Professional Networking Toolkit

Of all the skills we learn in the course of pursuing a professional career, networking can be one of the hardest to pin down. The norms of networking can vary across professions, organizations, and even individuals!

Yet despite such a wide degree of variation, many of the norms around professional networking can still feel incredibly rigid and like there are so many potential pitfalls and traps. This dynamic can be especially challenging for Autistic people who want to grow their professional network and seek out opportunities in their field. 

The goal of this toolkit is both to acknowledge the reality of some of the challenges inherent to professional networking while emphasizing that it is always our choice how we want to navigate those situations. 

We hope this toolkit will help spur some thinking with regard to what you want to achieve through professional networking, and some strategies you might want to try based on where you are.

What Is Inside?

• Common Needs
• Types of Workplace Networking
• Should I Disclose?
• Self-Advocacy in Networking
• Scripts
• Establishing and Maintaining Boundaries
• Personal Questionnaire/Checklist

Who Is This For?

This toolkit is for anyone who has ever felt that networking could help them achieve their professional goals, but also that networking feels like a vague and opaque process that never quite seems to work the way it’s supposed to. 

This toolkit is not so much about making networking easy but acknowledging all the ways in which it can be challenging and building systems that work for us as individuals based on our needs and goals.

In whatever role(s) you occupy, you can use this guide to support your knowledge on the topic, share information with others in your support networks, and use this guide in discussions about locating appropriate resources.

Each individual is in a different place and can benefit from learning about ideas and ways to support or seek support. 

About the Lifespan Toolbox

 The Lifespan Toolbox is a collection of toolkits for everyone in the autism community from self-advocates, family members, professionals, and other members of the community to get on the same page about autism and lifespan.

We span topics all over the lifespan, specifically thinking about the adulthood years (the longest span of our lives!) and how we can all work together to support the autistic person/people in our lives and community. 

Research and reported experiences from autistic individuals show a need to receive individualized support regarding life skills and to be connected with others. That’s where the Lifespan Toolbox comes in!

Interactive

• Each toolkit page has an interactive webpage with active links and videos. You can also download the PDF which has ample space for taking notes.