‘Sometimes you just need someone to take a chance on you’: An internship programme for autistic graduates at Deutsche Bank, UK

Abstract

Autistic individuals often face significant challenges to obtaining and maintaining meaningful employment – more so than other disability groups. Work placements appear to be an important step to promote employment outcomes, yet there remains a lack of knowledge about the real-life experiences of those involved in such schemes. This study is the first to take a multi-informant, longitudinal approach to examine corporate work-placement schemes: specifically, an internship for autistic graduates at Deutsche Bank, UK. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with interns, their hiring managers and the colleagues who worked alongside them. Results demonstrated positive, meaningful experiences for the majority of those involved, however, some interns also reported anxiety, difficulties in judging communication and confusion regarding office rules. The current findings contribute to a better understanding of the experiences of skilled autistic individuals in work, and should inform the creation of subsequent programmes aimed to promote employment opportunities for autistic people.

Exploring Participants’ Views on a Supported Work Internship Program for Autistic and Learning Disabled Young People

“…In the general population, research has highlighted positive correlations between self-efficacy and workplace performance, job satisfaction, health and wellbeing (Judge & Bono, 2001). Moreover, our findings are in keeping with research showing that those on the autistic spectrum (Remington & Pellicano, 2018) and those with other disabilities such as intellectual impairment (Nota, Ginevra, & Carrieri, 2010) are populations at risk of having lower workplace self-efficacy due to negative prior experiences of job seeking/maintaining or the lack of any job-related experiences, which may be further exacerbating the already low employment rates.…”

“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

“…Many autistic people can be hypersensitive to certain everyday sensory stimuli, such as light and sound (Marco et al 2011 ), which can make being in certain environments challenging. Struggling to cope with sensory stimuli in the workplace can cause anxiety, alongside difficulties with social communication and interactions, unpredictable situations, or when last-minute changes occur (Burt et al 1991 ; Hurlbutt and Chalmers 2004 ; Remington and Pellicano 2018 ). Again, these issues may be intensified within the performing arts workplace.…”

“…Even when employers are willing to work with autistic employees, research has shown that employers lack confidence providing appropriate workplace support without the guidance of disability employment organizations or other external support (Howlin et al 2005 ; Remington and Pellicano 2018 ; Scott et al 2015 ). Autistic employees can require on-going support such as a structured and task-adapted environment (Scott et al 2018 ) and a working environment that does not trigger sensory hypersensitivities, such as aversions to particular lighting and/or sounds (Marco et al 2011 ).…”

The DXC technology work experience program: disability-inclusive recruitment and selection in action

“…Remington and Pellicano's (in this issue) study of a work experience program for autistic candidates at Deutsche Bank in the UK identified the key challenges predominately stemmed from environmental or situational factors tapping into participants' auditory sensitivity, social and communication difficulties, or need for support.…”