Michael S. Bernick

Last week, I was in New York and had the opportunity morning to tour a true “autism-friendly workplace”—one that differs not only from most workplaces today but also from most workplaces that describe themselves as autism-friendly. I think you’ll be interested, whether you have a connection to autism or not.

A little background. The previous afternoon, I had joined 12 autism employment practitioners from throughout the New York area at the Duane Morris LLP offices on Broadway near 46th. In attendance were representatives of Integrate, Job Path, Goodwill NY, Spectrum Designs, Best Buddies, and Extraordinary Ventures NY. David Kearon of Autism Speaks, the person most at the center of autism initiatives nationwide, brought us together.

Our discussion started with the enormous grassroots activity of the past few years, the expanding corporate autism employment initiatives, and the explosion of autism in popular culture. Our focus, though, became workplace culture. Many in our autism community did get jobs, only to lose them shortly thereafter. So much of current workplace culture makes retention of adults on the autism spectrum an uphill struggle. …

I was in front of an office building on 6th Avenue near 48th St.  I was greeted by a graying man who looked to be in his seventies, dressed casually, with a peaceful demeanor.

“Please come and tour our autism-friendly workplace” he bid me forward, “I am Hammond.” We entered the building, toured the four floors, in which the company houses its 400 or so employees, and settled in a conference room. Hammond talked of the development of his autism-friendly workplace and its chief elements. …

To read the full article, visit the Forbes website.