Autistics at Work: A Practical Guide

by Sandra Thom-Jones

Sandra Thom-Jones has tried all kinds of work—selling flowers, tending bar, office work, university leadership. Along the way she has made some mistakes, had some successes, and learnt a lot about the barriers and facilitators for autistic people building a career in a predominantly neurotypical work environment.

Thom-Jones shares her personal experiences and reflections as well as those of her colleagues, providing insights into the challenges and benefits of both being and working with an autistic employee, co-worker and employer. Autistics at Work is also informed by two decades of study into the autistic experience, and covers all aspects of the employment journey, from entering the workforce to senior leadership.

Autistics at Work is essential reading for autistic individuals who are in, or considering entering, the workforce. It is also an invaluable resource for managers, colleagues, employers and employment professionals. This accessible guide includes tools and activities, and each chapter concludes with practical advice for autistic employees and their non-autistic colleagues and employers.

We shouldn’t be asking what jobs are suitable for autistic people, but how can we make this job suitable for this autistic person?

Genres: Nonfiction

386 pages, Paperback

First published September 16, 2025

Reviews

[Rosemary Race · Rating 5 out of 5]

If only I read this before I did my Diploma of Community Services but anyway it just confirms 'whoever's system you are with they are all the same' regardless of better accommodation, if there are 2 of you living in separate areas of the same house there will only be ONE carer so if you wake up and need a PRN because you were thinking in bed staring at the ceiling no sleep and upset getting out of bed you walk to the front of your house open the door walk into the bedroom where the house manager or a co worker is asleep or reading in bed and you are non verbal, you look ok how do you communicate? Go on tell me...
Whip out your Boundary Planning Worksheet because the door is locked to the carer. Groan go back to bed. Be savy with office politics I have worked all over Australia states and territories as a Govie for lots of different ages in the same house, with everything, all ages, genders and I also did Childcare and long day care and as a nanny in a lot of regional towns. I went to school sports, inter school sports assisting teachers with sports equipment and did the pies stall, the cake stall, the grocery shopping, the library with the children, movies with children, went cycling, jumped on trampolines, did basketball, netball, showering, bathing, washing hair, laundry, meals, made beds, put the washing out, ironed it, always read the reports when I went to different houses or centres to find out what was happening with the client that day's swimming in rivers, dams, fishing. etc. etc.
I like assisting people of all ages and I have been an Education Access Worker, Team Leader twice, put wheelchairs in the boot took them out of the boot bending appropriately, assisted people on or off buses and trains, and walking along the street, eating, dressing, showering and gone for nature walks, driven buses of elderly people during COVID-19.

Its a practical guide I enjoyed reading and I am pleased to say I have reported other other DSW's EAW's, support workers to assist the client and where there was no medical book, or a daily diary I have had them implemented in all the houses I went to so every carer, doctor or nurse knew what had happened to the clients during the day or night.

Its a commitment to social justice. We are all responsible.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

The workplace is often a challenging place for those of us on the spectrum. In this easy to read book, Thom-Jones has created a tome of useful tips, advice, and techniques that we can choose between to aid our own individual work experiences. Perhaps even more valuable, however, is that this book is filled with experiences of Thom-Jones as an autistic academic. As someone on the spectrum in the same industry, it is so powerful to see that others have had similar barriers and have been able to leverage their strengths to succeed through those barriers.
Definitely worth your time to read this. In fact, read it twice!

[Leah Heinrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of practical tips and tricks, I really loved this book and recommend it to any autistic person who works. Thank you so much, Sandra.