Autism Awareness Week 2020
News | Posted on Tuesday 31 March 2020
From 30 March to 5 April 2020, World Autism Awareness Week is an opportunity to celebrate as well as encouraging awareness and education.
Autism is a lifelong disability which affects how people communicate and interact with the world. There are approximately 700,000 autistic people in the UK, and only 16 per cent of autistic adults are in full-time employment.
Autistic people:
- need more time to process questions, requests and instructions
- may struggle meeting new people
- may struggle to pick up on the unwritten rules
- may find office environments overwhelming
- may struggle with small talk and workplace relationships.
Autistic strengths:
- intense focus
- attention to detail
- considered and reflective approach
- honesty and integrity
- creative thinking.
How to help autistic colleagues:
- give clear instructions and put important points in writing for clarification
- don’t rely on body language or facial expressions to communicate
- give anxious or agitated colleagues space and time to recover
- offer to be a buddy for work social events.
Research at York
- The SHAPE project: mapping and evaluating Specialist Autism Team service models
- Exploring how young adults with Asperger syndrome, and parents of children with autism, understand and make sense of emotional and behavioural difficulties
- Are time-perception abnormalities linked to social and motor impairment in Autism Spectrum Disorder?
Advance your awareness and understanding for the workplace
- Sign up for the quarterly Autistic Talent newsletter. You'll receive free tips and resources about autism in the workplace straight to your inbox.
- Watch a TED talk and hear about personal experiences and stories from autistic people
- Discover resources and practical tips for autism at work, school and more from the National Autistic Society