How companies that hire autistic adults are changing the workplace
By Kerry MagroThis guest post is by Dr. Kerry Magro Ed.D., a professional speaker, best-selling author and autism entertainment consultant who is on the autism spectrum. You can contact him about speaking with your company and follow him on Instagram.
I was giving a lunch-and-learn keynote presentation at S&P Global in New York City for April and Autism Acceptance Month about “The ROI Benefits of Hiring Talented Autistic People in the Workplace,” sharing my autism journey from nonspeaking to professional speaker and providing advice on how we can be more inclusive for those who are neurodiverse in the workplace. One fact I always mention in my talks, which is always well-received, is something I learned from Autism Speaks' Adult Services team when they said:
“Persons with disabilities and their families, friends, and associates represent a $220 billion market in the US alone. They, like other market segments, purchase products and services from companies that best meet their needs—and a large number of Americans also say they prefer to patronize businesses that hire people with disabilities.”
This is just scratching the surface, though. Companies that hire autistic adults are changing the workplace because not only are autistic people leading to more customers patronizing these companies, but autistic people are also more likely to stay at a job longer, leading to less employee turnover. There is also higher employee engagement.
This is not just a fad we see during Autism Acceptance Month or October for National Disability Employment Awareness Month but a trend. From the S&P Global’s of the world to Microsoft, SAP, and JPMorgan Chase, the results have been promising. We are not just seeing the one-day work trials versus the standard interview process, but we are also seeing onboarding training and professional development.
Growing up with autism, I was often terrified of entering the workforce because of a lack of understanding of my quirks. While my line of work has led to a full-time career being self-employed in speaking, if I ever did go back into the workforce, I’d be reassured knowing that companies are switching their mindsets around neurodiversity.
If you work for a company that hasn’t tapped into our community, tell them why it’s important. The majority of autistic adults are still unemployed or underemployed today. Speak to your company’s Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) or Human Resources (HR) and explain more about this community and if there are any opportunities. Bring in speakers like myself for professional development or consider sending them resources like the Autism Speaks Employment Tool Kit, which provides a guide toward education on this topic.
Together we can make a difference for our community.