From BBC, [UK] Independent:

A report by the National Autistic Society accuses the British government of underserving adults with autism, condemning them to lives of poverty. Of the 300,000 adults with autism, the report said, only one in six are employed full time even though most want to work. A third live without job or benefits.

The report said that almost 80 percent of adult with autism who were receiving government assistance wanted a job. Among the barriers to work, the report concluded, were lack of understanding of the condition among employers and a dearth of specialist employment advisers. The report also found that the process of applying for government assistance was confusing and difficult for many.

The group is calling on the British government to boost employment among adults with autism, and to introduce autism coordinators who would work with employers and employment support services.

Said Mark Lever, the chief executive of the society, “It is absolutely vital they are able to access the right help and services if seeking employment and are supported financially when they cannot work. It is scandalous, therefore, that thousands of people with this serious, lifelong and disabling condition are being consigned to poverty by a complex and counter-productive benefits system.”

Access the “Don’t Write Me Off” report here.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 13th, 2009 at 2:57 pm and is filed under NOT2BEMISSED, advocacy, autism, employment/jobs, international, poverty. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.