ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This toolkit was created by Celia Hagey as part of her MLIS degree published by BCLA, October 2024. A presentation on the toolkit was offered in February 2025 and the recording is available on BCLA’s Vimeo account, as well as the PowerPoint Slides.
Building on BCLA’s commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
The existing EDI Strategies in Recruitment Toolkit presents practical strategies to help libraries recruit more Indigenous, Black, and People of Colour employees, recognizing that research has proved that “diverse teams are better at being innovative and creative” and that “teams benefit from broader perspectives with more information and experience brought to the table” (Whu Lee, 2022).
This guide draws on much of the same reasoning to advocate for more inclusive hiring practices for autistic library employees. By aiming to recruit more autistic library workers, BC’s libraries will become more highly representative of all of the types of people who live, research, and read in British Columbia.
For a better understanding of autism visit the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) and Autism Canada, which emphasize the range or spectrum of autism as a developmental disability, statistics, commonalities, differences, and an awareness that autistic people are in every community and deserve equal access, rights, and opportunities.
Why is this guide needed?
Autistic people experience greater rates of under– and unemployment than people with any other type of disability (Taylor & Seltzer, 2011; Hendricks, 2010).
An autistic candidate who is more highly educated than an allistic competitor will statistically not be offered the job (Bruyère, 2024).
Autistic people experience greater rates of under– and unemployment than people with any other type of disability (Taylor & Seltzer, 2011; Hendricks, 2010).
Equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives in library workplaces often do not include neurodivergence, even though autistic librarians report feeling uncomfortable and unsafe in their workplace (Giles-Smith & Popowich, 2023).
Job interviews present a number of challenges for autistic candidates, even when they are qualified for the job. This guide will explore those barriers and make practical recommendations for reducing their impact on an autistic job candidate’s performance.
“The huge part of my task in a job interview is to shut down anything that might reveal that I am autistic”
“The way they do interviews, I think sets me up for failure”
Five steps towards more accessible interviews
This toolkit explores 5 steps towards more accessible interviews.
Additional Resources
Resources
Autism and Intellectual Disability in the Library
A course designed for library professionals to learn strategies and techniques for supporting the autism community. Offered through the University of Calgary and Autism Nova Scotia.
Autism and Neurodiversity in the Workplace
A free self-paced series of interactive modules designed for HR professionals, supervisors, and managers. The course provides practical strategies for supporting autistic and neurodiverse candidates in the workplace. Offered through the University of British Columbia Centre for Interdisciplinary Research and Collaboration in Autism.
Neurodiversity @ Work Employer Roundtable – Disability:IN
An organized nonprofit group of employers committed to neurodiversity-focused hiring initiatives, covering many industries. Offers a library of resources, connection opportunities, and an annual conference.
The JAN Workplace Accommodation Toolkit
A resources for recruiters and hiring managers to create a more disability- inclusive workplace. Contains resources for updating accommodation policies and other processes. Note that the toolkit is based in the United States and refers to requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), but the resources are accessible and useful to international audiences as well.
References
Baldwin, S., Costley, D., & Warren, A. (2014). Employment activities and experiences of adults with high-functioning Autism and Asperger’s Disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 44(10), 2440–2449.
Bruyère, S. (2024, January 26). Neurodiversity in the Workplace [Webinar]. Yang-Tang Institute on Employment and Diversity.
Bruyère, S., Chang, H.-Y. (Vicki), & Saleh, M. (2021). Empowering neurodiverse populations for employment through inclusion AI and innovation science: Policy and practice brief.
Finn, M., Flower, R. L., Leong, H. M., & Hedley, D. (2023). ‘If I’m just me, I doubt I’d get the job’: A qualitative exploration of autistic people’s experiences in job interviews. Autism, 27(7), 2086– 2097.
Giles-Smith, L., & Popowich, E. (2023). Autistic employees in Canadian academic libraries: Barriers, opportunities, and ways forward. Canadian Journal of Academic Librarianship, 9, 1–22.
Hayward, S. M., McVilly, K. R., & Stokes, M. A. (2018). Challenges for females with high functioning autism in the workplace: A systematic review. Disability and Rehabilitation, 40(3), 249–258.
Hurley-Hanson, A. E., Giannantonio, C. M., & Griffiths, A. J. (2020). A model for hiring individuals with Autism. In A. E. Hurley-Hanson, C. M. Giannantonio, & A. J. Griffiths (Eds.), Autism in the Workplace: Creating Positive Employment and Career Outcomes for Generation A (pp. 237–255). Springer International Publishing.
Maras, K., Norris, J. E., Nicholson, J., Heasman, B., Remington, A., & Crane, L. (2021). Ameliorating the disadvantage for autistic job seekers: An initial evaluation of adapted employment interview questions. Autism, 25(4), 1060–1075.
Rinderknecht, K. (2021, March 22). It’s time to start sharing interview questions before the interview. LinkedIn.
Vogus, M. C. S., Hsiao-Ying Chang, Susanne M. Bruyère, Timothy J. (2022). Neurodiverse applicant screening, interviewing, and selection. In Neurodiversity in the Workplace. Routledge.
Weak, E. (2022, April 29). Further Questions: Do you send questions to interviewees before the interview? Hiring Librarians.
Whelpley, C. E., & May, C. P. (2023). Seeing is disliking: Evidence of bias against individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder in traditional job interviews. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 53(4), 1363–1374.
Whu Lee, J. (2022). EDI Strategies in Recruitment Toolkit. British Columbia Library Association.