Companies are looking for “neurodiverse” talent, including people with autism spectrum disorder. The incidence of autism in the U.S. is now 1 in 42 among boys and 1 in 189 among girls. Neurodiverse people often need workplace accommodations, such as headphones to prevent auditory overstimulation. But to realize the benefits, companies would have to adjust recruitment, selection, and career data sets. Companies implementing neurodiversity programs have encountered challenges, authors say. Many are hard to identify, and potential candidates do not necessarily self-identify. Microsoft is working with universities to improve methods of identifying and accessing Neurodiverse talent.People are like puzzle pieces, irregularly shaped. Historically, companies have asked employees to trim away their irregularities. Wittenberg says Innovation is most likely to come from parts of us that we don’t all share. The work for managers will be harder, but the payoff for companies will be considerable.
Lauren Fitzmaurice Intro
My name is Lauren and I’m from Washington state. I’m a CRS major with a Marketing minor, with plans to go into video advertising, likely specializing in sports. I’m an intern for Cuse Media where I edit and come up with video ideas for Syracuse Athletics’ social media accounts. Beyond making videos, I also play basketball here at Syracuse. I will be a Senior this Fall. I’ve always enjoyed writing, so I’m excited for what this class will bring.