism culture in school and at work. Continue the Discussion Do you have a book or podcast club? If so, you may use this discussion guide...
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How We’ve Always Done It
I remember the day exactly. It was an unspectacular Sunday and I was headed to the last job I would ever take working for somebody else. It was a low-paying, hourly, management position for an animal nonprofit and just about the only benefit of the job was that I was in charge of making the...
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Supporting Young Women with ASD Through Transition Services, Employment and Volunteer Opportunities
Over the next decade, approximately half a million young people on the autism spectrum will transition to adulthood (Demer, 2018). When they turn 21, they must leave behind the programming and funding that has supported them throughout their lives, with many families not knowing what to do next....
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Summer Vacation: A Prime Opportunity to Develop Social Skills for the Workplace
For many students, the end of the school year represents a time to relax, celebrate the change of pace, and enjoy leisure time. However, each year, there are many individuals who approach the end of the school year and find that this is a time of transition; a time for entering the unfamiliar world...
