| Tuesday 10th November sees
the launch of the Undiscovered Workforce Employment Campaign, the
first of its kind undertaken by The National Autistic Society (NAS),
the UK's leading charity for people with autism. The campaign focuses
on raising awareness among employers, Government and employment
professionals to recognise the skills that people with autism can
bring to the UK workplace, as well as the support that they need
to release their potential. The campaign launches tonight at the
NAS annual Leadership Dinner, attended by HRH Countess of Wessex,
and hosted by Fiona Farrell, parent of a child with autism and experienced
broadcast presenter. Fiona will announce the NAS Employment Champions
winners, and launch the Undiscovered Workforce campaign including
the publication of autism specific employment information packs.
An estimated 535,000 people in the UK have autism, however a NAS
report in 2001 revealed that only 6% of adults are currently in
full time employment. In addition, only 12% of people with a diagnosis
of high functioning autism or Asperger syndrome (an estimated 211,700
people in the UK have Asperger syndrome) are in full time work[1].
NAS Head of Policy
and Campaigns, Alison Tarrant states;
"The number of adults with autism in full time employment
is appallingly low, given the skills they can bring to the workplace.
It is crucial that we educate employers on the benefits of employing
a person with autism, and demonstrate how reasonable adjustments
can be implemented in a simple and straightforward way to ensure
people with autism are able to take advantage of work opportunities."
The NAS Employment
Champion organisation winner is City College University in Birmingham
which employs a person with Asperger syndrome in a public facing
role as a Course Enquiry Advisor. The individual winner is Melissa
Ireland, Branch manager of Blockbuster Video store in Edinburgh.
Goldman Sachs International
(NAS Employment Champion nominee) CEO Peter Weinberg says:
"Our ultimate aim is to attract, develop and retain the
best and most diverse talent - that means nurturing a supportive
and inclusive environment where all individuals, regardless of
their disability, can maximise their full potential. We have worked
closely with the NAS and Prospects to develop our Asperger syndrome
internship programme and we have found that the programme has
brought with it innumerable benefits. We wholeheartedly support
the launch of this campaign and urge other employers to take into
consideration that they are currently dismissing an important
and undiscovered section of the UK workforce"
The NAS Undiscovered
Workforce campaign aims to increase the number of people with
autism in full time work by raising awareness of the potential
benefits of people with autism to employers. The NAS will distribute
the Undiscovered Workforce information packs produced in conjunction
with Prospects (NAS Specialist Employment Consultancy). One information
pack is tailored specifically for employers, and offers advice
on what employees with autism can bring to the workplace, and
practical guidance on how to implement reasonable adjustments
for them. A second pack is available for people with autism looking
for work. A supported employment video featuring case studies,
best practice, and real life examples accompanies the packs. The
NAS will be hosting a series of meetings in the New Year with
both employers and employment professionals, in order to raise
awareness and educate them on the issues of employing people with
autism
Jane Asher, President
of the National Autistic Society states;
"I have seen at first hand over many years the great skills
and attributes that people with autism can bring to the workplace.
It's tragic that, through discrimination caused by ignorance and
misunderstanding on the part of employers, such a small number
of potential employees with autism are in full time work. The
'Undiscovered Workforce' is an exciting and extremely important
campaign which will make a real difference, not only to the lives
of those with autism, but to the employers themselves, who
will discover just what a vibrant workforce they are currently ignoring.
On behalf of the NAS, I call on all involved in employment, and
on the Government, to use this campaign to take action and
change the current unjustifiable and wasteful prejudice against
utilising those with autism in the workplace."
The NAS Employment
Champions report and the information packs are available now from
the NAS on: 020 7903 3558
For more information
on Autism and Autism in the Workforce visit:
www.autism.org.uk
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