Greg Wright: Why people with autism deserve a fairer deal at work

WHAT SORT of qualities do you look for in an ideal employee?

In the UK today, there is a group of people who are renowned for their clear thinking, strong principles and powerful work ethic.

Incredibly, the vast majority of them struggle to find work. I’m referring to adults with autism, a group who are frequently marginalised and misunderstood. Thankfully, a group - Ambitious about Autism - has been set up to ensure people with autism have a chance to make a significant contribution to Britain’s economy.

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Ambitious about Autism has a simple mission - it is working to “make the ordinary possible” for children and young people with autism. The charity was established by a group of parents who decided to campaign for change, because they didn’t want their children’s potential to be compromised.

Jolanta Lasota, the chief executive of Ambitious about Autism, said: “We know that 85 per cent of adults with autism are not in full-time paid employment. Given that autism affects one in every 100 people, that’s a potentially massive missed opportunity for business in the UK. It has been shown that those with autism can make for loyal, diligent and hard-working employees.”

According to Ms Lasota, autism can bring a valuable “clarity of vision”, and people with autism are about the most principled and socially conscious people you’ll ever meet, which makes them a fine addition to any working team.

Many people with autism have characteristics that any boss would value. For many people with autism, just gaining a foothold in the world of work is the biggest challenge.

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So how do you go about spreading the word that, with the right support, it’s a smart move to hire people with autism?

A significant step has been taken in the right direction, thanks to a programme devised by HM Revenue and Customs, and the Department for Work and Pensions, in partnership with Ambitious about Autism.

A two-week work experience programme enabled a number of young people with autism to develop new skills, and become familiar with an office-based workplace. At the same time, the employees at DWP and HMRC received advice about the ways in which people on the autism spectrum can be supported in the workplace.

Kayleigh Wainwright, the project lead for this partnership, said: “Autism costs the UK economy £32bn a year. By enabling more young people with autism to access work, this will cut down costs on local authorities and the number of people accessing benefits.

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“It will also reduce the number of people accessing health services, including mental health services.”

Employers will also be able to tap into a wider talent pool, at a time when many are struggling with skills shortages.

The young people with autism can live a more independent life and feel more involved in society. One of the participants in the youth programme was Thomas Kingston, from Loftus, near Whitby, who was based within the DWP’s Strategy, Policy and Analysis Group, He supported colleagues with a number of projects and developed skills in general administration and team work.

“Throughout the two week placement, I found that my health had improved,’’ he said. “My anxiety was reduced because I had a stable routine and I felt like I had accomplished something. I also feel like I’ve had a massive boost in self-confidence.”

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Ambitious about Autism is evaluating the civil service project, to see if it can be extended into the private sector.

People with autism deserve the chance to play their part in the economic recovery. The high levels of unemployment among people with autism is a shameful waste; employers should ignore the harmful myths and focus on their innate strengths. We could all learn from their steadfast approach.