Experiences of autistic and non-autistic individuals participating in a corporate internship scheme.
Anna Remington, Brett Heasman, Anna Melissa Romualdez and 1 others
PMID 34151609WHAT IT FOUND
Autistic interns reported lower baseline confidence and unique struggles with sensory distractions and communication misunderstandings.
However, they matched non-autistic peers in task performance and self-efficacy by the internship's end. Managers found that accommodating autistic styles improved their own communication skills and team dynamics.
Key findings
01Autistic interns started with significantly lower work self-efficacy than non-autistic interns, but this difference was no longer significant after the internship.
02Managers rated non-autistic interns higher on task comprehension and independence when dealing with distractions, but found no significant difference in the frequency or independence of actual task performance.
03Autistic interns specifically reported challenges with feeling 'othered', communication misunderstandings, and anxiety, while both groups struggled with lack of clarity in management.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The sample was small and from a single, highly supportive corporate programme, so findings may not apply to less inclusive workplaces. The autistic group was predominantly male and slightly older than the non-autistic group, which may have influenced their reported experiences. Only five managers of non-autistic interns participated compared to sixteen managers of autistic interns, creating an imbalance in the comparison data.
Declared interests
The research was funded by Autistica, a UK autism charity. The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that the lack of significant difference in work self-efficacy at the end of the internship proves that workplace support is unnecessary. The autistic interns reported unique ongoing challenges with anxiety and communication that were not captured by the final scores, and the study was underpowered to detect subtle performance differences.