Article Green Open Access 2023

Workplace Adjustments for Autistic Employees: What is ‘Reasonable’?

PS
Petty, Stephanie
 TL
Tunstall, Lydia
 RH
Richardson, Hannah
 EN
Eccles, Niamh
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
Journal · Vol. 53 · Issue 1 · pp. 236-244
Abstract

Autistic adults are inadequately supported in the workplace. This study sought a definition of ‘reasonable’ and explored facilitators and barriers to employers making reasonable adjustments. 98 employers and employees across a UK city completed a survey; 15% identified as being autistic. Qualitative data were analysed using framework analysis. Reasonable adjustments were defined as having a positive impact on autistic employees’ wellbeing and work outputs without being detrimental to non-autistic employees or the organisation; they were low cost and easily implemented. Recommendations were for autism awareness training, low-stimulus work spaces, clear instructions and flexible working hours. A definition of reasonable is added to the literature, with suggestions of where to invest support efforts. Recommendations mostly apply to the education sector. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

Keywords

Author Keywords

Training employment Qualitative research equality Autism spectrum disorders

Index Keywords

Employment adult human questionnaire Humans Surveys and Questionnaires Article awareness workplace work environment autism intellectual impairment information processing personal experience wellbeing self evaluation data analysis health care financial management occupational therapist Autistic Disorder employee social care Interrater reliability clinical psychology work from home Autism Spectrum Disorder
Author Affiliations
Language and Psychology, York St John University, York, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Department of Psychology, University of York, York, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Funding & Acknowledgements
No funding information
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