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Autistic Perspective Series: Employment
RESOURCES
VOCABULARY
Disclosure: Deciding if, when, and how to share disability-related information with a prospective or current employer - Job Accommodation Network
Masking: Masking involves an autistic person making changes to their behavior to disguise autistic traits and seem more like their non-autistic peers. Another term used for this is camouflaging. Sometimes masking is a conscious choice at that moment. At other times, autistic people may not realize they are masking. For example, masking may become an automatic behavior in certain situations. - Emma Fox, the Autisphere
Underemployment: Underemployment occurs when a person works a job that does not reflect their actual training and financial needs. That is, their job doesn’t use all their skills and education, or provides less than full time work (full time meaning the number of hours the person is able to work, not necessarily the neuro-normative 40 hours).
PANELISTS
Bernard Grant (they/them)
Bernard Grant is a multiply neurodivergent writer, editor, and DEIB advocate. To learn more about them, visit their website: BernardGrant.com. To learn how you can work with Bernard visit WriterlyNourishment.com.
Jonah Sanville (he/they)
My name is Jonah Sanville and I am 27 years old. I have lived in Durham my entire life. I was diagnosed with autism right around my 5th birthday. I have gone to school, worked, dated, and lived with autism since then. I know what it is like to be a young person with autism living in Durham. I am hoping to be able to share these experiences with the community and help them understand how the Autistic mind works. I am really excited about this opportunity. I love to spend time with my friends, eat out, travel, read web comics, and spend time with my dog. I also serve on the Autistic Advisory Council at ASAC.
Gerald Parrish (he/him)
Gerald Parrish (he/him) is proudly Autistic and Black. He currently serves on the Self-Advocates Advisory Board at Autism Society of NC (ASNC). He also co-leads the Racial Equity & Social Responsiveness Work Group at Work Together NC. His past work includes Travel Training Instructor and Community Inclusion Specialist at Alliance of Disability. Gerald also has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Performance with concentration in Voice from Talladega College in Talladega, Alabama. When he is not working, he typically attends and co-leads the Triangle Autism Meetup Group where they do a variety of activities including eating out, bowling, movies, board/arcade games, and museums. He also enjoys listening to music and singing. He lives in Raleigh, NC.