Promoting sustainable career development via organisational support: autoethnographic insights from a late diagnosed autistic practitioner

Purpose This practitioner insights essay shares the lived experience of the author’s diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in adulthood, with the aim of raising awareness of the barriers to workplace inclusion often faced by late-diagnosed ASD employees, offering practical strategies for organisations to consider regarding equitable, sustainable career development. Design/methodology/approach The author adopts an autoethnographic approach to share their lived experience. Findings A diagnosis of ASD in adulthood can have a profound effect on an individual, including how they process their new identity, reconceptualise memories and adjust within work environments. To ensure such individuals can flourish in their careers, organisations should offer support tailored to each person that is easy to access, serving the dual purpose of also raising awareness of the multitude of ways autism can present in adulthood. Practical implications Strategies to enable autistic workers to flourish include awareness-raising and education in workplace environments, individualised accommodations and neuroinclusive workplace policies and practices. Originality/value This essay contributes original insights based on the lived experience of a late-diagnosed autistic in workplace environments, providing practical examples and recommendations for organisations and managers to build autistic employee confidence and promote their career sustainability.