Employment stories

Picture by Etienne Girardet on Unsplash This section contains case studies and personal stories by autistic people and their experience of job searching and work, and from employers with neurodiverse workforces.

“Suddenly I realised that there was something I could do that was unique to me ... because only I could share my experience”

Dean Beadle - autistic speaker

Stories by autistic workers

Employer experience

If you have any comments or suggestions for us, or would like to share your own employment story, please contact us

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Job Coach Cafe

We've set up a new discussion forum on LinkedIn for front line Job Coaches to share best practice. Grab a virtual coffee and join us!
Andy - Incorporated Engineer

Diasgnosed as an adult, Andy has just set up her own business after over 20 years in the industry.
Autism and underemployment

Underemployment - working in a role below the level of qualifications or skills - is common for autistic people. Rachel describes how this came about for her.
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 in working arrangements continue to affect her

Michael's meaningful activities

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

Information about using our website
Meaningful activity

You don’t have to be working to experience a full and meaningful life. Meaningful activity includes physical, social and leisure activities tailored your needs and preferences.
The terms we use

These are the terms and words that we use on our website. We understand that everyone has their own preferences, but we feel that these terms and definitions are currently the most accepted ones in the UK. We will regularly review the language that we use.

I am an autistic person

Look here for guidance on finding and keeping work, from job search through to retirement.
Telling an employer that you are autistic: disclosing

Disclosing (telling others) that you are autistic is a big decision. Even telling your friends is a big decision for some people. You have the choice whether to disclose or not to your employer or prospective employer.
Autism, disability and health

Whether an individual autistic person is also legally disabled will depend on whether that individual’s autism has more than minor or trivial “adverse effect” on their ability to carry out normal day to day activities.
Team EA Virtual London Marathon 2021

We did it!!! We walked in greater Manchester, Leicestershire and north London. We all completed the full 26.2 miles. Please support our achievements by donating to EA.
Discrimination and prohibited conduct within the Equality Act 2010

Prohibited conduct within the Equality Act encompasses discrimination, harassment and victimisation.
I am an employer or work provider

Look here for information on how to recruit, manage and support an autistic or neurodiverse person
Reasonable adjustments for interviews and assessments

It is good practice for a company to ask if you need any adjustments for an interview or other assessment process, but even if they don't, you can still ask for them.
General resources

Why do we do what we do: the benefits of a neurodiverse workplace, the opportunities and employers' legal duties
The case for employing autistic people
The Equality Act 2010 and employment

Employers have a range of legal duties towards their autistic employees. These legal duties can be found in the Equality Act 2010. This information is not intended to be a comprehensive overview of how the Equality Act 2010 works in the role of employment. Rather, it looks specifically at how the rights and duties stated in the Equality Act 2010 apply to autistic employees, job applicants, their workplaces and employers.