Jobcentre Plus sites are testing an autism framework that is hoped to help more people with autism find, retain and progress in fulfilling jobs.
Work coaches will have a role in educating employers about the additional requirements job candidates with autism might require. For example, they might need to conduct interviews or appointments in quieter rooms with more appropriate lighting the jobseeker becomes distressed by environmental factors such as bright lights or noise.
The framework, which is being tested by 15 Jobcentre Plus sites across England, Scotland and Wales, also explores how work coaches can best support autistic individuals to find work.
One person in 100 is autistic and there are around 700,000 autistic people in the UK, according to the National Autistic Society. Many often find they are locked out of employment because employers and colleagues do not understand their needs.
Neurodiversity
Meanwhile, 26,000 work coaches are undergoing specialist accessibility training. They will look at how they can better support jobseekers with disabilities by using tools such as immersive readers, magnifiers and automated captions to help them complete job applications and attend interviews.
Minister for disabled people Chloe Smith said: “Everyone deserves an equal opportunity to find a job they love and to progress in their career, but we know we must do more to help people with autism.
“By testing this autism framework and offering new specialist training to our Jobcentre staff we are helping to deliver more employment opportunities for those who would otherwise feel locked out, as we work towards seeing one million more disabled people in work by 2027.”
Christine Flintoft-Smith, head of autism accreditation at the National Autistic Society, said: “We are pleased to be working in partnership with the DWP to make sure autistic people get the support they need delivered in the way they need it, when they visit Jobcentres. We both want to work to close the autism employment gap and make sure autistic people are getting the help they need to get jobs.
“Our framework of best practice has been developed with input from autistic people, specifically for Jobcentres. We want all Jobcentre staff to understand autism, be able to think about their practice and make the necessary changes to the support and environment that autistic people need.”
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Last month the government launched a workplace adjustment ‘passport’ to help graduates with disabilities into employment without repeated health assessments.
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