Commission for the Defense of the Rights of People with Disabilities approves bill to expand workplace inclusion for people with autism

At a glance

• A Brazilian bill aimed at strengthening workplace inclusion and retention of workers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been approved by two committees of the Chamber of Deputies.
• The proposal would require employers to consider the specific needs of autistic workers when designing workplace facilities, training programmes and people management practices.
• Although individuals with ASD are already covered by Brazil's disability hiring quota system, the bill would introduce additional, autism-specific workplace support measures.
• Companies in Brazil with 100 or more employees are currently required to reserve between 2% and 5% of positions for individuals with disabilities or rehabilitated Social Security beneficiaries.
• The bill remains subject to review by the Constitution and Justice Committee and must complete the remaining legislative process before it can become law.

The Commission for the Defense of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities of the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies has approved Bill No. 1756/25, which seeks to strengthen the inclusion and retention of workers with ASD.

The proposal would require employers to take the specific needs of autistic workers into account when designing workplace facilities, delivering training programmes and implementing personnel management practices. The objective is to support the effective participation and long-term integration of employees with ASD in the workforce.

Under existing Brazilian legislation, companies with 100 or more employees must allocate between 2% and 5% of their workforce positions to persons with disabilities or beneficiaries rehabilitated by Social Security. Individuals with ASD are already included within these quota requirements.

However, the bill would go further by introducing targeted measures for autistic workers under the National Policy for the Protection of the Rights of Persons with ASD (Law No. 12,764/2012). The proposal reflects a growing focus on ensuring that workplace inclusion initiatives address the specific needs of different disability groups.

The bill has now been approved by two committees in the Chamber of Deputies and is awaiting consideration by the Constitution and Justice Committee. If approved, it will still need to complete the remaining legislative stages in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate before becoming law. Employers should continue to monitor developments as the proposal progresses through the legislative process.