Autistic adults’ views and experiences of requesting and receiving workplace adjustments in the UK

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Davies, J., Heasman, B., Livesey, A., Walker, A. S., Pellicano, E., & Remington, A. (2022). Autistic adults’ views and experiences of requesting and receiving workplace adjustments in the UK. PLOS ONE, 17(8), e0272420. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0272420

Publication date: 5 Aug 2022 Added to AutiHub: 6 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
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Authors

Publication authors
6
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 6 (16.7%)
  1. Jade Davies
  2. Brett Heasman
  3. Adam Livesey *
  1. Amy S. Walker
  2. Elizabeth Pellicano
  3. Anna Remington

Abstract

This article examines 181 autistic adults' views toward, and experiences of, requesting and receiving workplace adjustments in the UK. Using an online survey, we collected both qualitative and quantitative data relating to individuals' experiences. While the majority of participants perceived workplace adjustments to be important, many were not receiving them. Analysis of open-ended text responses highlighted specific challenges that autistic people face in requesting and receiving adjustments. Specifically, participants felt the onus fell on them to (1) identify their need for adjustments; (2) establish the specific adjustments that would be beneficial and (3) request adjustments from their employer. Yet, they reported struggling with this process. Participants also highlighted a range of social and organisational barriers to the successful implementation of workplace adjustments. Unsurprisingly, the lack of successfully implemented adjustments had far-reaching impacts on participants' wellbeing as well as the choices they made about their future employment. These findings highlight the need for employers to take a more active role in the identification and implementation of workplace adjustments, as well as a need for more understanding and inclusive working environments that truly allow autistic employees to thrive in the workplace.

Bibliography cited by this reference

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Bibliography inclusion overview

These indicators describe the cited bibliography imported for this publication. Cited-reference metrics use the cited-reference total as denominator. Cited-author metrics state whether they use all cited-author occurrences or only occurrences linked to authors already integrated in the AutiHub database. They use cached links between cited authors and authors integrated in the AutiHub database. Last computed: 16 Aug 2026 11:30.

Cited references
54
Total cited references integrated for this publication.
Cited references with an identified autistic author
1 / 54 (1.9%)
Cited author occurrences identified as autistic
1 / 137 (0.7%)
Among occurrences linked to AutiHub author records: 1 / 29 (3.4%). Distinct cited authors identified as autistic: 1 / 127 (0.8%).
Cited author occurrences linked to AutiHub author records
29 / 137 (21.2%)
Distinct linked cited authors: 22 / 127 (17.3%)
Linked cited-author occurrences not identified as autistic
28 / 29 (96.6%)
Among linked cited-author occurrences only. Across all cited-author occurrences: 28 / 137 (20.4%). Distinct linked cited authors not identified as autistic: 21 / 22 (95.5%).
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