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Adult Autism: Thriving in the Workplace and Building Relationships

Adults diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can lead fulfilling lives despite the challenges they face in a world full of barriers to success.

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Adults diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can lead fulfilling lives despite the challenges they face in a world full of barriers to success. Recognizing the obstacles and embracing the strengths that come with autism can lead to fulfillment in the workplace and more meaningful connections.

Personal and professional relationships play a key role in wellness for autistic and non-autistic people alike. Differences in social cues, communication styles, and emotional expression can sometimes create misunderstandings. However, these differences can also offer opportunities for deeper connection and learning. When both autistic and non-autistic individuals make the effort to understand and support one another, relationships become richer, more authentic, and more fulfilling for all involved.

Unique sensory needs and rigid workplace expectations that don’t accommodate different approaches can add pressure for autistic employees, who must work harder to meet standards that may not align with their natural ways of thinking and operating. While bright lights, loud noises and open office spaces can overwhelm anyone’s nervous system, these conditions may be particularly challenging for many autistic folks. Likewise, misunderstanding social cues or receiving vague instructions from supervisors can lead to stress and confusion. Employees with autism often experience heightened emotional responses in these environments.

“Autistic individuals often feel emotions deeply and can easily sense when their coworkers are upset,” said Alisyn Van Note, a licensed professional counselor specializing in autism for Burrell Behavioral Health. “This can lead to a defensive response or emotional overload, making it hard to manage work stress due to the mask they wear to fit in.”

The emotional burden of masking autistic behaviors can significantly increase the risk of burnout. Autistic burnout is more than simple exhaustion. It’s an intense, overwhelming state caused by prolonged masking, sensory overload and the constant effort to navigate environments that don’t accommodate neurodivergent needs. Unlike general workplace burnout, which is often linked to overwork, autistic burnout can lead to heightened sensory sensitivities, difficulty with communication, and even a temporary loss of skills.

As burnout worsens, masking becomes harder, making it more difficult to regulate emotions, maintain productivity, and meet social expectations. This can lead to misunderstandings, conflicts, or performance struggles that may ultimately result in job loss—whether due to an employer’s decision or the individual leaving to protect their well-being.

Despite the difficulty of adapting to workplace norms, many autistic individuals leverage their unique strengths to excel in their careers. Their preference for structure and routine makes them dependable and committed team members. A keen attention to detail allows them to catch inconsistencies others might overlook, making them highly effective in precision-based work. They often display deep focus, expertise, and dedication when engaged in meaningful tasks. Many thrive in environments where they can work independently, demonstrating strong self-motivation and efficiency without the need for micromanagement. These strengths contribute valuable, innovative problem-solving skills that can help any organization succeed.

One requirement for an autism diagnosis involves social-emotional difficulties, which affect how individuals connect with others. Although ASD has some common traits, every autistic person is unique. Some autistic people thrive in social settings and have meaningful relationships. These same people may need time by themselves to recharge once their social energy runs out. Interactions are much more complex for others who may struggle to interpret social cues, understand context or navigate conversations without taking all words literally.

“Autistic individuals think in facts first, whereas most neurotypical people, or ‘allistics,’ think with emotions,” Van Note said. “These differing ways of processing emotions and communication can lead to misunderstandings. For example, when an allistic asks, ‘How are you?’ and the autistic person answers honestly, ‘Not great, it’s been a rough day,’ it can cause confusion. An autistic person might also hear ‘I’m fine’ and interpret it literally, missing the emotional cues that would prompt further conversation.”

Building supportive relationships is crucial for anyone’s mental health. While autistic people may express empathy in nontraditional ways, they care deeply about the well-being of those they love. It’s essential to recognize that autistic individuals, like neurotypical people, desire relationships, friendships and intimate connections. However, their needs in these relationships can differ significantly, whether around physical touch, emotional regulation or sensory experiences.

Many autistic people communicate directly and honestly, which can sometimes cause challenges in relationships if this straightforward communication style is interpreted as rude or seems abrasive. It can also lead to clear, open conversations without hidden agendas that build deep and trustworthy connections. Enthusiasm for topics they love can bring excitement, shared learning, and unique perspectives to relationships.

Although we are all unique as individuals, neurodivergent and neurotypical people benefit from relationships built on mutual understanding, respect, and authenticity. When we embrace each other’s differences and communicate with openness and empathy, we create stronger, more meaningful connections that enrich everyone’s lives.

Dr. Seth Allen, ED.D., director of Autism Services at Brightli affiliate Burrell Behavioral Health, highlights the importance of understanding and collaboration in both professional and personal settings.

“There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach, so collaboration is key,” Allen said. “It’s essential to ask and listen to individuals about what accommodations or supports will work best for them.”

Healthy relationships allow for growth and learning, even when the process takes time and intentional effort. Autistic individuals often feel pressure to mask their traits—suppressing stimming, forcing eye contact, or carefully scripting conversations—to fit into neurotypical expectations. Over time, this mental and emotional burden can lead to exhaustion, anxiety, and a diminished sense of self.

