Autism Doesn’t Hold People Back at Work. Discrimination Does.

By Ludmila N. Praslova

 Every time I write about autism and neurodiversity, my inbox fills with notes from talented young professionals. I’ve heard from people who mask their autism to avoid stereotyping or discrimination at work. I’ve read painful recollections from employees who are shunned, bullied, exploited, or underpaid as a result of being neurodivergent. Then, there are those who were rejected or fired after disclosing autism, ADHD, or another neuro-difference. Some of them want my advice. Others want to be heard. Their stories vary, but each resonates, in some way, with my own.

I am a professor of organizational psychology. I am also autistic. I always knew I was different, but until last year, when I was officially diagnosed, I genuinely believed that to be treated better, I had to work harder to fit in — adjust to and please others, often at the expense of my wellbeing.

Throughout my career, I’ve had a hard time regularly socializing with colleagues over lunch and attending large gatherings. My hypersensitivity to sound and smell makes crowded spaces highly unpleasant. Lunchtime chatter, and especially music, hit my ears with the intensity of a leaf blower. Certain aromas make me physically sick. While some colleagues have been considerate of my needs, others have weaponized them. A coworker once threatened to play loud music if I did not comply with their request.

For a long time, I blamed myself for the bullying I experienced. In every instance, I responded by working harder. I would stay up late, take on more, and prioritize the needs of others over my own. The more I tried to fit in and please people among credit-stealing and cutthroat competition, the more I struggled. I started using ableist terms like “weird” to describe myself.