In class this week, we discussed the Department of Defense - Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs. This program funds research for Autism. My professor explained that many families in the military are affected by Autism, so many funds go toward researching it. Of course, research is incredibly important and amazing work is happening because of it, but the Department of Defense can do more. I'm calling on the Department of Defense to not just fund programs for people with Autism, but to hire autistic adults on their teams.
One of the first employment stories that sparked my interest in autism hiring was the one of "Roim Rachok," the Israeli Defense Force unit made up entirely of young adults with Autism. The Israeli military has found the talents of autistic young adults to be extremely beneficial in military work. Extreme attention to detail and persistence has helped these employees use computers to find underground tunnels and pick out explosives.
In the United Kingdom, Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), which is the equivalent of the National Security Agency (NSA) in the United States, hires a significant number of people on the spectrum. These managers seem to get it. Accommodations are the norm, with one manager rearranging the furniture in the office to a specific geometric pattern to help his employee be more successful. Fields like cybersecurity are especially good fits for autistic adults. Perhaps one of the most famous autistic individuals - Gary McKinnon - was notorious for hacking into the U.S. government & NASA's system. You know what they say: if you can't beat them.... hire them.
It's undeniable that autistic people can be an extreme asset to our government programs. What's holding us back?
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