How can we make this work? Understanding and responding to working parents of children with autism

As autism spectrum disorder (ASD) escalates in prevalence, organizations are likely to encounter employees whose lives are touched and reframed by this intense, pervasive, and lifelong condition. Families are dramatically affected as emotional and financial challenges are heightened. Employees want and need to remain productive members of their organizations, but some adjustments are necessary. However, little is known regarding the needs and expectations of employees whose children have been diagnosed with ASD. Even less is known about how organizations, managers, and co-workers can respond to provide sensitivity, maintain overall team equity, and ensure high-quality performance. This article reports the results of an in-depth study of working parents of children with ASD as they openly and candidly share perspectives on workplace needs and accommodations. Employees—adamant that performance expectations should not be mitigated—discussed the support and the primary accommodation they sought: flexibility. Guides for both managers and co-workers are offered herein.