Google Launches Program To Hire More People With Autism

The technology company, Google is starting a new program with the goal of hiring more people with autism in its cloud team thus supporting them better. Google with Stanford University is working to make its team more neurodiverse. 

Google has a Cloud’s Autism Career Program where it will work with experts from Stanford Neurodiversity Project, a part of Stanford medical school, to train 500 Google Cloud managers as well as others who are essential in hiring process, to work more effectively with individuals with autism. 

Furthermore, there will be changes in the interview process for the people who are part of the Autism Career Program to be more accommodating. Applicants with autism may get extra interview time and receive questions in advance, or able to conduct their interview in writing. These accommodations do not give an unfair advantage, but rather removes an unfair disadvantage so the applicants have a fair and equal opportunity to compete for the job.

According to the statistics, around 29% with autism have paid jobs which as Rob Enslin, president of global customer operations for Google Cloud calls a “tragic” and “result of unconscious bias.” This bias diminishes good applicants and the company can miss great talent who can give and improve the company. This program promises to inclusion making a better team, thus building values for customers and shareholders.