Record Numbers Using Access To Work Scheme

A press release from Ambitious About Autism:

It has been announced that a record number of people with learning disabilities and mental health conditions are using the Department for Work and Pensions’ Access to Work employment support schem. The government have also announced that they are expanding the existing team of Access to Work advisers into a Hidden Impairments Specialist Team to target support at people with mental health conditions and learning disabilities as well as dyslexia, autism and other less visible disabilities.

Jolanta Lasota, CEO Ambitious about Autism, highlights recent relevant research on employment and autism and explains why not-employing those with autism is a missed opportunity for all involved:

“With the right support, planning and opportunities from parents and employers, many people with autism have the ability to work. Despite this, recent figures show that only 15% of people with autism are in full time, paid employment. 79% of those polled who are not in employment would like to be.

“Although not without its own issues, employment and the job satisfaction that it hopefully brings can help many people with autism overcome other problems they face including a sometimes overwhelming lack of self-confidence and low self-esteem. This record number of people using the Access to Work scheme is testament to those with disabilities who are keen to work and shows the type of committed employee that they could be.

“Ambitious about Autism is working with The Department of Work and Pensions and HMRC to provide their staff with autism training and to provide work experience for young people with autism.

“It has been shown that those with autism can make for loyal, diligent and hard-working employees. It is great to see that employers are waking up to the talent that is out there and we hope they will realise there is still more to be gained by employing those with autism and other ‘less visible’ disabilities, too.”