Women with high -functioning autism are often a star in masking their complaints and easily cross their limits. Partly because of this, the diagnosis is made on average later than in men. “I thought for years that I was weird or broken, because I did not understand certain things. As if everyone had received a manual except me,” explains Malou Rutten (31). After years of struggle in the hospitality industry, she finally found her place in cyber security.
When she was 26one Got the diagnosis, her career path was already mapped out. Looking back, Malou realizes that her choices for the art academy and a chef’s training were not the right one. “Painting and cooking are my hobbies, but because I wanted to make my work out of it, it went wrong. I closed and felt unhappy and stressed. I get the space about things on mine way to do, it will be. ”
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Burn out
She finally got stuck in the hospitality industry. “As a cook I made long days when I was constantly ‘on’, without a moment to withdraw,” says Malou. “I naturally have a great sense of responsibility, which made me good in my work and always came when there was a shortage of staff. I couldn’t afford financially to spin for fewer hours, but it took me so much energy that I slowly burned out.”
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Malou came home with burnout complaints. Because she wanted to work, she was looking for help with the municipality and the learning-work counter. They brought her into contact with ITVITAE, an organization that guides people with high -functioning autism to a career in IT.
Malou thought for years that she was ‘weird or broken’. © Thijs Rooimans
“Secretly I always enjoyed working with computers,” says Malou. “After several conversations we arrived at CyberSecurity. That had never occurred to me, but I soon had sold. I find the puzzle aspect fat. My father used to make jokes that I always saw all the bears on the road in situations, but funny enough that autism character is actually helping here.”
Social standards
It took some getting used to the new environment. “In the beginning I felt a parrot between the pigeons,” Malou says laughing. “In terms of appearance, I do not fit within the stereotype of all those men in black hoodiesbut now I see that in this field I am much better than in all my previous jobs. I have already met many cool people from whom I can learn a lot and notice that among other cyber enthusiasts I have to do less my best to meet all social standards. Nobody also finds it strange when I set up headphones if I want to close myself. ”
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Suitable vacancies
Malou will soon be finished with the HBO education and in conversation with secondment about suitable vacancies. “I am glad that the cyber security has found me – because that’s how I see it. Otherwise I might have been at home with benefits, like many other people with high -functioning autism. I have continued to fight for a long time to hold on to work that I was stuck on, but that does not work everyone. With my story I hope there may be more options than you maybe.”
She also wants to give employers and colleagues from neurodivergente people to give room to a different brain. “Listen without judgment and respect someone’s boundaries, even if you don’t understand them. Something small, which might be a crazy question for you, can make the difference for the other person to keep energy left after a long day of work.
People with a lot of potential are at home
On June 16 it is Neurodiversity Pride Day, where attention is required for the power of people with a neurodivergent profile. This group is often under -represented in the workplace: according to the Autism Register, 54% of people with autism and an average or high IQ without work are at home. This while research shows that neurodivergent employees can contribute a lot, because they are productive and stimulate a different way of thinking.
Chantal Sweeing of Itvitae: “It is a shame that a lot of potential is lost, while many people with small adjustments can get started. My experience is that employers are often open to a conversation about this. For example, we explain how they can see when someone gets over -stimulated, such as a walking point or a headphone, does not set up a headphone, in the end. other needs. ”