Autistic Books Pile Review: Autism Equality in the Work Place, by Janine Booth

Neurodiversity in the workplace can be a gift. Yet only 15% of adults with an autism spectrum condition (ASC) are in full-time employment. This book examines how the working environment can embrace autistic people in a positive way.

The author highlights common challenges in the workplace for people with ASC, such as discrimination and lack of communication or the right kind of support from managers and colleagues, and provides strategies for changing them. Setting out practical, reasonable adjustments such as a quiet room or avoiding disruption to work schedules, this book demonstrates how day to day changes in the workplace can make it more inclusive and productive for all employees.

Autism in the Workplace is intended for any person with an interest in changing working culture to ensure equality for autistic people. It is an essential resource for employers, managers, trade unionists, people with ASCs and their workmates and supporters.

My Review

I ordered this book a few months ago after it was recommended to me on a course I did for my job. I am so glad I spent the money. It was so helpful for my research presentation on Tuesday and it gives me some direction for the future. I don’t anticipate changes jobs any time soon, so long as we can get funding for the next few years and the situation with my benefits doesn’t get too complicated, but should I have to start working elsewhere, I’ll be handing a copy of this book to the management and any Union reps.

Seriously, this book should be read by every ‘boss’ and manager from the Crown on down to the line leader in the smallest factory or shop. It should also be compulsory reading for everyone who works for the DWP. Read then applied to everyone with a disability. You want us to work? Stop throwing up barriers where you don’t need to, stop making life harder for everyone just to chase money.

Booth is a committed trade unionist, so her politics chimes well with mine, but even if you think unions are the very devil from hell, there are helpful suggestions in this book to make a happier, healthier, more productive workforce.

I’m going to recommend this book to my colleagues too. And every autistic person I know who is looking for work. Educated is armed.

Booth quotes some statistics at the beginning of this book that my own research has confirmed. Only 1/3rd of the people I surveyed had any work and only 14% had a full time job; the average for autistic people, as determined by NAS and quoted by Booth is 15%. There was also a lot of information about the attitude of the Job Centre. Most people found the staff unhelpful or only occasionally helpful. Less than 1/5 said the staff at Job Centres were helpful, complaining of being forced to apply for unsuitable jobs, difficult sensory environment in the Job Centres, lack of knowledge about autism by staff and lack of access to Disability Employment specialists.

This book clearly and concisely describes the barriers to employment and what can be done about them, as well as the relevant law. Highly recommended.