1 in 59 Canadians are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum per year. More people are getting diagnosed later in life. Diagnosis consists of a combination of traits that can result in differences and challenges in any of the following areas. The spectrum part of Autism means that these difficulties can range from severe to hardly noticeable at all. While people with Autism may receive substantial supports prior to turning 18, these supports often dramatically decrease upon entering adulthood. Further, Autistic individuals are less likely to be employed than other people with disabilities and are often overlooked early in the hiring process due to the social demands of the application and interview process itself or inherent social differences and how they are interpreted by potential employers.
Listed in the next unit are the diagnostic characteristics of Autism along with how these characteristics may cause challenges in the workplace or be misinterpreted by those without awareness, understanding, or acceptance of Autism.