As the face of the intensely popular reality dating show, Love on the Spectrum, Michael Theo helped peel back the curtain on life for those that see the world differently - and how the world sees them.
The program has taken him from sanding doors in a kitchen factory, where he worked for five years, to getting ready to star as the titular character in the upcoming ABC and BBC drama, Austin.
"It's about a young man in his late 20s who travels to the United Kingdom to meet his long lost father because he was the result of a one night back in the 90s," Theo says.
With World Autism Awareness Day this Sunday, Theo and others are calling for more understanding of the unique talents those on the spectrum can offer employers.
For Australian Catholic University Professor Sandra Thom-Jones, finding a role as a researcher was an ideal outlet for her meticulous mind.
"I'm very good at my job because I'm autistic, not in spite of being autistic," she says.
However, the author of Growing in to Autism, chose not to reveal her diagnosis until she had already proven herself in the profession.
"There's unfortunately a lot of evidence that disclosing an autism diagnosis can have both positive and negative consequences for people," she says.
"Still a lot of people will assume that means you're incapable, you're not very smart, you're potentially dangerous."
Of an estimated 200,000 autistic Australians, just 38 per cent who are of working age are part of the labour force.
Most of those people, or 7 in 10, could be working but face challenges taking part, according to atWork Australia.
Andrew Pfeiffer also found a place to apply his talents, helping shape public policy at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
As a data scientist, Mr Pfeiffer put his autism diagnosis to good use.
"It's like a trend line that's explains the data about me and it's really transformed in a positive way my relationships with my colleagues," he says.
"I can have conversations with them, knowing that we have different working and communication styles."
For some on the spectrum, just being themselves can cause difficulty in the workplace; such as struggling to mesh with social conventions.
"People say to me 'how are you?', and it doesn't matter how many times I tell myself I'm supposed to say 'fine thank you', I always find myself answering the question truthfully," Prof Jones says.
"Suddenly I've told them my whole life story and they're looking at me like I'm an idiot."
Prof Jones said it is important to emphasis that not every autistic person is the same - and definitely not all "Rain Man"... a reference to the film in which Dustin Hoffman played an autistic man with a knack for counting cards.
While noting she knows Michael Theo personally and is happy for his on-screen success, Prof Jones expressed she would have liked to see Love on the Spectrum take a more well-rounded view of its subjects.
"I think it shows a very narrow perspective of autistic people," Prof Jones says.
"Much of the social commentary around the people on that show is very patronising. I don't see people being responded to with dignity.
"I also have a problem with the lady in the show who tries to teach them how not to be autistic so that people will date them."
Theo says it is up to those on the spectrum to be themselves and show others how valuable that is.
"I think the program portrayed us very well, but people on the spectrum need to bring down those barriers to be accepted," he says.
"But I also find it pretty insulting when people are marginalised and underestimated."
Australian Associated Press
