Autism
from the
Inside
A Neurodiversity
Action Guide
for Employers
by Melva Radtke
An employers guide to managing employees on the autism spectrum
Autism from the Inside
It’s a game changer! An indispensable “how to” handbook for employers with neurodivergent employees.
The Ideal Resource
Provides practical day-to-day action steps for working with neurodiverse employees in all phases of the employee lifecycle.
Effective Management
Simple changes and best practices to accommodate employees on the autism spectrum.
Testimonials
“This is an incredible resource! It is exactly the sort of tool I have been looking for to share with employers when having these conversations about creating a neuroinclusive workspace.”
Claire Kingstad
Employee Benefits Consultant
“This guidebook is an extremely helpful tool in learning how to work with autistic folks. It’s a good reminder that we need to embrace diversity and be sure to treat everyone the way they want to be treated. Not everyone learns the same way, retains information the same way, or responds to others the same way. This guide reminds us to be curious and open-minded, especially when working with autistic employees.”
Tammy Cohen (she/her/hers)
Director of Human Resources
Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, St Paul, MN
Diversity As A Business Strategy
High-achieving companies foster inclusive workplaces where employees with diverse skills and backgrounds work together to advance company goals. Many companies sponsor internal Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs to recruit and hire untapped talent from diverse gender, ethnic and (dis)ability groups. Increasingly, companies view recruitment of diverse employees as a key strategy for improving productivity and managing labor shortages.
The Neurodiversity Advantage
Neurodiversity refers to the differences in how people learn and process information. Autistic individuals, who may communicate in ways not generally accepted as a social norm, are neurodiverse. Non-autistic individuals are neurotypical.
A workplace that supports neurodiverse employees will benefit from their unique skills and varied life experiences. Neurodiverse individuals are rule-based thinkers who can add unique ideas and perspectives to the workplace. When given the support they need for a job role, they can be more productive, more efficient and less distracted than their neurotypical co-workers. With an estimated 80+% of autistic adults who are un- or underemployed, they represent a huge untapped resource that’s well positioned to improve profits and add social value to a company.
Successful Neurodiversity Programs
Employers may support the concept of neurodiversity but lack a clear plan for creating a neurodiverse workplace where all employees can excel while the company continues to advance its profitability goals. Good intentions, on their own, don’t guarantee that neurodiverse employees will succeed over the long term.
Effective neurodiversity programs include training for employees that offers insights into the learning and response patterns of neurodiverse individuals. The training doesn’t just focus on behaviors. It provides a broader perspective about the reasons for their behaviors. With this training in hand, co-workers and managers can develop positive relationships and work more effectively with their neurodivergent counterparts.
Who We Are
Melva Radtke is an educator and attorney with extensive experience in designing and teaching social competency learning programs for autistic employees and job seekers. She co-founded two organizations that provided coaching and social instruction programs to hundreds of autistic adults throughout the United States.
Melva also served as the Executive Director of a job placement agency for autistic adults and was a job coach for autistic students in post high school transition programs. Much of Melva’s work in the autism community has been informed by her personal experience as the parent of an autistic adult who has been successfully and continually employed for 10 years.