An Introduction To Working With The Spectrum
When trying to understand Autism Spectrum Disorder from a more elaborate perspective, it is imperative to factor in all that is to be expected to come with this lifelong disorder. One of the hardest realities to face regarding autism is that abilities such as being an ingenious scientist or mathematician are not always enough when trying to get and keep a job. Side effects with autism may clash with developing important abilities to a required function, leading to difficulty with finding available jobs.
Co-morbid mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, disrupted sleep, and much more are all extremely common in autistic adults. This not only comes into play in their regular daily lives but also takes a massive hit on their lives in a working environment
Anxiety disorders are known to affect up to 42% of people with autism. Specifically, in a working environment, social anxiety is largely common for adults with autism as they are faced with the extreme fear of new people/ social situations on a day-to-day basis. Social anxiety, which is defined as an intense fear of being negatively evaluated in a social or performance situation could lead to performance dissatisfaction and the avoidance of social situations. This in turn results in major difficulties under a working environment full of colleague collaborations, meetings, projects, and more.
Although autism does not directly affect one’s ability to perform physical tasks, it does take a huge toll on the ability to concentrate on certain tasks or even to receive needed instructions when encountering new tasks. Along with that, to get a job, people with autism are required to compete for desired positions which could be very difficult for those who have trouble focusing and even communicating with peers. These difficulties could hamper the performance in job interviews and engagement with colleagues, and even affect mental health.
When in search of a job, autistic adults must be aware of strengths and weaknesses, as well as possible challenges to be encountered. Being fully aware of these traits plays a huge role when advocating for training, internships, and job carvings to find the best-fit job. Many major corporations have started to see the worth of hiring adults with autism. Companies have started to include neurodiversity programs reaching out to autistic adults who have math skills, and building businesses based on autistic adults’ strengths and abilities.
Sources:
10 Things to Know About Autism and Employment
Understanding and Managing Autism and Anxiety in Adults
