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Environmental Assessments of Your Workplace

Creating an inclusive workspace for employees with autism is crucial for fostering inclusivity, enhancing productivity, and promoting employee well-being for all employees at your business. Environmental assessments play a vital role in identifying and addressing potential sensory challenges that autistic individuals may face in the workplace. By evaluating factors such as lighting, noise levels, workspace layout, and communication methods, businesses can make informed adjustments to create a more accommodating environment for employees with and without autism. Our expert UCE consultants specialize in conducting comprehensive environmental assessments and site visits tailored to your organization's needs. We work closely with you to identify areas for improvement and implement effective strategies that support autistic employees, ultimately leading to a more inclusive work environment for all.

Let our team help you transform your workplace into an autism inclusive space that empowers autistic adults to thrive and contribute their unique talents to your organization's success. Click here to contact the UCE team.

For some autistic employees, it can be helpful to break down a skill or task into smaller, sequential steps that can be taught and reinforced. These improve comprehension by simplifying complex or multi-step tasks, reduces the need for ongoing instruction and support, and reduces anxiety and increases independence.
Below is an example of a task analysis that can be used in the food industry to help employees measure out the ingredients for smoothies. This helps ensure that your business is catering to the needs of autistic individuals and can help support staff that may need to use it as a resource, as well.

Accessible seating refers to designated areas in a restaurant or workplace that are specifically designed to accommodate individuals who use wheelchairs or have other mobility challenges. These seats are strategically placed in easily accessible locations and comply with ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) guidelines, ensuring there is enough space for wheelchair users to sit comfortably and maneuver through the restaurant. Accessible seating typically includes wider aisles, tables with enough clearance for wheelchairs, and adjustable seating options.

By offering these accommodations, restaurants create an inclusive and welcoming environment, allowing all guests—regardless of their mobility needs—to enjoy a comfortable and dignified dining experience. This commitment to accessibility promotes equal access to services and ensures that everyone can fully participate in the dining experience without barriers.

Lights: Autistic employees may be unusually sensitive to bight lights or fluorescent lights due to sensory processing differences.
Potential solutions include: natural lighting, alternative lighting, desk lamps, anti-glare filters, transparent window shades, and LED filters.
Noise: Employees with autism may struggle to tolerate loud noises or may be distracted by certain sounds.
Potential solutions include: cubical doors, fans, flexible scheduling or remote work, noise-cancelling headphones, quiet areas, room dividers, and sound machines.
Smell: Strong or unpleasant scents can overwhelm sensory systems and make it harder to focus on work.

Potential solutions include: air cleaning systems, air diffusers, air purifiers, chemical sensitive cleaning products, low odor paints, and face masks. An individual with autism may also request to be further away from areas with higher smells, including staff lounges or kitchens.
Visual Schedule: Many people with autism are highly visual and absorb information well when it is presented through visual supports. A visual support is the use of a picture or other visual item designed to communicate with an individual who struggles to understand or use language. Visual supports help create structure and expectation, reduces anxiety, increases independence, and reduces the need for ongoing instruction.

Below is an example of a visual schedule used by an autistic adult working for the Big Easy™ Café at the Els for Autism Foundation®
Visual Menu: A visual menu is a tool that uses pictures, icons, and simple graphics to represent food options, making it easier for individuals with disabilities, especially those with autism, to navigate restaurant menus. By replacing complex text with clear, visual representations, it helps reduce stress, confusion, and sensory overload for individuals who find visual information easier to process than written text. This simple tool enables people with autism to make independent, confident choices and fosters a more inclusive, accessible dining experience for all guests.
Task Analysis: For some autistic employees, it can be helpful to break down a skill or task into smaller, sequential steps that can be taught and reinforced. These improve comprehension by simplifying complex or multi-step tasks, reduces the need for ongoing instruction and support, and reduces anxiety and increases independence.

Below is an example of a task analysis that can be used in the food industry to help employees measure out the ingredients for smoothies. This helps ensure that your business is catering to the needs of autistic individuals and can help support staff that may need to use it as a resource, as well.
Accessible Seating: Accessible seating refers to designated areas in a restaurant or workplace that are specifically designed to accommodate individuals who use wheelchairs or have other mobility challenges. These seats are strategically placed in easily accessible locations and comply with ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) guidelines, ensuring there is enough space for wheelchair users to sit comfortably and maneuver through the restaurant. Accessible seating typically includes wider aisles, tables with enough clearance for wheelchairs, and adjustable seating options.

By offering these accommodations, restaurants create an inclusive and welcoming environment, allowing all guests—regardless of their mobility needs—to enjoy a comfortable and dignified dining experience. This commitment to accessibility promotes equal access to services and ensures that everyone can fully participate in the dining experience without barriers.
Color Choices: The colors used in a workspace can significantly impact mood, focus, and overall well-being—especially for individuals with autism. Certain colors can create a calming and structured environment, while others may cause sensory overload or anxiety. Soft, muted tones like blues, greens, and earth tones are often ideal for promoting relaxation and concentration, whereas overly bright or highly contrasting colors may be overwhelming.

Thoughtful color selection can enhance productivity, reduce stress, and create a more inclusive and supportive workspace for autistic and neurotypical individuals.

If you are near The Els Center of Excellence® in Jupiter, Florida, please visit us for breakfast or lunch at the Big Easy™ Cafe by Ernie Els (pictured above)! The Big Easy Café and Els for Autism are official autism inclusive employers that conducted an environmental assessment with a UCE Consultant. To learn more about the Big Easy Cafe and to view their menu, visit Big Easy Cafe - Els for Autism.