Helping autistic children to move forward in employment

Young people with autism in Stirling are being given the opportunity to take positive steps towards employment.

Across west central Scotland, the National Autistic Society Scotland’s Moving Forward programme is working with people aged 16-24 on the autistic spectrum to help them develop skills for the workplace, gain social confidence and find employment.

The charity’s research found just 16 per cent of autistic adults in the UK are in full-time paid work and only 32 per cent in some kind of paid work, compared to 47 per cent of disabled people and 80 per cent of the general population. The charity takes a two-pronged approach, supporting autistic people to find work and helping employers ensure autistic people succeed in post. It works with a range of public partners including GPs, Jobcentre Plus, Skills Development Scotland, social services, schools and universities, as well as the private sector. Mentoring is a key element.

The project is funded via Cashback for Communities, the Scottish Government programme which takes money seized from criminals under the proceeds of crime legislation and invests them in projects for Scotland’s most disadvantaged young people.

If you, or someone you know, could benefit or you are a business interested in learning more, call 0141 248 1725, email moving. forward@nas.org.uk or visit www.autism.org.uk/