TBT | 38. Auticon UK: Another Perspective on IT Consultancy, with Stephanie De Kremer and Russell Botting

*THROWBACK EPISODE*

This conversation with Stephanie De Kremer and Russell Botting was originally released on December 3, 2020. Although Stephanie no longer works at Auticon, we're releasing this episode today to highlight how employers can increase neurodiversity in the workplace. 

Stephanie currently works as a Data Analyst at Cognizant. She continues her professional wrestling career as "Kiara" and holds the following belts: Squared Circle British Champion and CPW Galaxy Champion.

Stephanie is also an active member of our online Global Autism Community and has served on the Committee of Contributors to our Responsive Skills Training.

Discover what’s possible when diversity strengthens the workplace. 

Our guests today are Stephanie De Kremer and Russell Botting. Stephanie and Russell are employees at Auticon, which is an IT consulting business that employs over 200 adults on the autism spectrum as IT consultants. Stephanie is one of them, and Russell is her job coach. They work together at Auticon’s office in London, England. 

With branches across the UK, US, Canada, Germany, France, Switzerland, and Australia, Auticon is an international social enterprise whose mission is to improve the employment prospects of autistic people. They aim to provide high-quality careers for skilled autistic adults, shift perceptions in the workplace by placing consultants into client teams, and act as a catalyst for clients to bring more neurodiversity to their wider workforce. 

In this conversation, we discuss:

• Stephanie and Russell's experiences working at Auticon
• Ideas about how other companies could increase neurodiversity in the workplace
• What services are available to families in the UK from diagnosis to adulthood
• What it was like for Stephanie to find out about her autism later in life
• What Stephanie wishes neurotypicals would consider when communicating with her
• Stephanie's special interests and strengths related to autism

For more information about our guests and the work that they do, please visit Auticon UK. To learn more about Stephanie's wrestling career, you can follow her on Instagram @kiara_wrestler. 

Related episodes:

18. Accessibility at the Forefront, with Haley Moss 

21. Rethinking Unemployment and Sex Education, with Michael John Carley 

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