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People with Autism — Why They Can Make Great Employees

People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are often looked upon as having many challenges that hold them back. To a point, this is true — most people on the autism spectrum do struggle with communication and social interaction, along with restrictive interests, repetitive behaviors and sensory sensitivities.

Unfortunately, this contributes to the stigma that people with autism don’t have a lot of skills and/or can’t contribute in meaningful ways. This often results in people with autism getting left behind from an early age, and getting passed over for job opportunities when they’re older.

The unemployment rate for people with autism is quite high, despite the fact that there’s a lot these individuals can contribute in the professional arena.

A study conducted by JPMorgan Chase, for instance, actually found that people in their Autism at Work initiative ended up being up to 140% more productive and made fewer errors than other neurotypical employees.

This shows that in the proper fields, and with the proper support, individuals with autism can actually thrive because of the skills they have, rather than be held back by their challenges.

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How Can Individuals with Autism Benefit Companies?

Many of the challenges that people with autism face actually end up translating into skills that make them highly productive in a professional environment. One of these challenges that many people on the autism spectrum face is hyperfocus.

They often have the ability to “zone in” on something and drown out other things around them. This can actually be seen in a positive light in the workplace.

If they are matched properly to tasks and a job that they find interesting and engaging, they are likely to excel because of this hyperfocus. They’ll often have an exceptional ability to pay attention to detail, which helps them do their job well.

People with autism are also very creative. They often “think in pictures,” which helps them visualize a situation and come up with creative and innovative ways to solve problems or develop new products and/or services.

In a world where development and advancement is top-of-mind for nearly all companies in all industries, this is an invaluable skill for any worker to have.

In addition to these skills, people with ASD are often very loyal and honest, follow the rules well and are reliable.

What Types of Jobs Are Good for People with Autism?

From a professional standpoint, people with autism will typically lack what are known as the “soft skills.” This includes things such as social graces and other social skills, people and communication skills, time management skills and emotional intelligence.

These challenges often make them appear not engaged or a good fit for a job during interviews, but it doesn’t mean they won’t succeed in a workplace.

People with autism thrive when they’re able to work independently. Positions that don’t require a lot of social interactions are usually best, though supervisors and/or managers can certainly provide detail, direction and support.

Those on the autism spectrum may also require a more defined support system and /or a job that specifically plays to their strengths.

There are a number of jobs in a number of industries that fit this description quite well, actually. People with autism have done very well in jobs such as:

  1. Data analysis
  2. Computer programming
  3. Graphic design
  4. Accounting
  5. Research and engineering

Many of these jobs require hyperfocus, vigilance, dedication, insight and creative thinking, all while not requiring extensive and ongoing social interactions or working in a team environment. They all play very well to the skills that people with autism have, while minimizing the exposure to the challenges they face.

Blue Gems ABA Helps People with Autism Build Life-Long Skills

While there are many challenges that people with autism face, there are many strengths that they have that also make them exceptional employees. When put in the right industry, at the right company and with the right job, they can be high-performing contributors and even exceed the production of their neurotypical peers.

At Blue Gems ABA, we are dedicated to working with children on the autism spectrum to help them overcome the challenges they face while building life-long skills that they will use in the classroom, in the workplace and throughout their life.

We do this by administering applied behavioral analysis. ABA therapy, as it’s also referred to, is considered the gold standard of treatment plans for people on the autism spectrum. Using positive reinforcement and repetition, our experienced BCBAs help their patients build the social, communication and daily life skills with which they typically struggle.

ABA therapy treatment plans are catered specifically to each individual patient, helping to address the unique skills each has and the challenges they face.

To learn more, please contact us today.