https://www.fastcompany.com/3062835/hr/microsoft-autism-hiring
I was sent this article by a conscientious friend of mine, and it was interesting reading. Background in brief: the unemployment rate for autistic adults is horrifying. The underemployment rate, or the rate at which adults are being employed in menial labor positions because it's the only work people think they're suited for, is also horrifying.
I've seen both these things personally.
Sometimes, those of us who blend better into neurotypical society manage to get a job despite our diagnosis. These opportunities seem to come in two flavors: in a small company or small work group that isn't bothered by our differences, or in a huge company where those differences are irrelevant to the corporate machine. In the former case, our differences are at worst tolerated, at best celebrated and encouraged. In the latter, it's usually more a case of the autistic individual adapting themselves to the often rigid corporate rules, and struggling with the unwritten rules.
This article details a third, burgeoning option. Microsoft is, generally speaking, one of the towering, faceless, enormous corporation type companies. But it seems they're trying a different tactic here. They're trying to make small group environments inside their enormous rigid corporation, in hopes of recruiting good talent from the autistic community.
I'm a cynical, skeptical person by now, so I had to wonder why they were bothering. There's little apparent profit in helping the marginalized. The answer? At least according to this article, parents. Silicon Valley and other hi-tech places are particularly rife with autism. Some of the parents at Microsoft have kids on the spectrum. Their natural concern for their children's future is spearheading the development of a streamlined "autism hiring" program at this giant of the tech world.
I may never personally profit from their efforts, but I can't help but admire their results. If Microsoft can report a profit despite the extra costs and effort required to train and support autistic workers, other companies will take notice. And Microsoft will likely not hoard their program, given who spearheaded it, so it may be available in a general format for other companies to use. In which case, the options for a tech-minded autistic adult will be much expanded and much more friendly than they are at present.
I was sent this article by a conscientious friend of mine, and it was interesting reading. Background in brief: the unemployment rate for autistic adults is horrifying. The underemployment rate, or the rate at which adults are being employed in menial labor positions because it's the only work people think they're suited for, is also horrifying.
I've seen both these things personally.
- I struggled to have a job after graduating college, eventually failing out of it entirely, and am presently unemployed save my efforts with this blog and volunteer work.
- A friend of mine, also a college graduate, runs his own website design business, but struggles to find and keep enough clients to have a stable, comfortable life.
- An acquaintance of mine works part time, without benefits and for minimum wage at a thrift store, despite being more than intelligent enough to run the place.
Sometimes, those of us who blend better into neurotypical society manage to get a job despite our diagnosis. These opportunities seem to come in two flavors: in a small company or small work group that isn't bothered by our differences, or in a huge company where those differences are irrelevant to the corporate machine. In the former case, our differences are at worst tolerated, at best celebrated and encouraged. In the latter, it's usually more a case of the autistic individual adapting themselves to the often rigid corporate rules, and struggling with the unwritten rules.
This article details a third, burgeoning option. Microsoft is, generally speaking, one of the towering, faceless, enormous corporation type companies. But it seems they're trying a different tactic here. They're trying to make small group environments inside their enormous rigid corporation, in hopes of recruiting good talent from the autistic community.
I'm a cynical, skeptical person by now, so I had to wonder why they were bothering. There's little apparent profit in helping the marginalized. The answer? At least according to this article, parents. Silicon Valley and other hi-tech places are particularly rife with autism. Some of the parents at Microsoft have kids on the spectrum. Their natural concern for their children's future is spearheading the development of a streamlined "autism hiring" program at this giant of the tech world.
I may never personally profit from their efforts, but I can't help but admire their results. If Microsoft can report a profit despite the extra costs and effort required to train and support autistic workers, other companies will take notice. And Microsoft will likely not hoard their program, given who spearheaded it, so it may be available in a general format for other companies to use. In which case, the options for a tech-minded autistic adult will be much expanded and much more friendly than they are at present.
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