Autistics Say It Straight I: What I NEED to Collaborate with You
Help Us Navigate Workplace Chaos Using Our Neurodivergent Strengths
Too-Long;Didn't-Read
Neurodivergent professionals may struggle with sensory and social overload in the workplace. We can support them. How?
Clear expectations and structured environments are essential for autistic productivity. Simple practices help. Which?
Understanding individual needs can transform workplace dynamics for neurodivergents. Ideas.
Let's talk about autistic professionals...
In a work or client setting. The challenges we must overcome.
You know...
Pervasive sensory & social overload,
Impromptu, unprepared meetings,
On-the-spot, real-time brainstorming,
Lack of clear expectations,
Getting our needs heard,
Intense emotional tolls and recovery times,
Lack of respect for our unique needs from other team members.
Some autistics sail through these choppy cubicle-strewn waters. But 40% to 70% of us are unemployed. No matter what our IQ is.
So, let me set the stage for folks like me. Articulate, but nearly unemployable. Then, let's talk how we can fix this situation. In detail...
Cuz that's what I do.
I'm in what anyBODY would recognize as Autistic Hell...
I mean, ANYbody who's ever worked with autistics. Maybe had a distant autistic cousin.
Damn... anybody who's flicked through 5 seconds of Love on the Spectrum.1
I'm in a high-stakes creative meeting with a HUGE tech account. No Non-Disclosure Agreement, but... not dropping names... (cough..., "Microsoft").
It's the 90s. I'm back to being a freelance copywriter. It's my only income... after investors kick me out of my startup business computer magazine. Like a lot of founders, you end up on the street when they get bored…
Sigh. "Vulture capitalism.2 Like a roller coaster. With no brakes. Just an accelerator. Thrilling... til it's not."
And I hit bottom hard. So, I'm pedaling my tech-writing portfolio door to Silicon-Valley door. A big international agency brings me in as a hired gun. Cuz...
Well, seems I could talk Unix3 with the client's tech guys. Agency guys? Couldn't. Not so much. Plus, well... they got this crazy idea I was creative from my magazine awards.
Thing was...
This creative autistic wasn't built for high-speed agency account managers.
Or throw-shit-at-the-wall-see-what-sticks brainstorming.
Or agency politics...
Think a tank of narcissistic sharks, high on cocaine.
Circling around a vast, solid, dark walnut conference table.
In a freezing, glass-walled aquarium... uh, Client Meeting Room #1.
Smelling of leather, warm wood, rank human sweat,
A thin spray of bergamot & citrus for New Age inspiration... and...
Was that a trace of blood in the air?
Yeah. Sensory nightmare.
So, my first sit-down creative meeting… with the entire team? My head is already swimming. BUT... They ask me what I need to jump in and get to work. Professionally and politely.
I'm thrilled! What a great way to start a complex, high-stakes project. I answer immediately, cos-playing "professionally." BUT I say it straight.
Cuz... autism.
"Well, I need a room. Quiet. A buncha pads & markers. Some kind of summary of what they're looking for. And what we want to give them. Any marketing insights you got so far. Some kind of schedule. And then... time."
I flash my mirror-practiced, knowing grin. Into shocked silence. Except for the piercing hum of fluorescent lights...
This was an important meeting.
Talking lead account executive.
Talking entire creative staff.
Talking... freaking Senior Partner. Who right now calmly glances around the room. Impeccably enveloping every attendee with his warm gaze.
Then, narrowing his eyes and lowering his glasses, he turns to me. Clipped tone, frigid calm, approaching Absolute Zero Death Chill...
"We were hoping we might have a brainstorming session... right now. Client meeting scheduled. Friday over lunch."
It's Thursday. Just before lunch. I was desperately hoping to grab the rest of the day for recovery time. Alone. After this meeting. Prepping and rehearsing drained me.
My personal Fun>Panic Meter swings from Green to Red.
"Get me the room. I'll see what I can do." I may have been a tad cool in tone, as well. I got my problems with rank...
