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The Employer’s Guide to Asperger’s Syndrome

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The Employer’s Guide to Asperger’s Syndrome

Antioch University,

5 min read
2 take-aways
Audio & text

What's inside?

Employees with high-functioning autism are missing out on their full potential at work – but you can help.

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Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Analytical
  • Applicable
  • Insider's Take

Recommendation

The 16-year-old environmental activist Greta Thunberg recently called Asperger’s syndrome her “superpower.” She’s among a growing number of people who see high-functioning autism not as a disorder, but as a source of strength. According to Forward Motion Coaching principal Barbara Bissonnette, for instance, workers with high-functioning autism can bring unrivaled expertise and quality to their work – if their workplaces support them properly. (Bissonnette discusses Asperger’s, but keep in mind that US mental health experts haven’t used that term as a separate diagnosis from other autism spectrum disorders since 2013.)

Summary

In your professional life, you’ve likely encountered someone with Asperger’s syndrome.

According to some estimates one in 250 people in the United States may have Asperger’s syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder that makes understanding social cues difficult for people. Given this statistic, it’s likely that you’ve come across someone with the condition in the course of your career. Those with Asperger’s may appear awkward, disorganized or blunt, but they can bring a unique level of focus, expertise and quality to their work...

About the Author

As a principal of Forward Motion Coaching, Barbara Bissonnette teaches workers and organizations how to handle issues surrounding high-functioning autism in the workplace.

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