:strip_icc()/i.s3.glbimg.com/v1/AUTH_59edd422c0c84a879bd37670ae4f538a/internal_photos/bs/2019/m/y/6VktE3TFWDoDbaWydj3w/104908135-66e682e5-75dc-42dd-8878-a7fd4bacc012.jpg)
[ad_1]
Peter, Evan, and Brian work at a small technology company in Santa Monica, California, where they test software and fix technology bugs.
At first glance, this looks like any other Los Angeles company, with tasteful artwork hanging on white walls and diffusers scattered throughout the room.
Peter describes the mood as "calm but fun", and says that he particularly likes the fact that there is no pressure to socialize, whereas Evan says the other employees are "very understanding". Brian describes the office as "unique".
Auticon is one of the few companies to hire only autistic employees.
Previously, the company called MindSpark until its acquisition by Auticon, a German company. The original company was created by Gray Benoist, who has two autistic children and who felt that there were few suitable opportunities for them in the job market.
"Both are very capable and intelligent and deserve an opportunity to show it," he told the BBC during a recent visit to the company.
"I had the impression that there was a hole and that the only option was to fill it," says Benoist.
He created the company in 2013 and already has more than 150 employees. His eldest son, who is also called Gray, is now working for the finance team.
"Our mission is to empower a group of people who do not have access to the same rights as us.Many segments of society are underserved and autistic," Benoist said.
Evan and Peter like to work in the company, as Peter had already worked in other offices, but for him, they were not very "normal" He compares these experiences to an episode of the BBC's Survivors series, which shows the life of a group of people as a result of an influenza epidemic that eradicated much of the human race. [19659013] "It was very difficult to understand. I could not establish social ties, "he told the BBC.
Evan says that in other jobs he" continued to eat a sandwich and listen to podcasts at lunch time. "
According to the National Autism Society of the United Kingdom, autism affects about one in 100 people, but less than a quarter of them have a job on time
Many give up because anxiety, which is often stronger in people with autism, makes hiring interviews a very intimidating experience.
"People often engage in people who look like them, and autistic people are not like most people, they are like themselves, "says Steve Silberman, author of the book Neurotribes (Neurotribos), The Evolution of Autism. [19659005] "The list of things you should not do during an interview fits the definition of autistic, in practice." z aside, look at your employer in the eye, "this is very difficult for someone with autism. "
Brian really wanted to use his computer skills at work, but he felt discouraged from applying for jobs in the competitive world of technology.
" There is a lot of pressure. You have to stay in competition with other people, "he says.
It was too much for him, so he held other, less important jobs: he worked in a market and was not using his talent well and was not getting anywhere, as he says.
Some companies have found alternatives to the traditional interview process. The German software company SAP, which also employs autistics, offers candidates the opportunity to create Lego robots instead of pbading a formal interview.
"This shows a person's ability to solve problems and commitment," says Silberman. [19659024] And SAP obviously thinks it's worth it, pointing out that they do not use autism as a form of "charity", but rather because "it's good for society. "
In addition to having more anxiety, autistic people have difficulties in interacting socially.
So, in Auticon, if an employee wants to use headphones because of the noise, this is allowed. They can also work in a dark room if they wish, they do not need lunch and can communicate with their colleagues via SMS if they do not want to do it verbally.
If they are very unhappy, they may be absent from anxiety.
"Our focus is sensitivity to employee problems," says Benoist, "but it takes a whole process to enable the company to work with quality for its customers, which requires project planning and how to allocate Resource ".
And when it comes to badessing the dreaded job, they are trying not to be too critical.
"The job is to have good principles of human resources, something that other companies could easily duplicate," he added.
Silberman is not convinced that separation offices are a good idea because he thinks that people with autism and people with more conventional neurological functioning can learn a lot by working together.
"By learning to deal with people from different people, employers are also learning to help everyone else," he said.
"Bill Gates, who certainly has autistic traits, grew up socially and became a great philanthropist."
A four-week Auticon training defines candidates for long-term work.
Some do not come in, especially those who are pressured by their parents to apply for a job even if they have no interest in the data. It is important to say that many autistic people have different interests.
For those who stay, the team seems to be very supportive even if not everyone goes out to lunch together.
When designing the new office, employees asked him to open it, without closed cells.
"It's awesome, relaxed, very tolerant," says Peter. "And everyone is funny."
Brian and Evan are now going to lunch with their colleagues, although Peter is still struggling to "let go of work".
But the three would like to work there all their lives.
This is a lesson that other companies should follow, says Silberman.
"For many autistic people, if they find a place where they feel supported and feel that their abilities can flourish, they become very dedicated and do not go out, which is economical for companies because they do not have to train other people. "
Source link
