Adults with autism face options, barriers

By Sherree Geyer

A panel explored employment models for adults with autism and techniques to reduce workplace challenges during “Is the Workplace Prepared for an Increase in Adults with Autism?” at Health Journalism 2012.

Panelist Arni Klin, Ph.D., director of Atlanta’s Marcus Autism Center, estimated that one in 88 American children suffers from autism, a neural development disorder characterized by impaired social interaction and communication and restricted and repetitive behavior. He said that rates for autism are “four to five times those of all childhood cancers.”

Klin said roughly half of autistic adults possess the intellectual capabilities “to attain paid employment” and that “a sizeable group” possesses special skills to make important contributions to society. “Individuals with autism function best in predictable, supportive, rule-governed environments,” such as those that require technical or computer expertise, he explained.

Despite their aptitude, autistic adults often lack the social and communications skills to forge interpersonal workplace relationships. “Their style is rote and sequential. They don’t do well in situations where they need to improvise,” Klin said. He noted that lunchtime is “one of the most dangerous times” for those with autism.

Scott Bales, a panelist and adult with autism, said mentors can help nurture the careers of those with autism. “Autistic workers can be easily overwhelmed and need help to lighten their burden.”

Bales, a geographic information systems specialist at Georgia’s Department of Natural Resources, said, “a good work environment can transform lives.” He said minor modifications – including removing fluorescent lights, converting documents to easy-to-read Microsoft Word and changing the program’s background to dark blue and its font to “a clean, readable size” – eliminated work space distractions for him.

Scott Standifer, Ph.D., of the Technical Assistance and Continuing Education Center at the University of Missouri, said “accommodating autistic adults creates “a more supportive environment for everyone.” He said “it’s an exciting time for autism employment,” one marked by “growing awareness for employment and vocational rehabilitation” and less pressure to disclose disabilities.

Observing that parents of adult children with autism often drive employment opportunities, Standifer cited innovative efforts to integrate those with autism into the workforce made by Walgreens and the FOCUS project, a joint collaboration between the AMC Theatres and the Autism Society of America that presents sensory-friendly film screenings. Though “jobs in rural areas are not typically open to those with autism,” he expects the next wave of autism employment to come from an apple orchard run by investment company TIAA-CREFF.

Panel moderator Carla K. Johnson, an Associated Press medical writer, described the autistic adults she has interviewed as “unique individuals.” She said, “You’ll never do an interview again with people so honest.” She advised journalists to probe scientific evidence “so you don’t side with straw men.”

Noting the “tremendously heterogeneity” of the autism community, Klin echoed this point, saying to “interview many individuals.”

Bales said, “Do what you can to find many voices and talk about their lives. Visit numerous places.”

Sherree Geyer is an independent journalist based in Lake Forest, Calif. She was a 2012 AHCJ-California Health Journalism Fellow.