Employers

Over 5.4 million people in the U.S. identify as autistic, and many more are neurodivergent in ways that impact how they work, learn, and communicate. Chances are, you’re already working with neurodivergent team members—even if you don’t know it yet.

By adopting inclusive practices rooted in universal design, you’re not just supporting autistic and neurodivergent professionals—you’re unlocking better performance, communication, and satisfaction across your entire team.

Neurodiverse Hiring Initiative (NHI)

NHI is an innovative, campus-to-career effort that equips neurodivergent students to navigate career pathways with confidence—while partnering with employers to build more inclusive, forward-thinking workplaces. NHI fosters a growing professional community where neurodivergent talent is recognized, valued, and empowered to thrive. Learn more about NHI about the neurodiverse hiring initiative

Guides

RIT Employer Guide to Supervising Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (PDF): You may encounter students on the autism spectrum when recruiting and hiring RIT students for your organization. This guide will help you work effectively with these students as candidates and employees. Objectives include:

  1. Understanding the characteristics of ASD
  2. Understanding the benefits of hiring individuals with ASD
  3. What can you do as a manager, interviewer, co-worker, or recruiter
  4. Resources for further reading

Articles

Harvard Business Review (May/June 2017): Neurodiversity as a Competitive Advantage

Forbes (2014): Neurodiversity: A New Talent Opportunity

Fortune (2014): The next frontier in workplace diversity: Brain differences

Venture Beat(2017): Software firms are actively seeking “neurodiverse” employees

Fast Company (2016): Microsoft Wants Autistic Coders. Can it Find Them and Keep Them?

Online Resources

Disability In Autism At Work Roundtable: A community of leading employers who have been running autism-focused hiring initiatives for at least one year and are willing to share their first-hand experiences and provide guidance on starting an autism hiring initiative. Access the Autism at Work Playbook

EARN Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability and Inclusion: Tools and strategies for building a more neurodiverse workplace. Includes information about what to consider when developing job descriptions and interviewing as well as considerations for workspaces, work schedules, and workplace accommodations.  

Integrate Autism Employment Advisors: Helping organizations identify, recruit, and retain qualified professionals on the autism spectrum.

Job Accommodation Network: The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is the leading source of free, expert, and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues.

Microsoft’s Inclusion Journey: A message from Microsoft’s Chief Accessibility Officer.

U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP): Provides resources for employers, service providers, transition-age youth, adults, and policymakers.

The Benefits of Employing Neurodivergent Talent

Distinct Strengths

Neurodivergent professionals often excel in roles that require:

  • Precision and attention to detail
  • Analytical problem-solving and pattern recognition
  • Honesty, reliability, and focus
  • A deep commitment to meaningful work

Loyalty

When neurodivergent employees find a workplace that respects and supports them, they tend to stay. That means less turnover, reduced hiring costs, and more institutional knowledge retained over time.

A Growing Talent Pipeline

Thanks to earlier identification, greater support, and increased access to higher education, more autistic and neurodivergent young adults are graduating and seeking careers in tech, design, engineering, media, research, and more.

Inclusion

Simple practices—structured feedback, mentorship, flexible environments—aren’t “accommodations.” They’re good management practices. These universal design strategies lift productivity, morale, and retention across your entire team

Innovation

Neurodivergent employees bring valuable perspectives that strengthen teams, drive innovation, and expand how we define professional excellence. Building a truly inclusive workplace isn’t just the right thing to do—it leads to better problem-solving, greater creativity, and a culture where everyone can thrive.