“Inclusion is not about changing people to fit in. It’s about changing environments so everyone belongs.”

On 23 May 2025, The Association of Banks In Malaysia (ABM) was proud to be the host venue for Spectrum Works, Inc.: Workshop Edition, a community project aimed at promoting autism-inclusive workplace practices and bridging the gap between employers and the autistic community.

The workshop was organized by trainees from the Financial Sector Talent Enrichment Programme (FSTEP) Batch 28, an industry-driven initiative involving the participation of banks and insurance companies across Malaysia and managed by the Asian Banking School (ABS) in collaboration with Bank Negara Malaysia.

The workshop represented part of our collective commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG), with the objective being to:

✅ Increase employer awareness and understanding of autism and neurodiversity in the workplace
✅ Promote inclusive hiring practices and reduce bias during recruitment and onboarding
✅ Encourage the implementation of appropriate workplace accommodation (e.g., sensory friendly environments, etc)
✅ Improve communication and collaboration between employers and autistic employees
✅ Provide training and resources to hiring and HR teams supporting neurodiverse talent

ABM would like to give special thanks to speakers Ms Jochebed Isaacs, Director, Early Autism Project Malaysia and Ms Syafika Pabir, Assistant Manager, Training & Operations, Yayasan GAMUDA‘s Enabling Academy (YGEA) and Facilitator Mr Foo Han Piew of YGEA, FSTEP 28 (AmBank Group, AFFIN Group, GREAT EASTERN, Public Bank & UOB) as well as the participants from Asian Banking School, Butter Club, Deutsche Bank, Kimberly-Clark, Public Bank, RHB Banking Group, Three International and UOB Bank.

Thank you for supporting Malaysia’s UNSDG efforts towards fostering a more inclusive working environment that supports autistic individuals! Let us continue to increase awareness, adapt practices, and advocate for autistic individuals in the workplace to create better companies and communities.

#AutismInclusiveWorkplace
#NeurodiversityMatters
#InclusiveHiring
#SupportAutisticTalent
#UNSDGInAction