AUTISM FRIENDLY GUIDANCE FOR EMPLOYERS

Ambitious about Autism is the national charity standing with autistic children and young people so they can be themselves and realise their ambitions. It run services, campaigns for change and creates opportunities, including in employment.

Just 29% of autistic people are in full or part-time employment, one of the lowest rates of employment of all disabled groups. Meaning businesses, and the wider economy, are missing out on the huge benefits autistic people can bring to the workplace.

But many barriers still exist preventing autistic young people from entering the workforce, including access to good quality careers advice, inflexible hiring practices and non-inclusive workplace cultures.

Movement to Work partners with Ambitious about Autism because we believe every autistic young person has a right to work. Read on to discover how your organisation can become more confident when recruiting, inducting and supporting autistic young people.

FIVE STEPS TO SUPPORTING AUTISTIC YOUNG PEOPLE INTO WORK

Autistic young people say that application and interview processes not being accessible to them is the biggest barrier to them finding work. These five practical steps prescribe how to adapt your organisation’s processes to enable more autistic young people to enter the workplace:

1. Adapt the Job Description

Adapt the Job Description

  • Be clear and literal when describing the role. Avoid jargon, acronyms, and ambiguous and vague terms.
  • Amend an existing job title if necessary and be clear from the start, for example, don’t use ‘Beverage Dissemination Officer’ when the role is ‘Bartender’. 
  • Describing the role honestly is important for managing expectations at this stage and try to include practical examples of tasks they will carry out.
2. Applications

Applications 

Ditch cover letters! It’s recommended that employers only require a CV. If more information is required, then a simple and clear application form is suitable.

3. Communication

Communication

Always check communication preferences with candidates as part of their application. If ever unsure about a candidate’s preference, start with an email rather than a phone call.

4. Interviews

Interviews

  • Provide a clear structure for the interview in advance, with clear, visual (image and text based) supporting information.
  • Provide interview questions in advance. 
  • Allow additional processing time and prompt the candidate to refer to any helpful notes.
  • Provide a single point of contact to talk through helpful adjustments and to ask any questions, both before the interview and also on the day.

These simple but very effective changes to the interview process means you’ll get the best out of your candidates.

5. Induction

Induction

Some things to consider when arranging inductions:

  • Allow for a slightly later start time and earlier end time for the first few days.
  • Provide a clear agenda for the day in advance, including lunch arrangements and dress code.
  • Provide a team structure including photographs and highlight those members of the team involved in the induction.

Become an Employ Autism Employer

Employ Autism is a programme developed by Ambitious about Autism to help autistic young people experience work. It achieves this by improving understanding of autism among employers and careers professionals, in order to enable work experience placements for autistic young people. The programme provides training, resources and ongoing mentorship to a wide range of partners, nationwide

Benefits of the Employ Autism programme for employers:

  • Training for staff on how to support autistic people in the workplace. 
  • Resources and toolkits.
  • Connections to an ever-growing network of diverse employer partners.

Within the Employ Autism programme employers can opt to provide a paid work experience placement to an autistic person. 

By offering a placement to an autistic intern your organisation can:

  • access a pool of untapped, diverse talent
  • increase the morale and retention of your staff
  • promote diversity of thought and problem-solving
  • support your existing workforce to thrive
  • reflect the diversity of your clients and communities.

If your organisation is interested in learning more about our Employ Autismprogramme, please contact the team at ean@ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk.