This presentation by Mish Lisik highlights how receiving an autism diagnosis later in life can profoundly reshape self-understanding, self-acceptance, workplace advocacy, and approaches to preventing burnout, while also recognising the ongoing barriers many Autistic adults continue to face.
In conjunction with colleagues at Griffith University, Mish conducted semi-structured interviews with adults either formally or self-diagnosed as autistic in adulthood (n = 20), focusing on their perception of their employment and career experiences before and after discovering they were autistic.
Mish will provide:
- An overview of existing research into the employment experiences of autistic adults
- An introduction to their research examining how an autism diagnosis in adulthood influences employment and career trajectories (including study design, overview of participants, etc)
- Key themes identified: confusion to self-understanding; self-criticism to self-acceptance; overcompensation to confidence and advocacy; burnout to self-preservation
- How diagnosis reshapes career decision making, workplace navigation, and self-advocacy
- Persistent workplace barriers faced by late identified autistic adults
- Practical implications for psychologists supporting autistic adults in employment contexts
About our presenter: Michalina (Mish) Lisik
Mish Lisik is a Technology Strategy Manager and DEI Chairperson at PEXA, and a sessional academic at Griffith University. She holds a Master of IT and a Master of Research specialising in Autism and Employment. Mish discovered she was autistic in adulthood, a realisation that motivates her commitment to improving workplace experiences for neurodivergent people. Her research focuses on autism and employment, examining how late diagnosis shapes career trajectories and workplace wellbeing.
Webinar timing: 7:00 – 8:00 pm AEDT
Access to the recording of this webinar: A recording of this webinar will be available through the CPD Webinar Library, but for the best experience and the opportunity to ask your questions, join us live. Everyone who registers will be advised via email as soon as the recording is available. Members have unlimited access to the recording, and non-members will have access for 6 months.