“In the past I experienced issues at work. I often disclosed my disability too late and by then my work performance had already been impacted.”

As a person living with Autism, Ian Crane, 36, feels as though he has lost multiple jobs in the past due to misunderstandings.

With the support of our DES team and his employer, Ian recently celebrated six months full-time employment within an NSW Government Call Centre. We asked Ian, what the difference was between his current role and the ones in the past.

“The difference is that I was honest about my disability from the start. I positively disclosed my Autism, which I haven’t ever done before. That is a scary thing to do but it made a difference I think. It took me a long time to come around to saying in the workplace that I have a disability. I was worried about how I would be treated and maybe I’d miss out on opportunities. Also, this role matches my skillset, aligns with my abilities and it’s a good place to work. I’m more positive overall.”

When Ian joined Global Skills he was matched with Senior Employment Consultant, Scott Morton.

Ian said, “Scott and I worked together to understand my past challenges at work. He gives me great tips for communication and is in contact with my team leader. 

“There were some teething issues at work at first, as there always is for me. It takes time for people to get to know me, to get to know my personality. Communication has always been a big issue for me. I need things explained to me in detail. I ask a lot of questions and I am not great with non-verbal communication. I might look unhappy when I am fine. My level of awareness and ability to deal with change isn’t always there. 

“Positive disclosure has made it easier for me as issues arise. I can fall back on the fact that I was upfront about my traits.

“Six months in and I think my team leader and I have a very good understanding. I also think this workplace has good support mechanisms for people with a disability.”

Congratulations Ian on your ongoing employment.