Ludia, the video game studio that understands the values of autistic people
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A little over a year ago, Michel Blanchet, backend developer at video game studio Ludia, decided to hold a presentation in front of the entire company. Talking in front of so many people isn’t his usual style – in fact, he’s more the quiet type – but this time it was about a subject close to his heart: what his professional life is like, as an autistic person. Michel has Asperger’s Syndrome and has made it his mission to help companies hire and retain more autistic people.
“There’s a great diversity of people at Ludia, very different people and styles. Ludia is an open company” – Michel Blanchet
In Quebec,only 10% of people with autism have a job. Michel considers himself lucky to work for a company that accommodates his needs. When he decided to speak to his colleagues, his aim was to show how autistic people can be integrated more easily into the workplace, and to deconstruct some preconceived ideas. Michel decided to give this talk at this time because he felt ready, but also because he knew that his colleagues would welcome his words with respect. He says: “There’s a great diversity of people at Ludia, very different people and styles. Ludia is an open company. Once his presentation was over, several colleagues came up to him to say thank you and congratulate him, some confiding in him that they too were autistic or had an autistic son or daughter. But there was one type of reaction that particularly surprised Michel: “Several people told me that what I was saying was basically common sense and should apply to everyone, not just autistic people”.
The backend developer wants us to know that autistic people make excellent employees. Case in point? “Autistic people are very good at QA (quality assurance; the people who make sure the functionality of a game, site or app is bug-free). They focus on details, which enables them to find bugs that other people might not see,” explains Michel. Indeed, it’s documented. In 2009, Laurent Mottron, a psychiatrist at the Université de Montréal, discovered that autistic people focus their brain resources more on visual processing and less on tasks such as planning and impulse control. This is why autistic people are up to 40% faster at solving problems than other people.
How best to integrate autistic people into the workplace
Being concrete
People with autism often have more difficulty with the abstract questions traditionally asked in interviews, such as “What’s your worst flaw and your best quality?” or “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”. Generally speaking, the interview is a big barrier because it doesn’t allow people with autism to put themselves forward, even if they have the right qualities for the job.
In order to conduct an inclusive interview, it’s best to put the candidate in a real-life situation. For a programming position, Michel suggests sitting the person down in front of a computer with the beginnings of source code and asking them to complete it. Technical tests are generally the comfort zone of people with autism. When he was hired at Ludia, the recruiters didn’t know Michel was autistic, but he was lucky enough to have an interview that included a lot of technical aspects. “It’s thanks to that that I’m working here today!” says the developer.
The tasks in the job ad should be explicit. Phrases like “We’re looking for a team player” are not easily understood by autistic people. Michel suggests: “Participate in team problem-solving”.
Support
An employee’s first day at a new company is full of doubts and questions, and you don’t know exactly how things are going to go. Michel suggests having a system of accompaniment by another employee. Someone who is ready to receive questions that we don’t dare ask our direct colleagues or manager, such as: where is the lunchroom, how are happy hours run, etc.
Social events
Social activities can be a tricky time for people with autism. Even though Michel really enjoys chatting with people, these are energy-consuming moments. So it’s important to explain to colleagues that it’s nothing personal if you don’t take part every time. “I go to team dinners or happy hours, but I also like to be alone to eat. I need time to recharge my batteries. My colleagues know that I love them in spite of everything,” says Michel.
The workplace
At Ludia, employees work in an open-plan environment, which facilitates interaction, but can also be noisy. When the offices were redesigned, Michel asked for his desk in a quiet corner, which was granted. Michel’s colleagues have learned that if they need to go and have a chat with the developer, they shouldn’t touch him by tapping him on the shoulder. Instead, it’s better to get within his field of vision, or let him know in advance that you’re coming to see him.
Michel, an advocate for the autistic cause
Before coming to Ludia, Michel was going through a period where he couldn’t get the job he wanted. He had the skills, but it wasn’t translating into a job. So he decided to look for something completely different and became a truck driver for a year. On his return to the IT field, although he says he’s very good at programming, he’s criticized for not being up to date. He looked to organizations for help, but they were rarely able to help people like Michel who worked in technology positions. His solution? He started volunteering on programming projects for the Minecraft game. And that’s when it all clicked! The recruiters at Ludia saw his full potential and hired him.
Aware of his good fortune, Michel now wants to give back to other autistic people. He offers to explain to them how to navigate the world of work, how to pass an interview, how to write an eye-catching CV, and so on. He says: “There’s a lack of resources for autistic people who have the qualifications but can’t find work. I want to help change that.
