Living Diversity: Interns on the Autism Spectrum at CREMER
Our colleagues Friedrich Stiller (IT) and Kara Winkeler (People & Organisation) recently shared their insights at the “Blickwinkel Autismus” event hosted by Berufsbildungswerk Hamburg (BBW) — and also spoke with us about their experiences.
Around one percent of the population is diagnosed with autism. People on the autism spectrum often bring particular strengths, such as strong concentration skills, structured thinking, and a high level of attention to detail. At the same time, unclear requirements or spontaneous changes can be challenging.
The event format “Blickwinkel Autismus” provides space for dialogue and practical insights into successful collaboration with people on the autism spectrum. For Kara Winkeler and Friedrich Stiller, participating was a valuable opportunity to contribute their everyday experiences at CREMER and to demonstrate how inclusion is put into practice within our company.
Diversity in Practice
Diversity reveals itself in everyday work: in team constellations, in collaboration, and in the way tasks are designed. And sometimes it begins quite practically – with a clearly formulated ticket.
“In IT, we have had very positive experiences with interns on the autism spectrum, especially in tasks that require concentration, precision, and structured work,” says Friedrich Stiller from the IT Services team. Support tickets, documentation, and testing – tasks that demand accuracy – particularly suit the interns. More challenging are spontaneous changes or unclear requirements. “When tasks are clearly described, collaboration works very well,” Stiller explains.
Clear Processes and Well-Defined Tasks
What initially sounded like adjustments quickly proved to be a quality gain for the entire team. Clearer task descriptions, fixed priorities, and fewer spontaneous interruptions: structures that are not only more inclusive, but also more efficient. “Clean processes help everyone,” Friedrich Stiller summarizes.
“In IT, we have had very positive experiences with interns on the
autism spectrum, especially in tasks that require concentration, precision, and structured work.”
From an organizational perspective, integrating the interns also ran smoothly. The placement was arranged through the Berufsbildungswerk Hamburg (BBW), which supports young people with special educational needs in entering professional life. “Before the first internship, the IT team received training from BBW,” says Kara Winkeler, who supports the initiative from People & Organisation.
Taking Individual Needs into Account
“We consciously looked at what each person needs in order to work well,” says the manager. Tasks were defined in advance, and a dedicated contact person was appointed. “When selecting the workplace, we made sure to respond to individual needs: Would the intern prefer a single office or to sit with several colleagues? Should the desk face the wall or the room?”
Harnessing remarkable expertise
So far, four interns on the autism spectrum have worked at CREMER. The experiences have varied. “Some stayed for just a few days, others for several months,” says Kara Winkeler. “In one case, the challenge was personal interaction – we were too friendly; he wasn’t used to that.”
What has proven effective is clear and considerate communication. “People are allowed to work differently; there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ as long as collaboration is respectful,” says Friedrich Stiller. Questions are explicitly welcome, as is feedback – in both directions.
“When the right people are assigned to the right tasks, it can even increase economic efficiency.”
Kara Winkeler hopes that more companies will embrace diversity in this way. People on the autism spectrum often have remarkable expertise in specific areas and approach for example IT-related tasks with great care and perseverance. “When the right people are assigned to the right tasks, it can even increase economic efficiency,” she says.
Diversity does not mean making processes more complicated, but shaping them more consciously. Because diversity does not happen on paper – it emerges in everyday collaboration.