Our guest blogs

We welcome blogs from guest contributors. We pay a standard fee for any we publish. Please look at our guidance for writing and contributing blogs for information about writing and submitting a blog. If you have any comments or suggestions for us, please contact us.

Supporting a colleague having a meltdown

'Meltdowns' are intense responses to overwhelming situations. Mahlia describes how to support a colleague having a meltdown.

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Dream recruitment scenario

Tips for recruiters on making the recruitment process autism friendly. Mahlia describes her ideal scenario.

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Surviving workplace ‘away days’

Lauren gives her tips on coping with 'away days'

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Effective feedback communication

Providing feedback is a crucial part of managing a team. Mahlia gives her tips on doing this effectively.

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Managing workplace sensory issues

Lauren describes how her autism diagnosis has helped her understand and manage sensory issues in the workplace.

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Successfully recruiting autistic staff

Mahlia advises on how to attract and recruit autistic staff

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How I chose my job

Lauren describes how her diagnosis as an adult affected her work choices.

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Alternatives to interviews for autistic candidates

Mahlia makes suggestions for assessing candidates, other than by interview.

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Supporting someone in the workplace with mental ill health

Speaking from her own experience, Mahlia gives her advice on how to support someone with mental ill health.

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Managing depression in the workplace – part 3

In the final part of her series, Mahlia describes events when she was unable to return to her previous role.

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Managing depression in the workplace – part 2

In part 2 of her blog on depression, Mahlia talks about how she manages her time while off work.

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Tips for disclosing

Telling an employer about your autism is not always a positive experience. Lauren gives her tips on disclosing.

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Managing depression in the workplace – part 1

Mahlia talks honestly about how depression affects her and describes how this impacts her ability to work

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Managing change

Lauren gives her tips on how she manages change, and which may not require sharing a diagnosis.

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Managing work travel

Mahlia gives her tips on managing travelling for work now that in-person activities are on the rise

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Using visual aids

Lauren describes how using a variety of visual aids help her to manage herself, and her work.

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Dogs for wellbeing

Mahlia discusses how her dog, Jasper, helps her in the workplace as well as her general wellbeing

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Autistic workplace burnout – 2

Mahlia continues her discussion of burnout and talks about acknowledging your own feelings and needs

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Autistic workplace burnout – 1

Mahlia here describes the characteristics of autistic burnout and its debilitating effects

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Tips for neurodivergent creatives

Many autistic people work in the creative industries. Mahlia has tips for those starting their careers - in any sector.

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Are we speaking the same language?

Barbara argues that accommodations are needed on both sides of a conversation in order to communicate effectively.

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Autism and intersectionality

Autism is just one aspect of a person's experience. Mahlia states that consideration should be given to all of them.

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The stress of zero hour contracts

Mahlia shares the impact of the uncertainty and unpredictability of zero hours contracts on her levels of anxiety

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The post-doctoral black hole

What next, after you've completed a PhD? After this great achievement, Barbara wonders about her next steps.

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Using scales to manage workload and stress

Mahlia devised a system using visual scales to make decisions and control workload in order to manage her wellbeing

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The impact of a younger diagnosis

Charlotte considers what difference it might have made if she'd had an earlier diagnosis.

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Neurodiversity at Glastonbury

Mahlia pushes her comfort zone speaking at Glastonbury about neurodiversity. She's hopeful that it may be less stressful next time.

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Workplace coaching for autistic people

Our new blogger Aimee describes her experience of workplace coaching and gives her tips to get the best from this.

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The autism spectrum as a spiky profile

The autism spectrum is often depicted as linear. Here Mahlia presents an alternative, and multidimensional model.

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Handling rejection

Mahlia gives her tips on how to handle rejection and avoid taking rejection personally

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Autism and honesty

Charlotte talks about truth, lies, her experience of working in politics, and why she is optimistic for the future.

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Temping and volunteering

Rachel has used voluntary and temporary roles to gain useful skills, and to avoid the stress of interviews

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Triggers in the workplace

Mahlia explains how 'triggers' in the workplace affect her well-being, and how they might influence her art

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AI video assessments

Our blogger Oliver talks about his experience of AI assessed video selection and what he learned from appearing in a...

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Applying for Access to Work – Part 2

Mahlia continues the story of her experience of applying for Access to Work and of having someone working for her.

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Applying for Access to Work – Part 1

Mahlia describes her experience of applying for Access to Work funding for a Support Worker

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Autistic researchers inside and outside of academia

Aimee and Helen, autistic researchers both diagnosed later in life, discuss their workplace experiences

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Surviving online meetings

Mahlia gives her personal, autistic perspective on coping with online meetings

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Autism and underemployment

Underemployment - working in a role below the level of qualifications or skills - is common for autistic people. Rachel...

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Back to the (hybrid) office

Mahlia talks about the impact that the pandemic has had on her relationship with work and how the ongoing transitions...

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Work and status

Charlotte discusses the link between labels, status, worth and wellbeing. She asks for respect, whatever the role

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Late diagnosis and employment

Our new guest blogger, Rachel, talks about her experience of diagnosis and how being diagnosed as an adult has impacted...

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Tips on being a self-employed autistic

Our guest blogger and artist Mahlia enjoys being self-employed, here she gives her tips for success.

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Masking and camouflaging

‘All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players’. So goes the much-loved Shakespeare line, but...

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Workplace benefits of mindfulness

Our guest blogger Mahlia talks about the positive impact of practising mindfulness on her mental health

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A change in mindset

Mahlia describes her ideal work environment when considering what could go right when starting a new job

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Lost in translation

Our guest blogger Charlotte talks about her personal experience of communication / miscommunication in interviews and workplaces

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Dispelling the myths about autism

Mahlia debunks the myths about autism and explains why it matters in the workplace

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Guide for managers

Our guest blogger Mahlia gives her tips to managers on managing an autistic employee

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Coping with social challenges

Workplace socialising doesn't suit everyone for a variety of reasons. Here Mahlia gives her personal view.

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Michael’s meaningful activities

Alexandra talks to us about supporting her son to choose and engage in meaningful activities

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Disclosure – part 2

Mahlia shares her own experience and tips on disclosing her autism

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Benefits of buddying

Mahlia is a fan of having a buddy in employment settings. In this blog she gives her 5 reasons for...

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Employment and mental health

For mental health awareness week, The Goth discusses his view on the impact of employment and unemployment on mental health

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Beyond Autism awareness

The first World Autism Awareness day was in 2008. Should we be moving beyond awareness? The Goth shares his experience.

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Mahlia discusses disclosure

Visual artist Mahlia Amatina discussed her own experience of disclosing autism to employers

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