Autism Acceptance Week

Laura Shuttleworth • March 31, 2022

Know anyone with Autism – we bet you do!

From the 28^th of March until the 3^rd of April this year is World Autism Acceptance Week 2022. The National Autistic Society , explains that “Autism is a lifelong disability which affects how people communicate and interact with the world. There are approximately 700,000 autistic adults and children in the UK.” So the likelihood is, you know someone who has autism although you may not know it! For more information on what autism is, look at our blog from last year here - Autism Awareness Week 2021.

Here at Ways into Work, we are currently working with around 500 job seekers who have a disability or other employment barrier, to help support them in their employment journey. Of these job seekers, around 150 of these individuals are on the autistic spectrum so we know first-hand the excellent attributes that the majority can bring to a role.

We all have our own strengths, weaknesses, and challenges that we face in our day-to-day life as well as in our jobs. For example, individuals who are on the autistic spectrum often need more time to process new information or may struggle to meet new people and adjust to new environments. However, the vast majority of individuals on the autistic spectrum have specific strengths that are extremely beneficial to employers including:

· Intense focus

· Attention to detail

· A considered and reflective approach

· Honestly and integrity

· Creative thinking

These attributes, stated by the National Autistic Society, are well-known strengths that many autistic individuals possess, but they also match our own observations. The job seekers who we have worked with that are on the autistic spectrum tend to possess these key strengths which make them valuable employees for many sectors. In addition to these great strengths, we have also found that many individuals with autism tend to be extremely loyal and dedicated to the companies they work for.

Despite this, the employment gap for most adults with a disability, including individuals with autism, is still extremely high. Only 22% of individuals on the autistic spectrum are employed in the UK.

We know first-hand that this low percentage can be improved on by supporting these individuals in their employment journey and by providing employers with mentoring to do just that. At Ways into Work, our Employment Coaches specialise in carefully matching each of our job seekers to a role and company that suits their individual skills and strengths. Of the 150 individuals that we work with who have autism, nearly two-thirds have gained work. This shows that Supported Employment techniques really work, that they can have an incredible impact on people’s lives whilst at the same time meeting the recruitment and manpower needs of a business.

If you are a job seeker get in touch or view our Job Seekers Page to see if we can support you in your employment journey. Or if you are an employer get in touch or view our Employers Page to find out how we can help you access an untapped workforce, and support your new employee and their line manager in the workplace.

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When Rajpal first became a client at Ways into Work he had been struggling with looking for work and a good job match. Rajpal has a mild learning disability and mental health issues and had not worked for over ten years except to help now and then at his family’s supermarket. He had not worked for such a long time as he was not well enough to think about his career and life choices. When he joined Ways into Work as a Job Seeker and was assigned an Employment Coach who spent a long time getting to know him, doing a vocational profile and job matching. It was decided that the best first step was for Rajpal was to experience what different jobs and roles are like and what they would entail. Ways into Work then supported him in applying for various roles in retail and did mock interviews where he gained lots of practice. He secured a few interviews but was not offered any of the jobs. Rajpal had begun taking an interest in going to the gym and informed his Employment Coach that he would like a job at the gym. After approaching the employer, his Employment Coach secured an interview for him. He was so happy that at the interview when asked why he would like to work at the gym, he pulled out of his pocket a handwritten lengthy list of reasons why he liked the job and the skills he had to offer. This showed the employer his passion for the job and Rajpal was offered the job, working 3 days (24 hours) a week to begin with. As the leisure centre was 7 miles away, his Employment Coach supported him with applying for Access To Work transport to and from work. They also taught him and his parents how to claim his monthly ATW transport and supported him with the change of circumstances in his benefits. When Rajpal first started to work at the Leisure Centre he solely worked in the gym and his role included ensuring that all the equipment was working and clean, as well as dealing with lots of customer enquiries. This was quite a challenge for Rajpal to begin with, as it was a large premise and no two days were the same. With Job Coaching , Ways into Work was able to support Rajpal by helping to create a routine for him and also discussing with his supervisor a way of building new tasks into his days as the weeks progressed.

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