Supporting people with autism

Kindergarten teachers can bear in mind the child's special support needs and help the child to put their early intervention therapy into practice. This may include

• spotting and avoiding situations that overwhelm or overstimulate the child.
• giving clear, simple instructions – like explaining exactly what is expected of the child when playing or doing crafts – in small steps.
• helping the child to communicate using visual aids (like pictures and boards).
• making sure they can go to a quiet, calm place when needed.

It is important that the kindergarten teacher is in regular contact with the early intervention provider and with the child's parents.

Please note: Some of the following information describes the situation in Germany. You may find that things are different elsewhere.

Children with high support needs can go to special schools such as inclusive schools (integrative Schule) or schools for children with disabilities (Förderschule). Many children with autism go to regular schools. They need certain structures and learning environments there. How well that works can vary a lot from school to school.

The following kinds of support are available in Germany:

• Support from a learning support assistant (Schulbegleitung): The assistant helps the student – for example, in class, while learning, during recess, and getting to and from school. In Germany, learning support assistants are provided by youth welfare offices (Jugendamt) or social welfare offices (Sozialamt), who then also cover the costs.
• Compensation for disadvantages (Nachteilsausgleich): This is a written record of the support the student needs in their daily school life. You apply for it at the school. The school, parents and child agree on what it should include.

For example:

• a low-stimulation learning environment (e.g. using noise-canceling headphones)
• calm spaces (like being allowed to spend recess in the classroom or library)
• more time to complete homework and exams
• easy-to-understand instructions and tasks
• clear agreements and predictable processes
• certain members of staff who the child can go to for help
• special contents of lessons (to help with things like communication and coping with changes)

Autism specialists (ideally those treating the child) can also be asked what types of measures are needed. In Germany, many education authorities in the various regions have special consultant teachers whose help can be requested by schools. These teachers then go into the classroom to offer teachers advice about a particular child.

About half of people with autism work – some in regular jobs, others in special centers for people with disabilities. Some go to university and become highly-qualified professionals.

The following assistance is available for people with autism, to help them find their way in the working world:

• Careers advice: This is available for free from employment agencies in Germany (Agentur für Arbeit). Careers advice and coaching is offered by other people and institutions too, but you usually have to pay for that yourself.
• Vocational training center (Berufsbildungswerk): People with a disability can do vocational training here to qualify for the regular job market.
• Vocational advancement center (Berufsförderungswerk): People with a disability can do further training or retrain here.
• Integration services (Integrationsfachdienste): These centers help people with a disability to train for and find a job. They also support people who already have a job – for example, with things like organizing their tasks at the workplace and raising awareness of autism among their colleagues. They provide support in crisis situations, too, and offer psychosocial help.
• Compensation for disadvantages (Gleichstellungsantrag): People with a certified severe disability are entitled to certain assistance at work. That includes things like not doing any overtime, getting additional vacation days, having a right to part-time work, and additional tax relief.
• Job coaching: Job coaches accompany and support people with autism at work over a few weeks or months. They might give tips about things like how to master professional challenges and help to solve any problems at work. Job coaching is usually paid for by integration offices (Integrationsamt).

Many companies have a representative for disabled employees (Schwerbehindertenvertretung) who people with autism can turn to for help. These representatives make sure that the rights of people with a severe disability are respected in the workplace.

Counseling services and support are also available from the Complementary Independent Participation Counselling Office (Ergänzende unabhängige Teilhabeberatung, or EUTB). Support groups and regional associations can help, too.

The costs of aids that help in the workplace (for example, to improve communication) are covered by pension funds (Rentenversicherung) or the employment agency (Agentur für Arbeit), among others. Integration offices fund support services like job coaching and provide information about a range of other support options.

How well people with autism cope at work depends on things like how much support they get from their employers and colleagues. The following measures are recommended:

• providing a tidy, well-structured workplace
• planning and carrying out work processes together
• establishing routines and repeating work processes
• announcing changes in routines in good time
• having certain members of staff who they can go to for help, and support from experienced employees
• communicating in a clear and straightforward way
• providing communication aids (such as boards, picture cards or special computer programs)
• offering flexible working hours
• enabling remote work
• creating an environment without distressing sensory input such as irritating noises or a lot of people in a small space
• providing aids to reduce sensory input (such as noise-canceling headphones, privacy screens and sound insulation)
• allowing for more privacy (such as a quiet room or an office to themselves)

Everyday work situations aren't the only thing that can be a challenge for people with autism. Social events such as company outings and work parties can be difficult, too. Some people with autism are glad to take part, while others aren't. For this reason, participation should always be voluntary.

People with autism who have a job should decide for themselves whether it makes sense to talk about autism at work. But experience has shown that being open about it usually makes working life easier. Most colleagues are understanding and happy to make changes in order to help.

That varies greatly from person to person. Some people are so limited by autism and related conditions that they can’t work at all. Others work for special employers of people with disabilities, such as sheltered workshops and companies that are inclusive. And others work in regular professions.

People with autism often prefer more technical and scientific professions, but that's not always the case. Some also work in helping or communicative professions. The job options for people with autism ultimately depend on their personal skills, strengths, and interests – like with all people.

There are a few rules of thumb that can help here. Of course, it always depends on the kind of relationship you have with one another. It’s important to

• communicate in a friendly and clear way, with as little ambiguity and sarcasm as possible.
• make fixed arrangements that give a sense of security and structure.
• give them space if they need it and provide opportunities for that.
• ask them or find out about their strengths, wishes, and needs.
• be open and include them socially, but without any pressure. Some people with autism are very sociable, others prefer to be alone.
• announce physical contact in advance or ask if it’s okay. Many people find unexpected physical contact unpleasant.
• find out what makes them feel stressed and avoid doing those things.

People with autism often don’t outwardly show that they are feeling overwhelmed. So it's not always obvious that they feel uncomfortable, but that can then show very suddenly in more extreme ways.

People on the autism spectrum have to put in a lot of cognitive effort to get through the day. They often have to logically deduce things that are intuitively clear to others. That is mentally tiring. As a result, they need more time and space to recover from social situations.