Neurodivergent Employment & Health
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Summary
Many neurodivergent people have jobs that do not work well for their brains and bodies. Things like long hours, unclear schedules, loud noises, and arbitrary rules can make work very stressful. Sometimes people blame themselves when the job is not a good fit. People also feel like they have to pretend to be someone else at work. Chronic stress and shame takes its toll on neurodivergent people’s health, and is a major contributor to Autistic burnout. Universal design — that is, offering multiple, flexible paths to participation — creates workplace environments where people with all types of brains can do their best work.
Key terms
| Autistic burnout | What happens when Autistic people do not have their needs met for a long time. Pressure to mask and exist in a world that is not designed for one’s needs contributes During Autistic Burnout, an Autistic person may:Feel exhausted Feel extra sensitive to lights, sounds, or other sensory inputLose skills and have a harder time doing tasks For more information, see this article by Raymaker et al. |
| Universal design | Universal design means giving people lots of different choices of how to participate. This way, everyone can find what works best for them. People get to choose what helps them the most. When activities are offered in just one way, this leaves people out. |