Employing an autistic intern as part of the Employ Autism programme
When Stephenson Harwood began the Employ Autism programme with Ambitious about Autism, I had no idea how impactful it would be.
The training provided by Ambitious about Autism was excellent, with Justin, an Employ Autism trainer, drawing on real-world examples to make the topic of autism in the workplace much more accessible.
Before the training, I thought I had a general understanding of autism. However, Justin’s approach, which emphasised seeing situations from the perspective of an autistic person, helped build my understanding. This perspective has helped me gain the skills necessary to help an intern in various scenarios.
The support of the Diversity and Inclusion team
One of the highlights of this experience was how well Ambitious about Autism collaborated with our internal Diversity and Inclusion team. They helped facilitate the recruitment process and prepared the necessary materials. Their support made the entire process much easier, and I really appreciated how everything came together smoothly.
As part of the recruitment process, we sent applicants the interview questions in advance. The results were incredibly positive, and we received applications from candidates who had clearly taken the time to research the firm, role, and prepare suitable answers to our questions. This approach not only resulted in a better interview experience but also allowed us to focus on evaluating the candidates' preparation and enthusiasm, rather than catching them off guard with spontaneous questions.
Going forward, I plan to implement sending interview questions ahead of time as a standard practice for all of my interviews.
Maylinh’s success
Our intern, Maylinh, quickly became an invaluable member of the team. Her passion for the work and her ability to take on a wide range of tasks with enthusiasm was impressive.
Some of the tasks Maylinh worked on included:
- raising purchase orders
- coding invoices
- liaising with different teams to fulfil requests
- handling suppliers’ quotes and deliveries
- data entry and spreadsheet manipulation.
I briefed my team, key internal contacts, and some suppliers on the training I had received, and I shared Maylinh’s workplace passport (with her permission) to help everyone understand how we could best support her. I believe workplace passports, which detail ways to make an individual feel more comfortable in their work environment, should be standard practice for everyone, not just for autistic people.
There’s one moment that stands out to me during Maylinh’s internship. I had asked her to input data into an important spreadsheet and told her not to worry about the formulas for now as we could handle those later. But Maylinh asked if she could give it a try. I agreed, and within a couple of days, she had mastered the formulas and took a significant monthly task off my plate.
I was so impressed with how Maylinh conducted herself and the work she delivered that we offered her a more permanent role at the firm. Fast forward nearly six months, and Maylinh is now a well-respected and much-loved member of the team. She continues to deliver her duties with the same drive and passion she had at the start of the internship.
Maylinh said: "I'm happy to hear about the things Chay has said about me. They give me comfort that I have made the right choice in joining Stephenson Harwood and especially in Chay's team. I really enjoy working with my colleagues, and I find my role both engaging and manageable. I couldn’t ask for more in a job, and hope that Stephenson Harwood continues to support the Employ Autism programme."
Looking to the future
I would absolutely support Stephenson Harwood in running another internship through the Employ Autism programme, and I would champion this programme both internally and externally. Maylinh is also keen help future interns as a buddy or mentor.
For any other employer considering taking part in the Employ Autism programme, my advice is simple: DO IT! There are some super talented people out there who aren’t always given a fair shot. Autistic people can add significant value in key roles and genuinely make our workplace a better place.
What makes our firm great is that we are all individuals that work together to achieve common goals. Our diversity makes us stronger by bringing together different ideas and perspectives. Find out more about our employment offer for organisations.
About the author
Chay Bartlett is Head of Supplier Management and Planning at Stephenson Harwood and is Maylinh’s line manager.
