Enabling potential employers to give people with autism spectrum disorder reasonable accommodation and support to enable them to work effectively.
Context
The greatest employment obstacles that people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face are not caused by their condition but by lack of access to opportunities and by stigma and discrimination in relation to autism. Even if a person does not reveal their condition to a potential employer, chances are they will be turned away because employers interpret their communication and social interaction difficulties as clear signs that they are not suitable employees; for those who do manage to gain a job, keeping it is another challenge, as the combination of inherent difficulties, lack of support and social attitudes can be overwhelming for a person with ASD.
People with autism have many strengths that can make them potentially outstanding employees (i.e attention to detail, loyal, reliable). They simply need assistance to overcome the barriers and difficulties they face. The project will design, test and publish an innovative training package for VET trainers that will guide and support their training on target groups (employers and managers, diversity and inclusion professionals, HR and recruiting managers, business and industry leaders from SMEs as well as larger corporates, line managers) on understanding, recruiting and supporting individuals with autism at the workplace.
Objectives
- To improve understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) among employers and managers, diversity and inclusion professionals, HR and recruiting managers, business and industry leaders, SME’s, larger corporate, line managers.
- To raise awareness of the benefits of a neuro-diverse workforce.
- To increase awareness of the difficulties that workers with ASD face in the workplace.
- To create an autism-friendly recruitment process and workplaces.
Activities
- Analysis and assessment of training needs of employers, managers and recruiters in the field of employment of people with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
- Development of a Training Package on how to support employers and managers (including diversity and inclusion professionals, HR managers, recruiters, line managers, business and industry leaders from SMEs as well as larger corporates) in recruitment and support of individuals with autism in the workplace.
- Pilot of the Training Package with employers and HR managers in all partner countries.
- Training of VET trainers on how to utilise the Training Package to train employers and managers in providing support to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the workplace.
Resources
- Opportunities4Autism VET trainer Curriculum;
- VET trainer Handbook;
- Opportunities4Autism Practical Guide for employers;
- Opportunities4Autism E-learning platform.
- Newsletters.
Impact
- Raised awareness of the Autistic Spectrum Disorder in the workplace.
- 18 VET trainers trained at the International short-term training event in Italy.
- 30 employers and managers, diversity and inclusion professionals, HR and recruiting managers business and industry leaders from SMEs as well as larger corporates, line managers took part to piloting activity of the Training Package and E-learning platform.
- 200 representatives of employers, business and industry leaders from SMEs as well as larger corporates, Ministries of labour and related departments, trade unions, policymakers and reformers involved in Multiplier events and the Final Conference in partner countries.
Partners
- Szczecinska Szkola Wyzsza Collegium Balticum (Poland, coordinator)
- CESIE (Italy)
- FUNDACION INTRAS (Spain)
- Fondacija hiljadu zelja (Serbia)
- STANDO LTD (Cyprus)
- ASOCIACION MI HIJO Y YO, PSICOLOGASEN EL HOGAR PARA LAS FAMILIAS CONTGD (Spain)
