Build an Inclusive Culture 

• HR policies help create and foster an inclusive work environment. If you are looking for resources, check the Job Accommodation Network and Employer Assistance and Resource Network. 
• Generate public-facing statements and policies on diversity and inclusion.  
• Educate and equip employees on best practices for working with individuals with autism. 

Consider how you can use inclusive design as you build out roles and supports: 

• Some individuals may experience sensory challenges or sensory overload in the workplace due to environmental stimuli, including certain lights, sounds, and smells. As an employer, you can do things to help make your workplace more welcoming and accessible: 
  • Installing light switches that give users the ability to control the brightness within a space 
  • Creating or designating a particular location as a quiet space 
  • Providing furniture with kinetic movements such as rockers and swings 
  • Permitting the use of providing employees with noise-canceling headphones to reduce distractions  
  • Installing acoustic dampening or sound-proofing materials around loud equipment or noisy areas 
  • Investing in modular, adjustable furniture, such as ergonomic chairs and standing desks

For more information on Universal Design, here are a few other articles to check out:  

• Designing a Neurodiverse Workplace, HOK
• Addressing Neurodiversity Through Universal Design, Michael Perry, Executive Vice President and board member, Progressive AE
• Designing for Neurodiversity in the Workplace, AJ Paron-Wildes, National A&D Director, Allsteel