How Microsoft, Dell and Other Large US Employers Accommodate Neurodivergent Employees

As the number of autism diagnoses rises in America, a number of large employers 'are taking steps to make workplaces more accessible and welcoming for neurodivergent employees,' reports the New York Times — including Microsoft, Dell and Ford. [Alternate URL here.]

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1 in 36 8-year-olds in the United States has autism. That's up from 1 in 44 in 2018 and 1 in 150 in 2000, an increase that experts attribute, in part, to better screening. In addition, 2.2% of adults in the country, or 5.4 million people, are autistic, according to the CDC...

Autism activists have praised companies that have become more accepting of remote work since the coronavirus pandemic. Workplaces with too much light and noise can overwhelm those who are autistic, leading to burnout, said Jessica Myszak, a clinical psychologist in Chicago who specializes in testing and evaluations for autism. Remote work 'reduces the social demands and some of the environmental sensitivities' that autistic people struggle with, Myszak added.

The article notes Microsoft's neurodiversity hiring program, which was established in 2015.

The company's program was modeled after a venture created by the German software firm SAP, and has since been adopted in some form by companies including Dell and Ford. The initiative has brought in about 300 full-time neurodivergent employees to Microsoft, said Neil Barnett, the company's director for inclusive hiring and accessibility. 'All they needed was this different, more inclusive process,' Barnett said, 'and once they got into the company, they flourished.'

[One job applicant] was given a job coach to help her with time management and prioritization. Microsoft also paired her with a mentor who showed her around the company's campus in Redmond. Perhaps more important, she works with managers who have received neurodiversity training. The Microsoft campus also has 'focus rooms,' where lights can be dimmed and the heights of desks can be changed to fit sensory preferences. Employees seated in the open office may also request to sit away from busy aisles or receive noise-canceling headphones.

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