The best way to integrate the autistic employee within the employer’s organization is bottom-up. Ideally, this happens with the volunteer participation of colleagues. If this is the case, there is a greater chance of seeing a long-term cooperation.
Sensitization – which is a better understanding of healthy people towards the disabled – should be raised to social levels and started off in childhood to be successful.

Everyone knows sensitization tales; let us take only the “táltos horse” (“táltos paripa” – “táltos” typically refers to the power of the horse) in the Hungarian folk tale, who appears in the image of a lean horse in very bad condition and you need to know him to reveal his hidden abilities.

Getting your own experiences in childhood and adulthood as well, are the most determinative. A common play with a wheelchair user or helping a blind person across the road can give a lifelong example to follow.

Individuals can experience difficulty in understanding facial expressions or body language and might not recognize when they have lost the interest of the listener. Those without a learning disability may have a full range of vocabulary but might still not understand the rules of taking turns to speak and listening.

Misunderstandings during social times at college or at work, such as breaks and lunchtimes, can lead to bullying and anxiety.

They might not understand that other people think differently to them and cannot relate to someone else’s happiness or sorrow. They can appear to say what they think with no regard to how it makes the listener feel.

They may have little or no eye contact with others.

A person with autism may not respond to the normal shows of affection such as cuddling; alternatively, people without a learning disability may be excessively polite; have learned to shake hands or hug but cannot determine when and for how long. They may learn the rules of social interaction without understanding them.

Impairment in understanding social interaction can cause substantial anxiety to people on the autism spectrum.

They might experience some of the following difficulties:

• Difficulty in understanding unwritten social rules
• Difficulty in understanding personal space
• Difficulty in recognizing how someone else is feeling
• Appear to behave inappropriately in public
• Shy away from the company of others
• Difficulty in knowing how to make friends
• Difficulty in understanding or using different tones of voice
• Difficulty in understanding jokes or sarcasm
• Taking things literally and misunderstanding idioms, e.g.: “It is raining cats and dogs”
• Difficulty in understanding slang, e.g. ‘cool’ or ‘pants’

People with autistic spectrum conditions often have particular strengths in:

• Following instructions
• Abiding by rules
• Being direct, open and honest
• Excellent memory
• Copying, imitating and mimicking
• Attention to detail
• High levels of vocabulary
• Precise use of grammatical language
• Clear, concise, and accurate communication

They might experience the following difficulties:

• Difficulty in predicting what will happen next, e.g. coming back home after going shopping.
• Difficulty in understanding the concept of danger and consequences, e.g.: crossing the road.
• Difficulty in using imagination and trying out something new
• Difficulty in planning for the future
• Difficulty in coping with unfamiliar situations

These individuals may be more likely to be adept at:

• Sticking to structured programs
• Working on projects with a clear beginning, middle and end
• Mathematical and technical abilities

Some behaviors an individual with autism might display:

• Covering ears
• Flapping fingers
• Rocking, swaying or spinning
• Refusing to put on certain clothes
• Refusing to eat foods of a certain color

These behaviors may manifest themselves in the following ‘positive’ characteristics:

• Seeing and remembering small details
• Acute auditory memory
• Discriminatory sense of smell and taste
• Acute sense of balance

Each person with autism will experience different levels of the above difficulties and qualities. Some will experience certain challenges, others might experience a different set of difficulties altogether.

Therefore, any support intervention or approach must put the individual’s specific challenges, strengths, needs and wishes at the center of any support program.