April is Autism Acceptance Month!
Did you know that April is National Autism Acceptance Month and today is World Autism Acceptance Day? According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Autism affects 1 in 54 children in the United States. This article covers information about Autism, resources, a personal story, and tips for embracing individuals with Autism within the workplace.
What is Autism?
Also known as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Autism refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills and communication.
Autism is 4 times more common among boys than girls.
Autism can occur in all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups.
Individuals with Autism have many unique strengths and gifts.
Meet Dustin - An Interview from Special Books by Special Kids
Helpful Resources
Autism Speaks provides helpful resources for those with Autism and their loved ones. This includes Advocacy Resources, Autism Friendly Services, Employment Services, and Therapy, plus much more. Their website also enables you to search for resources by state, life stage, and level of support. You can view their full list of resources here.
Autism and Inclusion in the Workplace
If you’re an employer looking to embrace Autism within your workplace, here are some quick tips to get started from Insperity, an organization providing HR solutions:
Focus on what the individual can do and their overall abilities. Just like with any other individual, the focus should be on whether the person can perform the job.
Be open to reasonable accommodations. Examples would be allowing the use of noise-reducing headphones if there is a noise sensitivity, or allowing the individual to have lunch at the exact time each day in order to provide structure.
Encourage an environment of respect and kindness within the workplace.
Additionally when conducting interviews, consider different formats for the interview, such as conducting a working interview and reducing bright lighting within the space.
Enabling Technology Solutions with SimplyHome
“SimplyHome helps parents sleep at night,” said Luciana, whose son uses SimplyHome technology. “I know when he’s cooking a meal and if he doesn’t turn the stove off. He may be boiling a hot dog and get distracted by his video game. I know to call him and remind him about his stove.”
Enabling technology solutions can empower and redefine quality of life for individuals with Autism by addressing the concerns of caregivers and family members. At SimplyHome, our sensor-based systems are designed to alleviate concerns such as cooking safety, cueing independence, missed medications, dementia-related problems, and the risk of wandering or falls. Caregivers are notified only when they are needed, promoting the highest level of independence possible for the individual.