"The Real Thing I Struggle with is Other People's Perceptions": The Experiences of Autistic Performing Arts Professionals and Attitudes of Performing Arts Employers in the UK.
Eleanor Buckley, Elizabeth Pellicano, Anna Remington
PMID 32356080WHAT IT FOUND
Autistic performing arts professionals reported significant workplace barriers, including sensory overload, anxiety around auditions, and fear of negative judgment if they disclosed their autism.
They often lacked support because employers had low knowledge of autism and few resources. Employers were open to learning but lacked confidence.
Key findings
01Autistic professionals identified workplace challenges such as sensory overload, extreme anxiety during auditions, and difficulty with last-minute changes, while also noting strengths like attention to detail and hyper-focus.
02Disclosure of autism was often avoided due to fears of being judged negatively or pigeon-holed into specific roles, yet disclosure was frequently necessary to receive any workplace support.
03Employers generally lacked knowledge about autism and resources for support, leading to inconsistent or absent accommodations, despite expressing a willingness to learn and improve.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The sample was selective and recruited via convenience methods, potentially biasing results toward those already engaged with the industry or specific institutions. Nearly all autistic participants had already disclosed their autism to some degree, so the views of those who remain completely undisclosed may be underrepresented. Employers were not specifically recruited based on prior experience with disabled employees, though many expressed openness to support. Self-reported employer attitudes may be influenced by social desirability bias.
Declared interests
Funding was provided by the Economic and Social Research Council and Rada-in-Business.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the employers' expressed willingness to learn as evidence that effective support is currently in place. The study found that despite good intentions, most employers lacked the knowledge, resources, and confidence to provide consistent or adequate support to autistic employees.