Employment and Autism

 

In the past few weeks, Ed and I have been trying to make certain Alex remains on our family health care insurance policy after he turns 26 in December. Because he has autism, he should easily qualify as a disabled dependent eligible for continued coverage. After various phone calls, emails, and a marathon meeting Ed had with his employer’s human resources department head, everyone agrees that Alex should be able to remain on the policy with enough proof provided.

Digging into my carefully organized files, I easily found four documents indicating the nature and scope of Alex’s disability. All of these reports came from assessments made after Alex turned eighteen, so they were recent and addressed his disability as an adult. Despite submitting the report from a psychiatrist, another from a psychologist, the confirmation from Social Security that he qualifies for disability payments under federal guidelines, and a detailed report from the state of Indiana explaining the impact autism has on Alex’s daily life thereby qualifying him for state autism support services, the insurance company needed another form completed.

For the top half of the form, we provided typical information regarding name, address, birthdate, and policy number. However, the focus was clearly upon Alex’s employment history, which is nonexistent because of the obstacles autism presents for him. The bottom half of the form was to be completed by his primary care physician and focused on confirming his disability diagnosis and its impact on potential employment. Thankfully, Alex’s doctor clearly and concisely explained why Alex is not able to hold a job now nor in the foreseeable future. Noting impaired language skills and limited daily living skills, his doctor made evident Alex’s weaknesses that currently make holding a job impossible. Hopefully, this completed form will satisfy the insurance company’s requirements.

While we would certainly prefer that Alex be able to live independently and pursue a meaningful career, we know that he relies upon us to take care of his needs, including making sure that he has good health insurance. He is not alone in being an unemployed adult with autism, however. Statistics indicate that only 58% of adults with autism who have completed high school ever wind up holding paying jobs. Even those who do successfully hold jobs often have problems with organization and dealing with co-workers. This trend may be starting to change, though.

An article written by Neil Parmar published online last week in Entrepreneur entitled “Why Microsoft, Chase and Others Are Hiring More People With Autism” touts the value of employees with autism. [To read this article, please click here.] Specifically, people with autism often bring creativity, attention to detail, and technical skills that employers value, according to the article. In fact, approximately fifty U.S. companies currently have a majority of employees with autism.

A leader from accounting and professional services firm EY, Hiren Shukla asserts the value of workers who have autism, stating, “We’re not doing this as a diversity and inclusion program; it’s actually filling a very specific business need.” This sentiment is echoed by banking company J.P. Morgan Chase that has indicated traits found in autism are “ideal assets in the workplace, particularly in industries like tech and engineering.” Moreover, software corporation Microsoft describes workers with autism as an “untapped pool of talent.” This recognition of the skills employees with autism can bring to their companies gives hope that more adults with autism can find meaningful employment that benefits them and their employers.

Despite their unique talents, people with autism may require additional support to be successful in their jobs. This article describes the development of social service agencies and nonprofit organizations to help train and place adults with autism in jobs and to provide ongoing support. In addition, state vocational rehabilitation agencies can assist adult employees with autism by providing job coaches and arranging transportation to and from work. Some innovative companies have recognized the special needs of their employees with autism as well as their value and offered support in the forms of job coaches and financial planners, and even giving nutritional advice. This genuine caring for their employees should be a model for other companies willing to hire adults with autism.

Although the current unemployment figures for adults with autism can be discouraging, the success some companies are having in hiring these people with a unique skills set gives hope that more adults with autism will be able to find jobs someday. As more and more children with autism become adults with autism, society needs to be more creative and find ways to make them economically independent and valued members of the workforce. Perhaps someday parents won’t have to fight to keep their adult children on their health insurance plans because they are unemployed due to their disability.

For Alex, I have hope that instead of focusing upon his impaired language, fine motor, and social skills, someday he will be valued for his phenomenal memory; his keen skills in math, reading, and proofreading; and his inquisitive mind. Even better would be that he is recognized for his earnestness, his enthusiasm for things he loves, and his sweetness that endears him to those who see past the obstacles autism has imposed on him to the special soul God created him to be.

“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” Colossians 3:23