October is underfoot, and with it comes National Disabled Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). In this annual celebration, we recognize the contributions of disabled employees, and work toward improved opportunity throughout the workplace. This year’s theme is “Advancing Access and Equity,” highlighting that despite the 19% of the American workforce experiencing some form of disability, their unemployment rate tends to be double that of the general population. We simply must be better.

A shared work environment can be a minefield for those on the spectrum, sometimes because of the ignorance of others, which can result in “othering” those with autism. Factoring in varying learning differences among colleagues, it can be tricky to work within an employer’s framework.