Cut friction in day-to-day communication (email, chat, meetings) for autistic employees without surveillance

Abstract

Workplace communications often put hidden barriers in the way autistic employees can communicate, especially using email, chats, and meetings, where implicit social signals and complex language are the order of the day. This study hypothesises and tests a Generative AI (GenAI)-powered framework where plain language processing and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) supports are combined to minimise communication friction without surveillance. The study is based on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) guidance, Section 508 accessibility requirements, and the Plain Writing Act, and thus develops a methodology to assess the effectiveness of communication in terms of task completion, understanding, workload (NASA-TLX), retention, and dignity/satisfaction. The findings of a pilot of mixed methods suggest that AI-based supports may improve cognition and reduce cognitive load without depriving workers of their autonomy and dignity. The findings reveal a continuum of scaling inclusive workplace communication technologies that are within legal, ethical, and human-centered design standards