Notebooks slam shut. Chairs scrape like fingernails on a blackboard. Bodies rush through doors.
In the space of your average YouTube short? You just saw a ton of unique challenges autistic professionals face in collaborative environments.👇
Alright, let's break it down...
Here's what it's like for me… an autistic professional… working with typical colleagues & managers.
Note: Every autist is different... but here's my story. Even if you see things differently, I hope you get some ideas. Broad patterns that many autistic professionals encounter.
Now, let's dive in...
I thrive on clarity and predictability.
Driving without a map or GPS? Not knowing where I am... where I'm going? Can give me a full-on panic attack. Expanding that to cognitive maps? Not knowing… what's going on?
Example, imagine me in that meeting... lost without an agenda to prepare for. In front of strangers.
Sudden changes to plans?
Vague instructions? Kryptonite to my species.
Now, throw me into an impromptu brainstorming session... zero prep time? Like this agency?
Panic mode: Activated.
I knew exactly what I needed to succeed:
A quiet room, some supplies, and a fucking schedule.
So, I stated that clearly, directly.
But my request was met with crickets...
And a nasty spoonful of "let's just wing it." Not cool.
For autistic folks, sensory overload isn't just distracting – it's debilitating.
See, my brain handles sensory input differently than the majority.
Sense inputs like bright lights, loud noises, nagging smells... distract me.
Invoking all the power of my Will & Best Intentions...
I'm still overwhelmed and shut down. Pretty damn quick.
Garbage input in? No intelligent output out. Nobody makes money.
Remember that autistic kid you once saw meltdown in the candy aisle?
Now, try sticking that kid in a freezing glass box.
With flickering lights, unrelenting gawdawful smells, and mind-numbing chatter.
I'd wake up screaming from that child's nightmare.
And, today, in my 70s? I still freak out... some things never change.
Here's the kicker: My colleagues had no clue.
How come? They’re trying to make me feel at home, after all. Problem is what makes me feel comfortable… is polar opposites from what agency staff thrive on.
They crave social approval,
social status,
social interaction,
social competition,
social leadership,
social social...
Which translates to... the majority work culture makes impromptu meetings, brainstorming sessions, constant access & collaboration JOB #1.
For me? Not so very much.
Word is bond? Cubicle-hotbox thinking is a Death Trap for me.
Give me structure, predictability, and alone time.
Every fucking day of the week.
The Big Reveal: Straight from the Shoulder, What I Need
I have 7 questions... and a request... I always ask when approaching ANY project:
First up, what is the Purpose of this project?
I need to know Purpose. I need a map to fit my contributions into. If you want my best work.
Next, who will see it? How will they benefit or use it?
I'm highly motivated to meet others' needs. If I know well the people I'm writing for...? It helps me feel safe working to meet their needs.
Now, what action or result are you hoping for from your audience?
Clear goals give me focus. Be as detailed in your expectations & instructions. Trust me, I'll let you know if you go too far.🤣
The Biggie… What deadline?!👈👈👈
"As soon as possible" is NOT a deadline. It does NOT motivate me.
It. Shuts. Me. Down. Like every other form of Panic Attack.
"Will that give you time enough for your best work?" Turns me ON. Tunes me IN. I'll DROP everything else I'm doing to work on your project... IF I hear that.
Deadlines are crucial for managing my time and anxiety. But only if you make sure I have enough time to work with my process.
And how about you believe my first estimate of how long I need? It's not Let's Make a Deal. And I'm not much of a bargainer. I tell you straight the first time.
Can I submit a draft in advance of deadline for your review... to ensure I'm on task?
Creativity may be my long suit... But I need your feedback to avoid anxiety... and so keep me on track. Setting up a check-in schedule for constructive feedback gives you my best work. And helps me feel valued.
Any benefit or compensation?
I'm not expecting money for every project... not money for myself anyway.
But give me an idea of how I'm going to help the world?
Or intrigue me with an angle from my own special interests?
Finally, may I mention publicly I am working on your project? Or I submitted it for consideration? Or, otherwise, discuss it?
