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Comment by truelson | Hacker News Reader

So, bigger and more important question here. How do I help neuro-divergent folks in a work environment? There's no one size fits all here, everyone is different, and not just on a spectrum sliding scale. How do I glean what is important for neuro-spicy individuals beyond "just ask?"

Welcome thoughts on what has worked and what has not worked.

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Pay attention to people and try to be empathetic. Do this to everyone, not just those you suspect of being autistic. That's all anyone can ask of you, and it works. Autistic people aren't aliens - if you engage empathetically they will respond positively, like any other person.

This is the answer. I’m autistic and I don’t want anything for myself that I don’t also want for everyone else. All I want is to be treated like the individual human being that I am. I have specific things I’m good at and other things that are difficult or impossible for me. Other people have different abilities and challenges. Stop acting like there’s some “normal” that we all need to aspire to. No individual is normal.

Create an environment where people feel safe requesting adjustments. (This is a general disability thing, not just a neurodivergence thing.) Nobody can tell you how to do that, because any public description of a reliable signal will be diluted by bad actors. (See also: signalling theory, euphemism treadmill.)

This is generalisations and doesn't work as all autistic people are different, but I'll give some tips anyway. Let them do what they are good at and gives them motivation. Ask for their opinion, and you will likely get a straight answer. If it's a highly ambitious and motivated person you need to protect them from over-working. Protect them from internal politics and bullying. Also be a good example for social interactions and culture because they will do like you do, so better be nice and smile.

Chew with your mouth closed. And no apples or other crunchy foods.

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