April marks World Autism Acceptance Month, emphasising the need for understanding autism.
Despite one in 100 people in the UK being diagnosed with autism, fewer than a third are in employment.
In this article by The Sun: Sunemployment sharing top tips to help autistic people into work, Bryony Hagley, an assistant locality manager at Dimensions, highlights the importance of support for autistic people. She transitioned from a role in retail to support autistic people and people with learning disabilities, emphasising that support workers have diverse and impactful roles and encourages others not to be deterred by a lack of qualifications:
“There is still a lot of stigma around what a support worker role entails, so just go for it and see for yourself.
“Learn more about the role, research the company you apply to and their values, be inspired by others and their stories.”
To facilitate employment for autistic people, the National Autistic Society suggests clear job descriptions, inclusive recruitment practices, understanding social and physical needs, effective communication, and ongoing training to foster an inclusive workplace.
Thinking about a career as a support worker? Visit dimensionscareers.co.uk