This can be useful to me. .. maybe you.
And your clear communication about publicity makes sure I respect boundaries and expectations.
For bonus points here’s my human request, PLEASE contact me after your event. Lemme know how my stuff went?
Following up shows respect for my effort. And gives me insight into the impact of my contribution.
It's more than simple human courtesy. It alleviates my anxiety about the work's reception.
Allies can make a difference in a neurodivergent life...
IF you take the time to understand and adapt to us as individuals. Not assume you know us as a group.
Here are some extra steps you can take. Especially important when we work in your office.
Ask Each Neurodivergent Individual about Their Needs: We're all different. I've tried to illustrate my needs to stimulate your creativity. However, each of us has different preferences for communication and collaboration.
Create a Supportive Environment: Celebrate the differences and contributions of neurodivergent thinking. Throughout your environment. Just as you might for the majority of your employees.
Reimagine what it means to be inclusive.
It's not about an email list of "No-No Words circulated by your Personnel Department. It's a way of the heart... creating a home where neurodivergent individuals feel safe and respected.
It's unfortunate. As much as I want to help, I can't work in the dark. Hard on my nervous system. And I find it hard to say "NO!" to anyone.
Help me… help you.
But, Pro Tip...
Knowing these things helps keep my anxiety down. There's a good chance many neurodivergents you contact will need the same. Or more.
Just the same, if they’re not as brash as I am... or able… they may not tell you.
They'll simply turn you down. Or suffer in silence... cuz we're used to trauma. Or just fail to submit what they committed to... cuz they couldn't do it.
FINAL Note
Did you notice? We didn't talk about the social difficulties autistic and other neurodivergents face... in a competitive work environment?
Yet… MAYBE this agency staff saw me as a difficult, uncooperative prima donna. Even as I sat before them, on trial. Caught in the spotlight of their judgment. While they scrutinized my every word.
What’s happening for me? I'm just dog-paddling among sharks to survive. Their environment isn't built for my brain.
So, the worst is yet to come in Part 2...
I got a story to tell ya, "Swimming with Sharks? Facing the Frenzy... THEN Long Recovery." Plus, a bonus yarn about what it's like to work with nonprofits and neurodivergent allies...
ActuallyAutistic#ActuallyAutistic #ADHD #Neurodivergent... #BlahBlahBlah
Key Takeaways
The author emphasizes that neurodivergent professionals often struggle with sensory and social overload in typical work environments.
Clear expectations and structured environments are essential for autistic productivity. Examples may include providing a quiet room, necessary supplies, and a clear schedule, tailored to the individual and project.
The author shares personal experiences to illustrate how understanding individual needs can transform workplace dynamics for neurodivergents.
The article underscores the importance of creating supportive environments that celebrate neurodivergent contributions and differences.
Open communication and collaboration are key to building inclusive workspaces. The author suggests asking specific questions to better understand neurodivergent needs.
The author outlines seven critical questions to ask when starting a project to ensure clarity and predictability, which are crucial for autistic professionals.
The author encourages readers to reimagine inclusivity by adapting to individual neurodivergent needs rather than assuming a one-size-fits-all approach.
Further Reading
Not comprehensive. Not endorsed. Articles that made me think.
Research on Neurodivergent Workplaces
Why It's Important To Embrace Neurodiversity In The Workplace And How To Do It Effectively: This Forbes article emphasizes the mutual benefits of neurodiversity in the workplace. It provides practical advice on how employers can create a more inclusive environment through training, accommodations, and fostering open communication. The article also highlights the productivity and retention benefits of hiring neurodiverse employees.
Neurodiversity at work: a biopsychosocial model and the impact on working adults: This academic article from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) explores the biopsychosocial model of neurodiversity and its impact on occupational performance. It discusses the challenges and strengths of neurodivergent individuals, including those with autism, and provides recommendations for workplace accommodations and support.
