"I Wish They'd Just Let Us Be." Experiences of Indian Autistic Individuals Around Stimming Behaviors at the Workplace

Stereotyped or repetitive motor movements are a core feature of autism. In recent years, autistic individuals have asserted themselves by reclaiming these repetitive movements as "stimming." There is growing evidence in the form of scientific research regarding the usefulness of stereotypie movements. Recent research has captured the perspectives of autistic adults on stimming. However, to date, no research has examined the perspective of Indian autistic individuals around the display of stimming behaviors at the workplace.

We used semi-structured interviews and online focus groups to ask 20 Indian autistic individuals to share their experiences centered around stimming at Indian workplaces. Data obtained were analyzed using qualitative thematic analysis.

The thematic analysis helped us identify three major themes: (1) stimming as a (beneficial) coping mechanism, (2) repercussions of stim suppression, and (3) (De)stigmatization of stimming.

Most Indian workplaces lack workplace accommodations to reduce sensory overload on autistic employees. Hence, Indian managers open to employing autistic individuals must accept stimming as an autistic individual's attempt at managing overwhelming emotions brought on by sensory overload. Acceptance of stimming behaviors by nonautistic managers would not only benefit the autistic employee by aiding them in better managing their mental and emotional health but also benefit the organization by allowing the autistic employee to function at peak productivity levels. Thus, Indian managers and colleagues of autistic employees should work to accommodate, support, and understand the stimming behaviors of autistic employees as opposed to judging them in a negative light.