Mencap responds to the Government’s new Autistic Employment Review

“As more employers recognise the need for diversity in the workplace, Mencap welcomes today’s announcement of a review into how the Government can work with employers to support more autistic people into work. However, we hope people with a learning disability will be fully included within the scope of the review.

“Everyone should have the opportunity to experience the benefits of paid employment, but Mencap’s 2022 Big Learning Disability Survey found that only 27% of people with a learning disability are in paid work, compared to 76% of working-age adults. 

“People with autism and/or a learning disability face many barriers moving into work, including lack of support to find roles, inaccessible recruitment practices and a lack of support to build skills. Through training programmes like Mencap’s supported internships programme, people can be successfully supported into work while gaining skills, practical job experience, and confidence. 

 “We look forward to inputting into the review and would like to see more funding for specialist programmes, particularly for people over 25, and an expansion to include people with a learning disability. We look forward to a future where autistic people and/or people with a learning disability, who have so much to offer, receive the support they need to move into and stay in work.”