As a Disability Confident employer, M&G recognises the value of diversity and we know that an inclusive and equitable culture is essential to our success. Enabling colleagues to be able to do their best work through resources and inclusive policies is essential to this.
To celebrate Autism Awareness Month, we spoke to Urszula Dawgiallo and Ian Brakspear to hear their stories of living with autism and how M&G has supported them in the workplace.
Urszula Dawgiallo, Operations Specialist
“As someone with Autism, I see the world differently. Celebrating diversity and creating a workplace that adapts to everyone’s needs is important. Everyone, regardless of whether they're neurotypical or autistic, will have their own needs, which you can't categorise by age, sex or background. We all need to be part of a community where we can speak openly about our feelings and needs. This is a valuable goal that we all need to aim for.”
Urszula’s story
I wasn't diagnosed as being autistic until I was an adult. I was 13 when I started thinking that I might be on the autistic spectrum. However, I'd not shared that with anyone. Nonetheless, it still came as a surprise when I was finally diagnosed.
Being autistic has impacted my private and professional life. It affects how I handle situations, so being diagnosed allowed me to understand myself better. Before my diagnosis, I could feel the differences between myself and others and I had many questions, so my diagnosis helped me understand the answers to these questions.
I can't speak for everyone on the autistic spectrum; there's such huge diversity, and we all face life differently. Our experiences, strengths and difficulties are never the same.
Being an undiagnosed autistic child in school was tough, however I thrived in university where the tasks and expectations were much more precise and clear, and I graduated with a Master's Degree in Interdisciplinary Science in Environmental Protection.
However, being autistic comes with challenges too. Above all, it's exhaustion. My nervous system is significantly more liable to stimulation than neurotypicals. For instance, I hear more sounds and feel the air move when people walk nearby. Because of sensory overload, I sometimes have to decline to participate in social events.
I am well-supported in my role and I contribute to our success. I can speak up, ask questions and I have the full support of my manager.
Ian Brakspear, Service Owner
“I want to share my story to encourage those with autism to feel confident in speaking about it in the workplace, and also encourage colleagues to be more aware of those who are neurodiverse. Much like you, every single autistic person is different. So, much like anyone you are working with, of any race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation or any aspect of diversity, it’s important to look beyond the outward appearance.”
Ian’s story
I was diagnosed with autism, and dyslexia in primary school. Put simply, I see the world differently. I’m not the best in social situations and I have trouble interpreting tone of voice and written text. But, I’ve learnt to develop coping strategies and, for me, my autism is normal.
Being different is something that I’ve learned to love, and I’m proud to say that my autism makes me who I am.
When I joined M&G as an apprentice in 2015, I was sceptical about revealing that I am autistic. But, after a chat with the Apprenticeship team, I decided that it was the right decision. I’d spent my entire life trying to hide who I am and I finally decided that it was time to stop hiding and start being me.
As one of my friends once told me ‘no matter what condition you have, we will always be friends’ and from that one conversation, I’ve never been afraid to tell people. Throughout my time at M&G, I’ve been overwhelmed by the support and response that I’ve received.
I’m a valued member of my team, and my manager has taken steps that allow me to contribute my ideas in small group settings, as I don’t always have the confidence to speak in a team or departmental meetings. It’s a great feeling when you can contribute, and you feel valued.
M&G has also supported me with small things, like the use of technology and tools in Office 365 and purchasing a pair of noise-cancelling headphones for me, which allow me to concentrate without distraction. My team knows that when my headphones are on I’m not to be disturbed. My team have come to love my unique ‘out of the box’ thinking and ‘keen eye for detail’.
All too often those with neurodiversity are forgotten but I am living proof that M&G is committed to providing a diverse and inclusive workplace.