Day 16: Work/School
I have been honest at work about being autistic, although this has been accepted I don't think it has always been understood. There are some things that I am really good at and some things I struggle with like any other member of staff. What I need is a little understanding of when there are things I struggle with like change of routine it is not just a dislike or being awkward it can have a huge impact on my wellbeing.
This difference between accepting that a person is different and understanding what their needs are and how you can support them is huge.
For employers - Neurodiversity should be celebrated and embraced. You may well gain from it with some small accommodations.
Only 22% of adults with autism are in paid employment (ONS data published Feb 2020). This makes me realise 2 things, 1 I am lucky to not only have a paid job but one that I love, 2 that is awful more needs to be done to improve that .
