Employers Missing Out Over Autism ‘Ignorance’

People with autism are being discriminated against by employers and denied education because of ignorance.

Despite one in 100 Scots being affected by the neurological condition, just 13 per cent of those diagnosed are in full-time employment.

The National Autistic Society (NAS) in Scotland says extra funding could improve that figure to 50 per cent.

The charity blames employer attitudes for the discrimination. An NAS survey revealed 46 per cent of employment advisers believed bosses were ignorant of the condition.

Carol Evans, NAS Scotland national director, said: “If 13 per cent of people with autism are employed, that means a staggering 87 per cent are unemployed.

“Employers have a fear of the unknown that prevents them from recruiting someone with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD).

“In fact, especially for someone with Asperger syndrome, the characteristics of their condition make them an employer’s dream.

“Punctual, sticking to the rules, not engaging in gossip or office politics: they could be the perfect employee.”

Robin Walker, 58, is one of the lucky few with ASD to have full-time employment.

Mr Walker, from Glasgow, managed a successful career as an engineer before he was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome at the age of 57.

He said: “My wife is a teacher and she began to suspect I might have autism.

“She was sitting with a child psychologist who was explaining the idiosyncrasies and coping skills and my wife said, ‘You have just described my husband’.

“I researched it on the internet and realised I had Asperger’s.”

Asperger syndrome is a very mild form of the autism which causes impaired social ability.

Mr Walker went to a selective school for the brightest children, but struggled at university.

After dropping out of Glasgow University he transferred to Paisley College, where the more school-like structure suited his yet to be diagnosed autism.

Decades later, after discovering his condition, he joined the NAS as head of its employment and student support service, Prospects.

He said: “I saw the advert and I just wanted to do it – essentially because I felt here was a chance to help people like me.”

Prospects has a 66 per cent success rate in finding people jobs or places at university or college. Mr Walker believes employers need to realise that people with autism often do badly in interview settings, but will often perform very well if given a work trial.

He added: “Many of the adjustments would help efficiency in any business such as clear concise instructions.

“Attitudes are changing as employers are beginning to embrace diversity in a positive manner as they seek to fill posts.”

PAYING THE PRICE OF ACADEMIC IGNORANCE

IAN Macphail, 27, from Milngavie, was thrown out of university because he had no idea he was on the autistic spectrum.

He said: “At the end of my second year, my dad passed away. Half way through my third year I realised I wasn’t able to cope.”

Depressed after two years of failed job interviews, he went to his doctor, who suspected Asperger syndrome. He was referred to the National Autistic Society’s (NAS) employment service, Prospects, which won back his university place, and in June Ian graduated with a first-class degree in computer science.

Robin Walker, from Prospects, said: “It wasn’t out of badness the university terminated his place; they just had a student not attending and failing exams, who hadn’t been able to articulate his problems, so they just went through the normal processes.”

Just £35 could enable the NAS to ensure a student with Asperger syndrome receives tailored support.

To help, log on to www.justgiving.com/scotsmanthinkdifferently and make a donation, knowing that with your help the NAS can make a positive difference to even more people living with autism.