The Autistic Employment Experience
Episode 6: The Autistic Employment Experience
Episode 6: Skipping the Small Talk
Published 8th May 2026
Workplace acceptance and accessibility is one of the most common challenges reported by our Autistic community. In this episode, Michael Coles discusses his experience navigating employment over the last 30 years, and how we can move forward with creating more neuroinclusive workplaces, without the constant pressures of masking and burnout.
About Michael Coles:
Michael Coles knows what it’s like to spend decades in a world that wasn’t designed for the way his mind works. Diagnosed with autism at age three, then again with Asperger’s Syndrome at 35, and rediagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder in 2017, his journey to understanding himself — and being understood — has been anything but linear. He also lives with ADHD and expressive/receptive language disorders, giving him a perspective that is both deeply personal and hard-won.
That journey is exactly what makes him such a compelling voice in conversations about neurodiversity, inclusion, and the gap between awareness and genuine understanding.
Check out Michael’s other work here:
The Deep Dive Podcast – http://www.deepdiveau.net
Neurodiversity Affirming Therapy Conference Australia 2026– https://www.ndaffirmingtherapyaus.org/
Neurodivergent Wellbeing Conference 2026– https://anzmh.asn.au/nwc
Neurodivergent Minds Conference 2026- https://neurodivergentmindsconference.com.au/