1. Starting A New Job
A New Job can Be Exciting
A new job is an exciting time for any future employee, but for people with autism and ADHD, it can be an especially anxious time as well. Just ask Sam Briefer, hired by Ernst & Young at 23 and recruited by the company as part of its new program to hire those diagnosed with Autism. For Briefer, only two things mattered, besides the actual job itself: make friends with his new coworkers and not allow himself to be distracted from his work by the hustle and bustle of an office environment.
Worries are Unnecessary
Briefer eventually discovered that all of his worries were unnecessary, as the accommodations that Ernst & Young made for him specifically helped with the transition. For instance, he is allowed to use headphones and listen to music while he does his work to block out the extraneous noise, and he also has the authority to delegate responsibilities to his colleagues when a situation becomes overwhelming. Moreover, Briefer even has begun to socialize with some of his coworkers after work as well.
None of this would have been possible without Ernst & Young’s focus on letting Briefer work in the environment that suits him best, rather than forcing him to conform to the status quo. “Let the employee explain their learning style,” says Briefer, “how they like to work in certain environments, and how they would best cope.”
