Hiring People with Autism Beneficial for Employers

Clearing up misconceptions about individuals with autism allows employers to hire and, if necessary, accommodate them, which can be beneficial for all concerned, advocates say.

“The most important starting point is better understanding and acceptance of what autism is and what people with autism are capable of,” David Kearon, director of adult services at Autism Speaks, told Bloomberg BNA Jan. 10. “Awareness has increased in the past 10 to 15 years, but there are still myths.”

On the one hand, Kearon said, there is a wrong belief that “all people with autism are geniuses” like the Dustin Hoffman character in ...