Unless you know where to look, however, it can be hard to know which employers are actively offering jobs to adults and teenagers with autism.
In recent years, several major top tech companies have launched workplace inclusion programs that make it easier for neurodivergent people to find good jobs.
This article looks at 10 of the most autism-friendly employers in the United States. As you’ll see, some of these companies are open to people with a wide range of abilities; others are looking specifically for high-functioning individuals with particular skill sets.
Why More Autism-Friendly Employers?
According to research, job-related activities help reduce symptoms and increase daily living skills for people with autism. Even so, only about half of adults with autism are employed.
There’s no doubt that employment is elusive for adults on the spectrum. This reality, however, is changing fast.
The reasons for this rapid expansion of opportunities aren’t absolutely clear, but here are a few facts:
The awareness of autism is growing. A large increase in diagnoses means that 1 in 54 American children has autism. The increase in diagnoses is, at least in part, the result of much broader diagnostic criteria for autism. Instead of including only severely disabled individuals, the autism spectrum now includes individuals with high intelligence and significant skills. There is an increasing need for workers with the skills, thought patterns, and work ethic that are common among people on the autism spectrum. People with autism often prefer repetitive work and may not have a strong desire or need for novelty. This can be an asset in many jobs and can be hard to find within the general community.
Autistic people are, in general, dependable, routinized, focused, detail-oriented, and passionate about their work. Many have outstanding technical and/or math skills. And quite a few are able to find unique solutions to problems that have eluded their more conventional colleagues.
Inspired by an employee with an autistic son, the program includes a multi-day, hands-on academy that focuses on job capabilities, team projects, and skills assessment.
The non-traditional hiring event gives candidates a chance to reveal their talents and meet hiring managers and teams while learning about Microsoft and its opportunities.
This groundbreaking program launched in 2013, and it integrates adults with autism into the workforce.
Currently, more than 175 SAP colleagues are employed via the Autism at Work program.
Unlike many other companies, Freddie Mac specifically reaches out to people with autism because they see autistic traits as being positives for their particular needs. To do this, they actually partnered with a group of autistic self-advocates, something that is very unusual in the corporate world.
In 2012, Freddie Mac partnered with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) to develop an Autism Internship Program intended to match the needs of their business with the capabilities of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
The program is geared toward highly qualified individuals who have had a hard time finding or keeping work due to problems with social communication. The team at Freddie Mac works with each individual to match abilities to jobs and help build “soft” skills.
Ford worked with the Product Development Vehicle Evaluation and Verification supervisors and Human Resources to determine employment needs, and then teamed up with the Autism Alliance of Michigan to understand the talents and strengths of those with autism.
As a company that is actively trying to recruit people with autism, Ernst and Young determined that “though many people with autism are intelligent, well-educated and eager to work, they often face interpersonal challenges that make it difficult to get in the door.”
To address this and related issues, the company created a project team to find, train, and place autistic employees. They also created a unique “Center of Excellence” in Philadelphia specifically geared to making the most of autistic employees’ particular strengths.
According to their website: “Those who graduate REDI and attain an evaluation score of 3.0 or higher earn a “recommended for hire” designation, can bypass the standard Hourly Selector assessment if applying for CSA (customer service associate) roles at Walgreens, and will be able to apply for CSA positions nationwide.“
According to their website, AMC “provides individuals affected by disabilities with access to opportunities for competitive employment, wages, and benefits side-by-side with other associates in our theatres.“
A few of these businesses in the United States include:
Rising Tide Car Wash Ultranauts (software testing) Spectrum Designs (t-shirts) SMILE Biscotti
Summary
It’s challenging for adults and teenagers with autism to find employment, but many companies are launching initiatives aimed at making it easier for neurodivergent people to enter the workforce.
Some companies are specifically looking for individuals who have autism traits, as these can be beneficial when performing certain kinds of work. Others are actively recruiting people with autism as a part of workplace diversity initiatives.
A Word From Verywell
If you or a loved one with autism is starting to look into job options, it makes sense to do some homework to uncover some of the possibilities. Even autistic individuals with limited skills have more opportunities than ever before.
Your local vocational agencies may not know about all the options, so it’s up to you to explore what’s out there, what’s possible, and how to apply.
