One of the key elements of a successful employment program for autistic individuals is job coaching. Coaching enhances employment success by ensuring greater job satisfaction, increased productivity, and in the long term, greater employee retention. — It is widely acknowledged that increasing the diversity of workforces leads to positive outcomes. McKinsey’s Diversity Matters report has...
Networking – it’s a word that has provoked strong emotion, from being a “bloody nightmare” to sending a “cold chill” down people’s spines. But what does networking mean for the autistic professional trying to get ahead in their career? I decided to ask autistic professionals directly about this topic, focusing on these five questions: Do...
All around the world, there are hundreds of autistic people working in professional, white-collar jobs. Some may have disclosed their autism. Some may choose to hide their autism at work, otherwise known as “masking”. Given the diversity of the autism spectrum, I decided to ask autistic professionals directly about their experiences thriving or masking at...
By Barb Cook, M.Aut., Dip. HSc. (used with permission) Workplace social skills. These words strike fear into the soul of any autistic person. I know this, because I am one of those people. I’ve had a tumultuous employment past, prior to my official diagnosis of Asperger syndrome (autism), ADHD and dyslexia in 2009. I never...
By Barb Cook, M.Aut., Dip. HSc. (used with permission) Information and technology (IT) has boomed over the past 30 years and become an integral part of the modern developed world. Employment opportunities in IT exploded alongside this growth and created pathways for autistic people in finding job security in an industry that has been stigmatized...
“Life doesn’t come with a manual; it comes with a mother.” – Unknown Mother’s Day celebrates all mothers and their unconditional love. This Mother’s Day, Xceptional would also like to salute one particular mother: Libby Walton. Libby is the mother of Tim. You might be familiar with Tim. He was a star on the first...
Aiden is an avid video gamer who dabbles in game development and programming. He once dreamed of making games and desktop apps for a living. However, as a non-verbal autistic teenager, living in the Blue Mountains, he rated his job prospects “somewhat low”. He was worried that his social anxiety would prevent him from ever...
Simply put, neurodiverse hiring is the recruitment and placement of employees with autism, dyslexia, ADHD, or/and dyspraxia made by companies who are actively looking to acquire unique employees’ skills and enable different thinking styles within their teams. Other than the social-good, neurodiverse hiring holds tremendous business benefits and enables companies to obtain a strong competitive advantage...
The perspective of a mum in supporting her adult child to finding meaningful employment.
Xceptional acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land where we work and live. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We celebrate the stories, culture and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders of all communities who also work and live on this land.
