Autism and the workplace: 'Weird, but not that weird'

A day at work could be hell. Sharing the same space, listening to my colleagues small talk can drive me mad especially when you try to join the conversation and everyone acts as if they didn't hear you. If I were to visit a doctor (which happened 18 years ago) they would give a nod of recognition and then come to the concluison: “I think you may be autistic”.

You may get referred to a psychiatrist who would also come to the same conclusion. But it's not like I have to fit in with anyone. I know most of the world doesn't care about me nor tries to make a decent effort to understand me.

The problem is, you do have to fit in – at least in the world of work if you want to eat and pay the rent. Like many high-functioning people on the spectrum, I’ve worked out the alien codes of small talk and office politics over many years. I speak them as if it were a foreign language, but it remains foreign and hard to keep going all the time. The hidden depleting effects of enforced social interaction can sometimes take their toll. Which I why I enjoy the run up towards the weekend or annual leave where I can get some me-time.

My employer already knows about my autism and I've “come out” about my autism to a select few at work. Responses varied. For some it comes as a shock as they wouldn't imagine someone like me being autistic or the common response 'you don't look autistic'. But I do feel that being autistic causes my employer at times to get my colleagues to help me as if I've suddenly been rendered incapable of doing the job that I've been doing since November 2016.

Autism can be a strange beast; it covers a very broad spectrum and serves up a smorgasbord of abilities and challenges. For those with greater support needs government employment initiatives may offer some help on the work front, but for those who have been diagnosed late who’ve managed to mimic, act and wing their way through the common assumption seems to be that we will continue to do just that.

According to the National Autistic Society just 15% of people on the spectrum are in full time work, and this figure may not take into account of those who manage to stay in work but never stay anywhere long, driven away by social overkill. And yet it is being recognised that autism can bring some very useful skills to the work table – focus, attention to detail and commitment being just a few. A small number of companies have recognised this and are actively seeking these skills, especially in technological fields. In return, they are prepared to accommodate the social and sensory difficulties of autism – but many employers are still to catch on that a few reasonable adjustments can make a huge difference to whether a potentially excellent worker stays or goes. And really it doesn’t take that much; just a willingness to allow some time out when needed (like a relaxation room) and a recognition that not everyone wants to be part of communal brews and Secret Santas.

Me personally, I enjoy working to a clear structure with set tasks in an environment where I can seek a quiet area and where no one thinks it strange if I stick my fingers in my ears at sudden noises.