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Autistic workers face stereotypes and ableist assumptions
It should be okay to ask for reasonable adjustments at work
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By Peter Clark (Senior Editor, Autism Info Center) Wednesday 29th October 2025 |
In The Guardian, Professor Sandra Thom-Jones reflects on her experiences as an autistic person in the workplace.
For decades, she struggled with sensory challenges--such as bright lights and background noise--and the exhaustion of social interaction, believing she just had to tolerate an environment that was causing her harm.
It was not until her autism diagnosis at 50, and particularly after experiencing the benefits of working from home during the COVID-19 lockdowns, that she realised a different way was possible.
For the first time, she had the energy, focus, and improved wellbeing to excel at her job.
Dreading the return to "normal", she decided to request workplace accommodations for the first time in her 40-year career.
These included dimmer lights, disconnecting her air-conditioning vent, and working from home two days a week.
While most colleagues were supportive, she notes that ableist assumptions remain a barrier for many.
Source: The Guardian (UK)
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/oct/06/
Further reading, listening and viewing...
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