But when workplaces, friendships, and families foster environments where autistic people feel truly comfortable and authentic, everyone benefits. Autistic individuals can engage more fully without the stress of masking, and neurotypical people gain deeper, more meaningful connections built on mutual trust and understanding. Embracing neurodiversity doesn’t just support autistic individuals. It enriches communities, strengthens teams, and creates space for all minds to thrive.

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Agency News

A&C 75th Anniversary and Irvington Clinic Grand Opening

Integrated health care is a concept that recognizes how a person’s physical health and behavioral health affect their overall wellness and quality of life. Adult & Child Health celebrated integrated health at a combined celebration of history and growth at its Irvington clinic in Indianapolis April 30.  The event served as both a 75th anniversary celebration for the Adult & Child Health organization, and as a grand opening for the clinic on Washington Avenue, which opened in early 2025.  Adult & Child operates three clinics in Indianapolis and one clinic in Franklin. At the Irvington clinic, primary care providers, psychiatric care providers and licensed therapists see patients in the same building.  “Our goal is to help people live happy and healthier lives and have them be able to succeed in whatever it means for them,” Dr. Christine Negendank, President and Chief Medical Officer at Adult & Child Health said. “Many of our patients have been stigmatized — even in the health care setting — so we are very careful to make sure everyone is welcome here, no matter their circumstance and no matter their level of illness.”  Clients of all ages come to the Irvington clinic for psychiatric and primary care. “Integrated care clients,” as they are called, can come to the Irvington clinic to have multiple needs addressed in one place. It’s a combination of providing the best practices and ease of care for each client.  “It’s so wonderful to see a patient who tells me, ‘I’m out of my blood pressure meds,’ or ‘I have a severe headache,’ and I can say, ‘Well, you know, we have primary care across the hall; why don’t we go get you connected?’” Negendank explained.  A client can get primary care, psychiatric care, therapy and connections to housing programs in a single trip to the Irvington clinic.  “They leave with so much more hope,” Negendank said. “We really try to make it easy for our patients when we can. We offer someone a safe place to come, to feel welcome, to leave feeling better and to leave feeling better about themselves.”  A&C offers addictions treatment at the Irvington clinic. Addictions treatment involves one-on-one therapy, medication assisted treatment (MAT), activities of daily living support, psychoeducation, peer recovery services and case management. The average wait time for a new patient to schedule their first appointment is less than three weeks.  Be Well Bell art installation  The Be Well Community movement is designed to ring in a new narrative about brain health through a variety of programs, including the public display of ceremonial bells that symbolize hope and healing. The bell in Indianapolis was unveiled to the public during Adult & Child’s 75th Anniversary event April 30. Be Well Initiatives works with community partners to bring visibility to the mental wellness movement. The Be Well Bell program offers blank bells to be painted with a meaningful design by an artist(s) or as a community arts project.    Brightli Director of Be Well Initiatives Bailey Pyle, LPC, explained that the art installation includes a QR code that smartphone users can scan to access information on the Be Well program and on mental health services available at Adult & Child in the Indianapolis metro area.  “These aren’t just bells that we’re creating and plopping down into a community, but they are truly reflective of the community in which they exist,” Pyle said. “We know from lots of research that that’s when the bells are the most impactful and meaningful.” The Be Well Bell at the Irvington clinic is the 21st for the program and the first Be Well Bell in Indiana.  Adult & Child Health’s history  Photo Gallery

Sarah Miller, PMHNP-BC

Sarah Miller works with the addictions team, general psychiatry for adolescents and adults, and the competency restoration team. She is board-certified as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Her specialties are working in addictions and with people who experience serious mental illness.

Miller graduated from Indiana University with a psychology degree and went back to school for nursing. She received her nursing degree from Indiana Wesleyan University and worked in a nursing home and also spent time working in a group home with adolescents. She received her master’s degree from Vanderbilt University.

She enjoys hanging out with her family and her two dogs, and going to sporting events.

Joanna Chambers, MD

Dr. Joanna Chambers is a psychiatrist who began seeing Adult & Child Health patients in November 2021. She graduated from Medical College of Georgia with her Doctorate of Medicine in 1996 and completed her residency in psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine. In addition to bringing a wealth of experience, she currently serves as an associate professor at Indiana University School of Medicine where she teaches Clinical Psychiatry. She is certified in Addiction Medicine and has a special interest in treating pregnant and postpartum women. She is President of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis and Dynamic Psychiatry Organization as well as a sitting member of many medical association boards. Recently, she has won the Residents’ Award for Teaching Excellence in 2020 from Indiana University and has received “Best Doctors Award” in 2010, 2011, and 2014. Dr. Chambers is incredibly active in the medical, academic, and research realms of medicine. She is currently accepting new patients on Wednesdays.