Neurodivergent Workers: How to Ask for Accommodations in the Workplace: This LinkedIn article offers practical tips for neurodivergent workers on how to request accommodations. It covers common accommodations such as noise-cancelling headphones, flexible scheduling, and sensory-friendly workspaces, and emphasizes the importance of self-advocacy and open communication with employers
Managing Sensory Overload in Office Settings
Designing a Sensory-Friendly Workplace for Autistic Adults: This article by Heidi Hillman, PhD, discusses optimizing workplace design to be sensory-friendly for autistic adults. It covers various strategies such as creating collaboration areas, leisure spaces, and using diverse sensory processing tools to foster inclusivity and enhance employee performance.
Sensory Safety: A Must Of Neurodiversity Inclusion In The Workplace: This article emphasizes the importance of creating sensory-friendly environments in the workplace. It provides practical steps such as identifying potential sensory triggers, implementing controls like sound-absorbing materials and adjustable lighting, and offering accommodations such as noise-canceling headphones and quiet spaces. The article also highlights the importance of training and education to foster a neuroinclusive culture.
Creating an Autism-Friendly Workplace: Sensory-Friendly Spaces: Written by Tyla Grant, this article explores the benefits of sensory-friendly workplaces for autistic employees. It discusses the importance of reducing stress and anxiety, enhancing focus and productivity, and providing empowerment and choice through hybrid working options. The article also highlights the positive impact of sensory-friendly workplaces on business culture and employee retention.
Lived Experience of Autistic Professionals
Neurodiversity in the Workplace: An Interview Study This qualitative study by Annelies A. Spek and Petra L.C. Tan explores the experiences of neurodivergent employees through in-depth interviews. It highlights the challenges they face, such as sensory issues and communication difficulties, as well as the strategies they use to cope and succeed in the workplace.
"The Lived Experience of Autistic Adults in Employment: A Systematic Search and Synthesis," a PDF download, is directly focused on synthesizing research about the lived experiences of autistic adults in employment settings. This systematic review appears to compile and analyze studies on the first-hand accounts and realities faced by autistic employees.
What Life Is Like for Autistic Workers: Personal anecdotes from autistics in the workplace. Eric Ascher, an autistic employee, shares his personal experience struggling to find employment after college due to challenges in interviews. He says "I definitely struggled during some [job] interviews. Hundreds of applications [and] dozens of interviews all led to nothing."
Neurodiversity and Innovation
Neurodiversity Is a Competitive Advantage: This Harvard Business Review article discusses how companies like Microsoft, Walgreens, and Willis Towers Watson have implemented neurodiversity hiring programs. It highlights case studies of neurodivergent employees contributing innovative solutions and improved productivity in software testing, data operations, and financial analysis roles.
Neurodiversity Driving Innovation: This report by Accenture examines how neurodivergent individuals can drive innovation through their unique cognitive abilities. It features case studies from companies like JPMorgan Chase, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and Havas Group, showcasing neurodivergent-led initiatives in areas like cybersecurity, data analytics, and creative design.
Understanding Autism and Neurodiversity
Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN): ASAN is an organization run by and for autistic people, advocating for the rights of people with autism. They focus on promoting self-advocacy, public policy advocacy, and efforts to improve the lives of autistic individuals through a neurodiversity framework.
Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network (AWN): AWN provides community, support, and resources for autistic women, girls, nonbinary people, and all others of marginalized genders. Their work includes raising awareness about the intersectionality of gender and autism.
Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism: This organization provides valuable insights and resources related to autism. They offer a thoughtful perspective on various aspects of autism and aim to provide a nuanced understanding of neurodiversity.
Love on the Spectrum is a reality TV show on Netflix that follows autistic individuals navigating the world of dating and relationships. Watch the trailer on YouTube.
“Vulture capitalism”: An office slang term from the Go-Go 80s, like "bleeding edge." Covers venture capitalists who swoop in and strip companies for talent and parts. Like Elon Musk. Thrilling. ‘Til it’s not.
“Unix,”: the first multi-user computer operating system developed by AT&T's Bell Labs. The grandaddy of modern Linux and Android operating systems that power most smart devices. Learn more about Unix.