Autism in organizations: perceptions and actions for inclusion from the point of view of managers

Abstract

Our article aims to identify managers’ perceptions and actions for inclusion of people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in organizations that employ these professionals in Brazil. The number of people diagnosed with autism in the US has increased, according to 2021 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In comparison with the USA, from the transposition of the data, Brazil counts a number close to 4.48 million of autistic people (Paiva, 2021) in 2021. Most Brazilian organizations do not offer minimum conditions for the inclusion of these professionals (Leopoldino, 2018), and the topic is still scarce in the international and national academic literature, especially empirically. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with six executives from national and foreign companies that hire professionals with ASD. Through thematic analysis, managers’ perceptions of these professionals and the inclusion actions adopted by them were identified. The results indicate that the perceptions of managers are based on stereotypes but these end up changing as they live with professionals with ASD. Regarding actions for inclusion, the importance of a culture of inclusion was identified, as well as the monitoring of professionals with ASD by intermediaries at all stages of their careers and the attention of those involved with their health. The results provide useful findings for organizations that promote diversity and show that actions for the inclusion of people with ASD are still incipient in our country.

Keywords:
Autism; Inclusion; Perceptions; Actions