Careers with Autism: Embracing neurodiversity in the workplace

We spent some time with Elena Holzheu, Marketing Research Manager, to learn more about her experience of the condition, and how it has influenced her career path in a dynamic and quality-oriented work environment.

Understanding Autism

Autism, also known as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), affects how people interact with their world, communicate with others and process information. Unlike some other forms of neurodivergence, such as ADHD or Dyslexia, ASD is often misunderstood as a condition – particularly because there are so many ways in which it can manifest (which is why it’s referred to as a spectrum). This means misconceptions or misunderstandings amongst neurotypical are still common. For example, the way that those with ASD interact socially can lead to friction. 'What can come across as egotistical, is simply our need to manage our nervous systems more closely,' Elena shares by way of illustration. On the flip side, high functioning individuals (those with relatively more manageable symptoms) are often told that they don’t 'look autistic'. Some in the autism community online, for example, express a concern that there’s still a tendency to expect all people with ASD to fit a certain stereotype.

Autism in the workplace

Because autism impacts the way individuals process information, it can have both positive and negative influences on their experience at work. Talking about this aspect of the condition, Elena likens her brain and nervous system to a quantum computer. 'On the one hand it is extremely potent, on the other, the ambient conditions have to be just right in order for it to run smoothly,' she explains. Her way of seeing the world means she is skilled at conceptual work, for example.

But that comes with the potential for sensory or cognitive overload. She describes, how having ASD means she has to manage her energy and health rigorously to prevent fatigue, including avoiding environments that trigger sensory issues and limiting social interactions.

ASD doesn’t only impact the way people function in the workplace day-to-day, it can also impact one’s trajectory as a whole. Elena describes how those with autism may have greater difficulty in mapping out a long-term career plan because they tend not to have a self-narrative, and can experience selfhood in a way that is more fragmented and less cohesive. 'I have never had much of a feeling of self, which means I am not a good candidate for active career development,' she explains. To her, this isn’t necessarily a negative thing, but it means that employers need to take into account that not all people are able to plan their journey in the same way. With this in mind, the imperative is less about fitting people into different career tracks, but more about recognising their contributions in other ways and enabling them to follow a path that is right for them.

Reframing perceptions of autism

One subject that comes up often when talking about ASD is the concept of 'masking', which refers to the act of compensating for symptoms of the condition in order to fit into a neurotypical environment. What masking in autism means varies from person to person, but entails tactics like mirroring the behaviours of neurotypical people and developing 'scripts' to follow to ease social interactions. While this can help to make interpersonal engagements easier, the extra mental effort required can be draining for individuals with ASD. To Elena, the open, accepting culture at Zühlke has been a positive influence in this regard.

When asked what changes would be most helpful as an individual with ASD more generally, Elena concludes by mentioning the role that validating her way of thinking would play. She believes that autism actually allows for 'another type of consciousness' – one that is less rooted in the ego and the self. So rather than being seen as something to overcome, it is actually a strength that can be leveraged. Ultimately, by moving the focus away from there only being one single way of thinking, we should aim to embrace one that is open to all. She has also written a book about the intricate world of life on the autism spectrum, where through brilliant poetry, she shares the complexities and her unique perspectives of being neurodiverse (https://buchshop.bod.ch/actuallyautistic-elena-holzheu-9783759735621). Another book of Elena's that just got published – Zero Person – invites its readers to explore autistic perception not as a series of deficits but as a unique and equally valuable form of cognition (https://buchshop.bod.ch/zero-person-elena-holzheu-9783759795410).

For more resources on this condition, the National Autism Society (https://www.autism.org.uk/) is a good place to start, and you can also speak to your primary healthcare provider for more guidance.