Autism in veterinary practice
Creating an inclusive workplace for people with neurodevelopmental disabilities
Veterinary nurse Ellia Davis provides a personal insight into autism , and offers guidance on workplace support .
Autism spectrum disorder ( ASD ), more commonly known as autism , is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how people communicate and interact with the world [ 1 ] . It is a sensory processing and emotional regulatory disorder , which affects 1 in 100 people , according to the World Health Organisation ( WHO ) [ 2 ] .
Those of us with ASD and other neurodevelopmental disabilities are aware that the world is not always designed with our differences in mind . People without such differences , who are described as being ‘ neurotypical ’ ( NT ), often find it easier to manage the majority of life ' s challenges . Although accessibility is improving , it is still a huge obstacle that we have to deal with regularly , both inside and outside the workplace .
Receiving a diagnosis of autism or another neurodevelopmental condition as an adult can be an overwhelming experience , with the assessment itself being a lengthy and intense process . Often those of us who have been diagnosed later in life will grieve for the life we feel we could have had if we ' d been offered support and understanding sooner .
The support of an employer is particularly important to those of us who are autistic and / or have other neurodiverse ( ND ) conditions , as we spend so much time in the workplace . Every ND person is different , so veterinary practices should ensure that they have regular , informal conversations with any ND team members about the support they need , unless specified otherwise by the individual , so their current needs can be met and they can fulfil their potential in the role .
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