'Employers don't understand enough about autism', says Rutland mum
A charity's warning adults with autism in the UK are facing an 'unemployment crisis'
More needs to be done to make workplaces inclusive for autistic adults, according to a Rutland mum of four special educational needs children.
Toni Garnett-Clarke, from SEND Action Rutland, said:
'I'm autistic as well. I don't work because I look after my children, which is a full-time job.'
'But when I did work, I did really struggle, especially with the social graces and etiquettes around working in a team.'
Research, from the charity Autistic Nottingham, shows less than one in three autistic adults that want to work have jobs.
Phil Bilzon, Autistic Nottingham’s Head of Training and Development, said: “Statistics around employment and autism do not make for good reading: There are estimated to be 330,000 autistic adults of working age, but only 30% are in any form of employment."
"77% say they want work, but a lack of awareness and acceptance of autism in the workplace is a barrier to that, with 34% of employers saying an autistic person would not fit into their team.”
Ms Garnett-Clarke added: 'The problem comes when you have adults who have been late diagnosed. They're only just starting to understand it themselves.'
'That diagnosis has often come off the back of their own children's diagnoses, or some kind of mental breakdown.'
'It is a known problem that autistic people struggle to cope in work environments, especially professions like teaching and those with lots of noise and busy surroundings.'
'Quite a few of the fast food chain restaurants are very inclusive and diverse employers, and are very flexible when it comes to allowing support workers to go in with young people for work.'
Mr Bilzon, who has over 25 years of experience in disability employment and is himself autistic, added:
"One client of mine had a particular strength and interest in collating data. We discussed his needs, preferences and interests over a number of one-to-one sessions, building a strong and well-developed picture and understanding of what work might be right for him."
“Once we had established the particular role he would thrive in and discussed the areas where he would need support, we could apply to suitable employers."
"Our training and development services helped the employer understand what adaptations he needed to the working environment, such as reducing the lighting intensity."
"His employer was open to making these changes, recognised that these adjustments were beneficial to his well-being, and played a part in his ability to become a valued and productive employee."