This article accompanies 'Diversity of Thought'.
Not every employee with autism self-discloses or can be easily identified. Those with Asperger's syndrome, for instance, tend to be high-functioning and highly verbal. Still, supervisors need to be aware of those with the disorder to appropriately manage them. Here are some common symptoms those with autism might experience:
* Has trouble socializing with colleagues;
* Has difficulty prioritizing tasks or becoming easily flustered when changing projects;
* Is focused on just one aspect of a project, but uninterested in everything else;
* Takes everything at face value, is "literal-minded";
* Can be inflexible;
* May be sensitive to light, sounds and smells;
* Has difficulty establishing eye contact; and
* Has facial recognition problems, may not remember colleagues' names.
Source: Marcia Scheiner, Asperger Syndrome Training and Employment Partnership, New York