Aspies in the Workplace: 25 Tips for Employers
Aspergers awareness has made employers more sensitive to the needs of "Aspies. " More employers know how to approach an interview with an Aspie as well as how to create a workplace environment for them. As awareness increases, more employers recognize the value of Aspergers employees, and some even offer special job training to help these employees adjust to the workplace. The social and communication problems inherent in people with Aspergers (high functioning autism) create challenges in job-hunting and in sustaining long-term employment. Common social and communication problems that can affect a job include: Sensory processing issues (e.g., responds in an unusual manner to certain sights, sounds, smells or tastes) Repetitive and obsessive behavior (e.g., rocking back and forth, skin picking or hand flapping) Problems understanding the emotions of others, and as a result, may react inappropriately Needs a structured routine and may get extremely upset by routine