As part of World Autism Awareness month, AsIAm, in partnership with Irishjobs, has released data on its national programme to support autistic people in employment.
April is World Autism Awareness month, which is a time for everyone to focus on breaking down stereotypes, creating opportunities and advancing research about the issues that most affect autistic communities.
With this in mind, AsIAm, Ireland’s national charity for autistic people and their families, has partnered with IrishJobs, to release data from a recent employment initiative, aimed at empowering autistic people in the workforce.
Established in 2022, AsIAm’s employment programme has worked to remove barriers for people looking to enter the workforce and to make workplaces more tolerant and inclusive. As it stands, according to AsIAm’s website, 85pc of autistic people based in Ireland are either unemployed or underemployed, resulting in further challenges and isolation.
Additionally, while it harms autistic people financially and emotionally, to be excluded from the workforce, as noted by AsIAm, employers and organisations are also losing out, as it often results in siloed working environments that lack innovation and the benefits of cognitive diversity.
Paving the way
Since its foundation, the programme has helped 205 autistic people secure employment. Moreover, AsIAm’s programme, which includes 22 employers, has provided 1,085 autistic people with a number of supports, including access to employment groups, webinars and one-on-one coaching clinics. Employers too are supported as they work towards making recruitment a more inclusive process.
AsIAm’s Same Chance toolkit, which was developed by the charity and IrishJobs, educates employers on the key information, skills and policies that they need in order to attract and retain autistic professionals. Essentially, the programme ensures that everyone is given equal opportunity to contribute to and be an active member of the workforce.
Commenting, Adam Harris, the CEO of AsIAm said, “It’s clear from the figures released from our nationwide employment programme that we have made important progress in empowering employers with the tools to create accessible workplaces so that autistic people have the same chance to access the world of work.
“Since the programme was established, it has been inspiring to see first hand the growth in confidence and skills developed by the participants throughout their engagement with the initiative.”
He noted how the engagement from participating employers around Ireland has furthered the development of autism-friendly policies, from the hiring process all the way throughout the employee lifecycle, helping to break down many of the barriers that prevent autistic people from joining the workforce.
The work continues
While much has been achieved, according to Harris, there is much work left to be done in creating equal access for autistic people. For Harris, this starts with ensuring that organisations are equipped with the necessary tools and policies.
This was echoed by Sam Dooley, the country director of The Stepstone Group Ireland with responsibility for IrishJobs, who added, “With more than 1,000 people engaged with the programme to date, it’s clear the programme is playing an important role in helping to inspire change.
“However, more work is needed to accelerate the pace of progress and ensure that every employer fully embraces a diverse and inclusive workforce. I’m looking forward to continuing the roll-out of this important initiative with AsIAm to support more jobseekers and create a truly inclusive work environment that accurately reflects Irish society.”
Laure Gleasure is one such person who was supported by AsIAm’s employment programme. In 2023 she was struggling to find and retain a job. She explained that AsIAm helped her find the position she has held for a year and a half now, with the process having started with crucial administrative assistance.
“I do not think I could have done it without AsIAm,” she explained. “They helped with my CV and interview preparation. They gave me confidence when I lacked it. Even in the first few months of starting work. I had the chance to talk things through with a coach and mentor thanks to AsIAm.
“I know now that some of the difficulties I had when it came to work were not all my fault. I have learnt so much over the past year and a half not just about work in retail but about people. I am looking forward to figuring out what my next step might be.”
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