UCL Centre for Research in Autism and Education (CRAE), University College London, London, United Kingdom.
School of Education, Language and Psychology, York St John University, York, United Kingdom.
PLoS One. 2022 Aug 5;17(8):e0272420. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272420. eCollection 2022.
This article examines 181 autistic adults' views toward, and experiences of, requesting and receiving workplace adjustments in the UK. Using an online survey, we collected both qualitative and quantitative data relating to individuals' experiences. While the majority of participants perceived workplace adjustments to be important, many were not receiving them. Analysis of open-ended text responses highlighted specific challenges that autistic people face in requesting and receiving adjustments. Specifically, participants felt the onus fell on them to (1) identify their need for adjustments; (2) establish the specific adjustments that would be beneficial and (3) request adjustments from their employer. Yet, they reported struggling with this process. Participants also highlighted a range of social and organisational barriers to the successful implementation of workplace adjustments. Unsurprisingly, the lack of successfully implemented adjustments had far-reaching impacts on participants' wellbeing as well as the choices they made about their future employment. These findings highlight the need for employers to take a more active role in the identification and implementation of workplace adjustments, as well as a need for more understanding and inclusive working environments that truly allow autistic employees to thrive in the workplace.
本文考察了 181 名英国自闭症成年人对工作场所调整的看法和体验,包括他们的请求和获得情况。我们使用在线调查收集了与个人体验相关的定性和定量数据。虽然大多数参与者认为工作场所调整很重要,但许多人并没有得到这些调整。对开放式文本回复的分析突出了自闭症人士在请求和获得调整方面面临的具体挑战。具体而言,参与者认为调整的责任在于(1)确定他们对调整的需求;(2)确定有益的具体调整;(3)向雇主请求调整。然而,他们报告说在这个过程中遇到了困难。参与者还强调了工作场所调整在社会和组织方面存在的一系列障碍。毫不奇怪,调整的实施不成功对参与者的幸福感以及他们对未来就业的选择产生了深远的影响。这些发现强调了雇主需要在确定和实施工作场所调整方面发挥更积极的作用,同时还需要更深入的理解和更具包容性的工作环境,让自闭症员工能够在工作场所中茁壮成长。