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Gordon Brown urged to launch autism compact with employers

06 July 2007 10:04This article is a press release written by a supplier. It is not endorsed by Personnel Today.

The prime minister Gordon Brown has been urged to launch an autism compact with employers by Ivan Corea, who heads the Autism Awareness Campaign UK.

Autism is a neuro-developmental disorder and, according to estimates, there are around 600,000 people with autism in the UK. UK researchers estimate one in 100 children may have autism.

The Autism Awareness Campaign UK called on Gordon Brown to launch an Autism Compact with employers - a national scheme with local government, employers and the voluntary sector as partners to help some people with autism and Asperger's syndrome, who may be able to work, to access the labour market.

At present very small schemes run by the volunary sector and charities and a national scheme is badly needed.

Campaigners also called for companies to train staff on autism and Asperger's syndrome and to provide work experience opportunities for young people with autism. "This is a two-way process of understanding so we hope that major companies will take this on board, people with autism need paid jobs," said Ivan Corea who recently met Gordon Brown.

Ivan Corea together with Lee Scott MP met former prime minister Tony Blair on 25 April and presented him with the autism report detailing concerns and recommendations - this included the whole area of labour market opportunities.The Government has yet to tackle the issue of providing employment opportunities for people with autism and Asperger's syndrome on a national scale.

Parliamentarians of all parties are signing an early day motion on autism in the House of Commons - EDM 1359 - supporting the call for labour market opportunities.

The Autism Awareness Campaign UK is calling for a national strategy on autism and a 10-year plan of action.

 

COMMENTS

 
A comment from Asperger Technical

For once a positive glimmer of hope from a business journal. Although awareness of Asperger syndrome has gradually increased within the education system along with a corresponding increase in services for children over the past 10 or so years, it has almost completely passed the business community by. Very few employers have even heard of Asperger syndrome, and even fewer have implemented a mechanism to support people with the condition in the workplace. Services for Adults with Asperger syndrome in the UK are very scarce at the moment.

In 2006, an organisation called Asperger Technical was formed to help scientists, engineers, and software developers, with Asperger syndrome and high functioning autism find suitable careers either in industry or government departments. It happens to be one of the small organisations mentioned in the article, and has provided helpful support and advice to many people both in the UK and abroad. Unfortunately, it is not sufficiently powerful to make significant changes to the employment situation without backing from the government. Asperger Technical agrees that the Government has yet to tackle the issue of providing employment opportunities for people with Asperger syndrome on a national scale. One of the first things they could do is create more public sector job for people with Asperger syndrome who have a high level of skills and qualifications.

http://www.aspergertechnical.org.uk

Asperger Technical
18 Jul 2007
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