Advice for autistic people considering a career in academia

This publication is included in the Autistic Autism Scholarship Project. one author of this publication is identified as autistic in the project.

About the autistic author marker

Metadata sources used for this reference

OpenAlex Crossref OpenCitations
Learn more about the sources used

Jones, S. C. (2023). Advice for autistic people considering a career in academia. Autism, 27(7), 2187-2192. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613231161882

Publication date: 23 Mar 2023 Added to AutiHub: 6 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
Publisher source (DOI) Full text OpenAlex source

This publication is integrated into AutiHub through:

Authors

Publication authors
1
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 1 (100.0%)
  1. Sandra C. Jones *

Abstract

Academia is underpinned by an apprenticeship model, with increasing recognition of the need for a ‘cognitive apprenticeship’ model in which the methods and strategies of academic success are learnt through participation in a community of inquiry. Autistic people face systemic barriers in academia, as in other professions, and these may be exacerbated by a model based on learning by observing and modelling. This study sought to obtain specific practical advice for autistic people considering a career in academia, from the perspective of those already working within the academy. Thirty-seven autistic academics provided written reflections on the advice they would give a young person considering a career in academia. Five key themes were generated from these reflections: know the role, find the right people, know (and value) yourself, remember well-being and proceed with caution but with passion. Lay abstract One of the recognised strengths of autistic people is their ability to absorb and retain large amounts of information; autistic children and adolescents are often described as ‘little professors’. So, is the life of a university researcher or teacher the ideal career for an autistic person? In this study, 37 autistic people working in universities and colleges provide advice to young people considering a future career as an academic. They emphasise the importance of understanding the complexities and requirements of the role, understanding and valuing yourself and your strengths, and finding the right people to work with and learn from. They also discuss the importance of maintaining a balance between work and well-being, and between caution and passion. The life of an academic can be ideally suited to an autistic person, but it can also be very challenging.

Bibliography cited by this reference

Cited references are imported from external metadata sources when they are available. The list may be partial.

Cited bibliography overview

These indicators describe the bibliography cited by this publication. An author name is counted each time it appears in one cited reference, so the same person can be counted more than once. Names not yet linked to an author already present in AutiHub are treated as unknown, not as non-autistic. Last computed: 2 Oct 2026 07:51.

