Autism Employment Support
Practical, personalised support to help you thrive at work
Welcome! I’m Dr Romy Hume, but please call me Romy - I'm not a fan of titles.I love helping autistic people find and keep meaningful work, and I’ve spent over a decade working at the intersection of autism, education, and employment.
Not sure what kind of work is right for you?
Overwhelmed by the job search and application process?
Navigating challenges in your current workplace?
Curious about self-employment?
I’m here to make things clearer, calmer, and more achievable for you and your family.
What do I do?
I offer practical, individualised support, so the details will look different for everyone. Here is what I do most often:
Listen! And then listen some more. I want to understand who you are.
Communicate clearly and directly.
Help you figure out your career path.
Create tailored CVs and cover letters.
Cheer you on.
Practice interview skills.
Support you during interviews.
Coordinate with employers to plan reasonable adjustments.
Provide on-the-job coaching to help you settle in.
Support you with workplace challenges.
What don’t I do?
I take a respectful, person-centred approach. That also means being clear about what I don’t do:
Stereotype or make assumptions about you.
Push you into something you don’t want.
Judge you.
Tell you to fake it till you make it.
Ask you to stop swearing, fidgeting, pacing, or whatever else you do to feel comfortable.
Give you BS or talk down to you.
Break your confidentiality.
Why work with me?
I know what it’s like to navigate work as a neurodivergent person: I took some detours, hit burnout, and learned through trial and error. Now, I draw on that lived experience, along with years of professional work and research, to support others on their own paths.Experience
I’m autistic (and probably ADHD as well but not formally diagnosed).
I created and led Autism NZ’s employment support programme.
I’ve been supporting neurodivergent jobseekers since 2013.
I’ve got an insider perspective on a wide range of industries, both as an employee and a contractor (office cleaning, animal welfare, teaching, proofreading, translation, windsurf instruction, academic research).
I’ve also volunteered as a hospice carer, diver at a marine biology research station, horse trainer, and farmhand.
Knowledge
My PhD research focused on therapeutic relationship-building with autistic adults, and was recognised with Dean’s List and a post-doctoral research award.
I published research papers and a chapter in a book on ethics in neurodiversity studies.
I wrote a book on supporting autistic clients.
I’m currently involved in academic research projects on neurodivergence and disability.
Genuine testimonialsSome of my former clients, along with some parents, have offered to talk to you about how I work. This way, you don’t have to just trust what I write here. Contact me to request their details.
How long will it take?
It depends.Finding meaningful work takes exploration and reflection. This often includes detours, confidence building, and processing periods. I’ll be in the background, offering practical help and encouragement while you set the pace.Everyone’s pace is different. Some clients know exactly what they want and just need help with a targeted CV and cover letter. They land the job and carry on independently. Others prefer ongoing support, and some have stayed connected for over a decade, checking in as needed for things like workplace challenges or career transitions.Whether our work together lasts a few sessions or many years, the pace is set by your needs.
Who do I support?
Most of my clients are neurodivergent in more than one way. Many are autistic and also have ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, anxiety, or depression. Some have OCD, PTSD, or an intellectual disability. You don’t have to have a formal diagnosis of anything. To me, you’re first and foremost an individual and I’ll meet you where you’re at.My practice is trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, and welcoming of LGBTQI+ people.
Location
I offer sessions at my home in Shelly Park, Auckland, or online via video call, whichever suits you best.If you’d like to meet in person, you can choose the setting that feels most comfortable to you:
a quiet room with views across the valley
a private garden
walk-and-talk in the local area (beach and bush walks)
Accessibility
My home is calm, free from scents and clutter, and temperature and lighting can be adjusted to your preferences. We have a variety of seating options, we can take movement breaks, and I have fidgets and a weighted lap blanket available.This doesn’t mean the space is sensory-friendly for everyone, so I invite you to let me know what kinds of individual accommodations would help you. For example, you may want a support person to come with you, or you may want to record our sessions so you can listen back to them later.Please note that the meeting space is on the first floor, reached by a set of stairs. The stairs might be a barrier for clients with limited mobility.
What do I charge?
I offer a sliding scale depending on your situation. Rates range from $100/hour (for those who are unemployed or facing financial hardship) to $150/hour (for those in full-time employment).These rates are for a full 60-minute session, not a 50-minute ‘counselling hour’.Individualised Funding can cover part of my services. If you think this might apply to you, contact your local Needs Assessment Service Coordinator to check your eligibility.
Contact me
It can be hard to tell from a website whether a new support person is the right fit for you. I invite you to ask all the questions that spring to mind, no matter how big or small! You can also request contact details for previous clients and/or their parents if you want to find out what their experience was like. I usually reply within three working days.Please write or send a voice note to:[email protected]