“People Might Understand Me Better”: Diagnostic Disclosure Experiences of Autistic Individuals in the Workplace

Abstract

Background: Autistic individuals face challenges in the workplace, particularly related to social communication. Diagnostic disclosure may mitigate these challenges, but it also exposes individuals to potential discrimination. This study aimed to share the diagnostic disclosure experiences of autistic adults in the workplace to help employers better understand the process, and help other autistic individuals make an informed decision about disclosure. Methods: The participants in this study were 238 clinically diagnosed, U.K.-based autistic adults with employment experience. Participants completed an online survey, comprising both open-ended and closed-ended questions, that asked about their experiences of disclosure in the workplace. Specifically, questions focused on when in the employment process participants disclosed, to whom the disclosure was made, what factors were involved in the decision to disclose, and what the impacts were of this decision. Results: Our findings suggest that when deciding to disclose, the participants were most concerned about how this might affect the attitudes of others in the workplace. Participants most often only disclosed selectively, while over a third disclosed to everyone. Many participants chose to disclose when completing the application materials or after starting the job, but rarely in the interview process. Many also disclosed after encountering issues at work (i.e., retrospective disclosure). Just over a third of participants rated the impact of disclosing to supervisors and coworkers positively. Subsequent adjustments made were even less positively endorsed. Conclusions: Autistic individuals must weigh the potential benefits of disclosure against the costs. This study highlights the need for organizations, rather than autistic individuals, to take more responsibility for facilitating disclosure and improving outcomes to it. Specific recommendations include the creation of clear pathways for disclosure in workplaces, and an ongoing commitment to organization-wide autism training to reduce stigma and discrimination for autistic employees.

Autistic adults’ experiences of diagnostic disclosure in the workplace: Decision-making and factors associated with outcomes

“…The mixed outcomes of disclosure determined by past research (Lindsay et al, 2019;Romualdez et al, 2020) were also confirmed by the current study. These included negative outcomes (i.e., problematic stereotyping, active discrimination, and disadvantages in recruitment) as well as positive ones: improved mental health and well-being, acceptance and support from others, and positive organisational changes.…”

Autistic adults’ views and experiences of requesting and receiving workplace adjustments in the UK

“…As a result, many participants felt unable to request adjustments without disclosing a formal autism diagnosis. This finding is consistent with recent findings by Romualdez et al [19], who found that disclosure was perceived as a necessity by autistic employees, as opposed to a choice (see also, [11]). However, the requirement to provide information about one's diagnosis in order to gain access to necessary workplace adjustments is problematic for several reasons.…”

What are the views and experiences of autistic teachers? Findings from an online survey in the UK

“…This not only resulted in high levels of distress for those participants, or in their departure from certain settings, but reinforced a fear of sharing their diagnosis. Uncertainties over revealing diagnosis are similarly reported in studies focussed on teachers with LD (Valle et al 2004;Vogel and Sharoni 2011), teachers and trainee teachers who are dyslexic (Riddick 2003) and on the employment of autistic people in the UK (Martin, Barnham, and Krupa 2019;Vincent 2020;Romualdez et al 2021). For the participants in this study, being unable to share the fact of being autistic could result in 'masking' or 'camouflaging' autistic traits, a process found to be stressful, exhausting and to have a negative impact on self-esteem (Lai et al 2017;Cassidy et al 2020).…”