Cited references
28
With a DOI
28
Without a DOI, from raw bibliography text
0
4 / 28 (14.3%) cited references include at least one author identified as autistic.
References with data to complete
0 / 28 (0.0%)
References with detected author names
28 / 28 (100.0%)
Without detected author names
0
Without a structured title
0
Without a stable identifier
0
References with raw author names still to review
0
References with external metadata lookup issues
0
These indicators apply to cited references displayed on this page, after technical duplicates have been merged. A reference without a DOI can still support author statistics when a title and author names are available.
Author names detected in the cited bibliography
91
From DOI or external metadata
91
From validated raw bibliography text
0
Raw names already validated
0
Raw names still to review
0
52 / 91 (57.1%) names are linked to an author already present in AutiHub. 39 / 91 (42.9%) names are not yet linked.
Names linked to a person identified as autistic
11 / 91 (12.1%)
Calculated across all author names detected in the cited bibliography. Among names linked to an author already present in AutiHub: 11 / 52 (21.2%). Distinct people identified as autistic: 10 / 84 (11.9%).
  1. Andrée‐Anne S. Meilleur , Patricia Jelenic , Laurent Mottron (2015). Prevalence of Clinically and Empirically Defined Talents and Strengths in Autism . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 45(5), 1354-1367. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1007/s10803-014-2296-2 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W1971896840
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  2. Virginia Braun , Victoria Clarke (2019). Reflecting on reflexive thematic analysis . Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 11(4), 589-597. Informa UK Limited.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1080/2159676x.2019.1628806 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2950504429
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  3. Janani Hariharan (2019). Uncovering the hidden curriculum . Science, 364(6441), 702-702. American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1126/science.364.6441.702 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2946403638
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  4. Chris M. Golde (2008). Applying lessons from professional education to the preparation of the professoriate . New Directions for Teaching and Learning, 2008(113), 17-25. Wiley.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1002/tl.305 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W1993561192
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  6. Samuel T. Hunter , Melissa D. Hunter (2022). Performance Management and Career Development for Employees with Autism . In Neurodiversity in the Workplace (pp. 211-240). Routledge.
    Type: Book chapter DOI: 10.4324/9781003023616-9 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4280600098
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  7. Alinda Gillott , P.J. Standen (2007). Levels of anxiety and sources of stress in adults with autism . Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 11(4), 359-370. SAGE Publications.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1177/1744629507083585 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2107963389
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  8. Joshua P. Byrne (2022). Perceiving the social unknown: How the hidden curriculum affects the learning of autistic students in higher education . Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 59(2), 142-149. Informa UK Limited.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1080/14703297.2020.1850320 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3109740772
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  9. Narelle Lemon (2018). I am not Playing the Academic Hunger Games: Self-awareness and Mindful Practices in Approaching Research Collaborations . In Mindfulness in the Academy (pp. 129-154). Springer Singapore.
    Type: Book chapter DOI: 10.1007/978-981-13-2143-6_9 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2888602988
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  10. Catherine RG Jones , Francesca Happé , Hannah Golden , Anita J. S. Marsden , Jenifer Tregay , Emily Simonoff et al. (2009). Reading and arithmetic in adolescents with autism spectrum disorders: Peaks and dips in attainment. Neuropsychology, 23(6), 718-728. American Psychological Association (APA).
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1037/a0016360 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2149133820
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  11. Robert Chapman * (2021). Neurodiversity and the Social Ecology of Mental Functions . Perspectives on Psychological Science, 16(6), 1360-1372. SAGE Publications.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1177/1745691620959833 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3126691317
    AutiHub · Autistic Autism Scholarship Project Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  13. Rachel Grove , Ilona Roth , Rosa A. Hoekstra (2016). The motivation for special interests in individuals with autism and controls: Development and validation of the special interest motivation scale . Autism Research, 9(6), 677-688. Wiley.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1002/aur.1560 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2149687380
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  14. Erica Crome , Lois Meyer , Agnes Bosanquet , Lesley Hughes (2019). Improving engagement in an early career academic setting: can existing models guide early career academic support strategies? Higher Education Research & Development, 38(4), 717-732. Informa UK Limited.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1080/07294360.2019.1576597 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2913176618
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  15. Rebekah Willson , Lisa M. Given (2020). “I'm in sheer survival mode”: Information behaviour and affective experiences of early career academics . Library & Information Science Research, 42(2), 101014. Elsevier BV.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1016/j.lisr.2020.101014 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3013211138
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  16. Dominique A. Greer , Abby Cathcart , Larry Neale (2016). Helping doctoral students teach: transitioning to early career academia through cognitive apprenticeship . Higher Education Research & Development, 35(4), 712-726. Informa UK Limited.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1080/07294360.2015.1137873 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2256336744
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  17. Kilee M. DeBrabander , Amy E. Pinkham , Robert A. Ackerman , Desiree R Jones , Noah Sasson (2021). Cognitive and Social Cognitive Self-assessment in Autistic Adults . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 51(7), 2354-2368. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1007/s10803-020-04722-x OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3087656526
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  18. Ye In (Jane) Hwang , Samuel R. C. Arnold , Preeyaporn Srasuebkul , Julian Trollor (2020). Understanding anxiety in adults on the autism spectrum: An investigation of its relationship with intolerance of uncertainty, sensory sensitivities and repetitive behaviours . Autism, 24(2), 411-422. SAGE Publications.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1177/1362361319868907 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2967348947
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  19. Rachel Grove , Rosa A. Hoekstra , Marlies Wierda , Sander Begeer (2018). Special interests and subjective wellbeing in autistic adults . Autism Research, 11(5), 766-775. Wiley.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1002/aur.1931 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2789112474
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  21. Laura Hull , Lily Levy , Meng-Chuan Lai , K.V. Petrides , Simon Baron-Cohen , Carrie T. Allison et al. (2021). Is social camouflaging associated with anxiety and depression in autistic adults? Molecular Autism, 12(1), 13. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1186/s13229-021-00421-1 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3132619758
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  22. Gabriele Griffin (2022). The ‘Work-Work Balance’ in higher education: between over-work, falling short and the pleasures of multiplicity . Studies in Higher Education, 47(11), 2190-2203. Informa UK Limited.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1080/03075079.2021.2020750 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4206710355
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  23. Amelia Hollywood , Daniel McCarthy , Carol Spencely , Naomi Winstone (2020). ‘Overwhelmed at first’: the experience of career development in early career academics . Journal of Further and Higher Education, 44(7), 998-1012. Informa UK Limited.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1080/0309877x.2019.1636213 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2959395622
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  24. Bruce Macfarlane (2021). The neoliberal academic: Illustrating shifting academic norms in an age of hyper-performativity . Educational Philosophy and Theory, 53(5), 459-468. Informa UK Limited.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1080/00131857.2019.1684262 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2983704893
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  26. William Nguyen , Tamara Ownsworth , Chelsea Nicol , David Zimmerman (2020). How I See and Feel About Myself: Domain-Specific Self-Concept and Self-Esteem in Autistic Adults . Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 913. Frontiers Media SA.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00913 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3024675062
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  27. Nicola Martin (2021). Perspectives on UK university employment from autistic researchers and lecturers . Disability & Society, 36(9), 1510-1531. Informa UK Limited.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1080/09687599.2020.1802579 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3041998769
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  28. Richard Watermeyer , Michael Tomlinson (2022). Competitive accountability and the dispossession of academic identity: Haunted by an impact phantom . Educational Philosophy and Theory, 54(1), 92-103. Informa UK Limited.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1080/00131857.2021.1880388 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3126857240
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations