The barriers to employment
Traditional hiring practices often act as filters designed to exclude rather than include. They tend to focus on traits,
such as personality and character assessments, as opposed to doing the job itself. Whilst there has been a shift towards hiring the candidate based on their skills set as opposed to personality, from my experiences, there is still a long way to go.
The right employer will understand that Autistic people bring valuable skills and perspectives to the workplace. But hiring people on the autism spectrum should not be about fulfilling diversity quotas or token gestures - it should be about recognising and leveraging our strengths. Give me a chance, but don’t do it out of pity. I want to contribute meaningfully, not be seen as a box to tick.
Working in the media
In 2024, I had the opportunity to take part in Australia’s first series of The Assembly on the ABC, hosted by Leigh Sales.
During the show, there were accommodations made for the participants such as natural lighting and an atmosphere conducive to being productive, with support workers in place for those of us who needed it. It was a canvas for us to express our views, without any fear of judgement.
On the flipside, it certainly wasn’t easy. I had a chance to chat to some of the producers of the show, and they indicated that a lot happened for the show to be made. During the interviews, a lot of us struggled to have a naturally flowing conversation with the guests. This stemmed from the fact we were a little bit too excited to ask our questions, ignoring the fact it was just like talking to another person. It took a couple of attempts for us to work that out.
Regardless of all that, the question lingered, what was going to happen to us after the show?
As an Autistic person we see the world a certain way, we sometimes end up in the middle: either being too much for one thing, and not enough for the other. This can lead to interactions where expectations are high but outcomes feel uncertain, leaving me feel a sense of unease about what was promised, against what was delivered
The reality of visibility
After The Assembly, I did not wake up one morning and suddenly saw everything change. The world didn’t suddenly become more accommodating because I was in the public eye. As speaking about my experiences of living in a world not built for someone who thinks outside-the-box was important, but it isn’t a quick fix. Real change requires ongoing effort, not just awareness.
Regardless of all that, it is still on us, as Autistic individuals, to try to make it work in our own circumstances. A lot of strength comes from having people in your corner. In the last interview on The Assembly, Leigh said that a lot of the things she had in her life came down to a whole lot of luck. That resonates with me because there are people in life who get by without knowing that they are on the autism spectrum because neurodiversity is an invisible disability. The fact is, you see people on the outside, yet what goes on inside another person's head is anyone's guess: i.e. their beliefs and what is believed to be normal.
Moving beyond inclusion
I believe that in order to be functioning members of society there needs to be a level of compromise. People can say "they love a neurodivergent hire" because it "enriches our team", because we brought in that “quirky team member”. But that mindset risks reducing us to a tokenistic diversity hire.
True progress means moving beyond ticking boxes and toward creating workplaces where Autistic individuals are valued for their contributions. The need for change extends beyond the media industry – employment barriers exist across many fields, and breaking them down benefits everyone.
Concluding statement
Nobody said being Autistic was ever going to be easy, much less being born a certain way. Yet with the right people and a bit of understanding, we can continue the conversation about enriching society with diversity. Right now, organisations may claim to support inclusion, but it’s still largely up to us, as individuals, to self-advocate for our worth and what we have to offer. The right employer will recognise that value – not as an act of charity, but as an investment in genuine talent.
Chau is an Autistic advocate, and was part of the first season of ABC’s The Assembly in 2024. Chau is passionate about writing and research, and is currently looking for employment. If you think Chau could be the right fit in your organisation, please get in touch with Aspect.
