Not everyone is immersed in a world where autism is at the top of their minds, but that could change. Autism is a surprisingly common condition as 1 in 44 children are diagnosed with autism—affecting all ethnic and socioeconomic groups. It’s about time we all get more familiar with what autism is and how we can support people with autism. 

April is officially Autism Acceptance Month. By sharing stories, making connections, and providing resources, advocates bring awareness to the community with autism. Organizations like Autism Speaks and Autism Society are spreading their message to create a world where all people with autism can reach their full potential. 

As a training tool that supports inclusivity through language, Fairwords is participating in Autism Acceptance Month by calling attention to neurodiversity in the workplace. There are actions you can take today to help stop discrimination and promote an inclusive workplace that could greatly benefit people with autism and other disabilities. 

Autism in the Workplace

Diversity in the workplace has become a hot topic, but autism and other disabilities as part of that diversity are seldom mentioned. Unfortunately, many people with disabilities try to hide their condition to avoid stereotyping or discrimination at work.

While people with autism may be identified with characteristics like having atypical verbal skills or repetitive movements or phrases, those traits don’t tell the whole story. There are also many characteristics of autism that you would overlook at first glance. A person with autism may display a range of strengths and abilities that can be directly related to their diagnosis, including:

• Have a drive for perfection and order
• Memorize and learn information extremely fast
• Enhanced logical thinking ability
• Can thrive in academic areas such as science, engineering, and mathematics
• Precise and detail-oriented
• Exceptional honesty and reliability
• Are dependable in regards to schedules and routines
• Display an excellent sense of direction
• Strong adherence to rules
• Able to concentrate for long periods
• A capability for alternate problem-solving
• A rare freshness and sense of wonderment
• The ability to detect complex patterns

These incredible strengths can make people with autism exceptional hires and highly-valuable employees. Still, the number of companies willing to consider individuals with autism is low. It’s estimated that only about 15 percent of people with autism work full time. 

“People with autism are exceptionally capable. The only reason why there is such high unemployment among people with autism is because we, as a society, look at autism as a disability that requires sympathy instead of a really valuable diversity,” says Thomas D’Eri, the owner of Rising Tides, a business that seeks out people with autism. 

To welcome people with autism and expand neurodiversity in the workplace, we need to make the work environment more inviting to them. One thing that we can do is learn to change our language so that it’s more respectful and inclusive. 

People with autism can be extra sensitive to workplace toxicity and pick up on negative vibes quicker than anyone else. Below, we outline a few terms that are not okay to use for people with autism, as well as language that would be inappropriate related to other disabilities, and the suggested alternatives. 

Of course, this list isn’t comprehensive, but it’s a start. And it’s important to note that the below is a general guide and the very best term to use in a given situation comes down to the preference of the person you’re speaking with and not your own.

Terms for an Inclusive Workplace

Always Be Learning

Language and the workplace are always changing, and it’s our duty as humans to respect others and help our colleagues do the same. 

If you’d like to stay in touch and continue to learn how to keep your workplace inclusive and free of harmful and toxic language, subscribe to our newsletter. You can also get a free trial of Fairwords, our intelligent software that proactively trains employees as they type to foster inclusive, compliant, and fair business communications. Learn more.