Working with autism: 'Of course I do have a manual'

Text: Katja Wijnands, TU Delta
Photography: Thijs van Reeuwijk

Willemijn van Hagen didn't finish her Industrial Design studies at Delft University of Technology after suffering a burnout. She was diagnosed with autism. Now she's back in Industrial Design as a support staff member. She's part of Delft University of Technology's participation program for people who can't find regular employment. "There's room here for me to be different."

Willemijn van Hagen experienced her first burnout when she was 14. "It was never diagnosed as autism back then. It was just a year I missed school." After examinations, consultations with psychologists and doctors, she recovered. Until she relapsed again two years later. "That's basically how it always went. Two years on, one year off."

While graduating from her master's degree in industrial design—with good grades and all her subjects completed—she suffered a major burnout. "I was completely incapacitated for years after that." Her final diagnosis: autism. "In some situations, I'm completely overwhelmed by stimuli. Sometimes I have to work incredibly hard just to fit in socially. Other people don't even have to think about it. My brain just works differently."

Permanent contract
She came to us through the UWV and the municipality Werkse! Rightly so. "Then I got this wonderful opportunity to come work at TU Delft." She now has a permanent contract as a participation officer at TU Delft. "I'm part of the support staff and enjoy helping people with graphics and illustrations. I also help process research data and have helped teach students who are learning to create animations."

Tuning moment
As a participation employee, Willemijn is guided by a job coach from Werkse! and a buddy within their own team and, like all employees, a manager. Department secretary Erik Schoorlemmer of the Human Centered Design department is Willemijn van Hagen's mentor and manager. "We have a weekly check-in," he says. "It's often about the content, but mostly about how Willemijn is doing now. And then we explore together how we can do things differently." For example, taking breaks. "I find it difficult to stop when I'm working on something," Van Hagen agrees. "And that's where I get stuck."

My brain sees everything as important
One advantage is that she's a very good communicator, says Schoorlemmer. "She knows her pitfalls and knows what she needs." Clarity, for example. She needs to know what to expect. "That's how it works for people with autism," explains Van Hagen. "Our brains aren't very good at prioritizing. Mine sees everything as important." She also needs more time to process information. And that's a big advantage, Schoorlemmer believes. "Willemijn asks very open-minded questions and doesn't take things for granted."

Van Hagen is currently working on a related project: she's creating drawings for the website that represent the identity of newly formed sections within the Human Centered Design department. It's precisely her uniqueness that makes her a valuable addition to the team. "Willemijn has been talking to the employees about what that identity entails. Who are we now, what do we stand for? She asks questions in a very systematic way."

A lot of understanding for people who are different
How do you know Van Hagen has autism? Sometimes there are silences. That's because it takes her a little longer for something to sink in. It's uncomfortable for some people; they tend to fill that silence. "I make intense eye contact, and people find that very uncomfortable. Do you find that too? While many autistic people don't make eye contact at all." She continues: "I can't relate to the little performances people put on all day. Superficial chatter where you have to read something from it and give the right answer."

Van Hagen notices that there's a lot of understanding for people like her at TU Delft. "There's room for me to be different, and that hasn't always been the case. This job is good for my self-confidence. They take my needs into account. Because I do have a manual, of course. The fact that that's being taken into account so carefully is very gratifying."

Good for the organization
Schoorlemmer emphasizes the benefits of the participation program. "There's a budget to create a job. Normally, there's work, and you just find a new employee. Now we have an employee who's incredibly skilled, and we can tailor the work to that employee's needs."

They both hope that TU Delft will continue its participation program, despite the budget cuts. "It's good for an organization that different types of people work in their own way, regardless of the value they add."

Van Hagen shows her drawings, which will soon be posted on the Human Centered Design department's new website. Does she have any goals for the future? "That I'm going to increase my hours. I currently work 16 hours and will go to 19. When I was diagnosed with autism, I had to adjust my expectations. My ultimate goal isn't a 38-hour work week. If I can get to 24 hours, I'll be happy with myself."

Want to know more about the TU Delft Participation Programme?
Read the full article on TU Delta