This is an excellent idea.

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My workplace has been bringing in an influx of people to do volunteer work in various functions for a few hours a week, who are students from the nearby university, and they are bringing in someone to assist me in my administration job one afternoon a week. I was asked if there'd be any value in bringing in a volunteer to help me due to a job where my workload can on occasion be overloaded, and I agreed.

We had a meeting today consisting of me, the volunteer and my manager to discuss what tasks can be handed over. The thing that's interesting and a good idea is this: my manager during the meeting was had a brainwave that the volunteer could act as a link between me and the staff team, as regards queries I have to members of staff and stuff I need done by them. I'm sure my manager had in mind here a) my Asperger's, and therefore my communication skills and b) my unpopularity among some of the staff (though certainly not all). And this unpopularity is known to have led to me sometimes not being able to get tasks done, if a response was needed from a staff member, because of this break in communication it causes. The volunteer, therefore, can act as a more 'social' person with better communication skills and better skills at getting on with people compared to me, in order to help my work in administration.

Seems like this would be a good idea for people with autism in the workplace to help with their job and their communication in it?

I agree, this does seem like a good idea, but what happens after the volunteer leaves? Too, how well do you and the volunteer communicate? Do they understand your communication and social issues? Let us know how this works out. A lot of us would really like to hear the results after a few months, or so.

I know that the volunteer will be working with me for about a year before going back to her home country, the USA. She doesn't actually start until after the New Year due to exams. Early signs regarding communication between me and the volunteer seem encouraging, something hit and miss with me with young women especially. As some young women refuse to even try to communicate with me in the workplace, it's encouraging that the volunteer seems willing and able in this department.

That's all good to hear. This seems to be an excellent opportunity for everyone concerned to learn and hopefully to gain some new skills. I wish all of you the best of luck.

Today was the volunteer's first day working here. Things went very well, and she seems efficient and knows what she's doing. Actually I'd been caught unexpectedly by her turning up today, as Tuesdays had been earmarked for her to come. But I was well able to find stuff for her to do, and she does seem well able to communicate well with me and vice versa. She addresses absolutely everyone as "sir" and "ma'am", which is quite sweet. I've been in contact online with so many people in the southern US, yet absolutely no idea the "sir" and "ma'am" was so prevalent there, especially if my volunteer's anything to go by.