People with autism say Cardiff should take the lead in the UK to help those with the condition get into employment.
According to the National Autistic Society, only 16% of adults with autism are in full-time employment, despite 77% wanting to work.
Cardiff is home to the Wales Autism Research Centre, the first of its kind in the UK. The centre conducts research into the behaviour and diagnosis of autism, as well as its effect on families and relationships.
Maxwell Dean, (pictured above), who was diagnosed with autism last year, says the centre puts Cardiff in a unique position to help expand employers’ understanding.
“People don’t mean to discriminate, but they just don’t understand autism.”
“Employers need to have a better awareness and make links with the research centre to help their understanding.”
Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how people perceive the world and interact with others. Some autistic people say the world feels overwhelming to them and this can cause considerable anxiety.
Mr Dean says it can make job interviews difficult as they’re socially demanding.
But he says the more interview opportunities he gets, the better his self-esteem becomes.
“I find it hard to build my confidence up before job interviews. My autism makes me a bit more sensitive, so if I do well in my interview, it boosts my confidence. But if I get rejected, it affects my confidence.”
He says people with autism need to be given a chance by employers to demonstrate their skills and advantages.
“Employers need to understand that being autistic doesn’t define an individual’s abilities or potential and with the right help autistic people can shine.
“I’d say I’m extra determined because of the challenges I’ve had to overcome. I’m also quite creative. When I went on placement with a PR company I really enjoyed the creative work.”
Organisations such as Autistic Spectrum Connections Cymru (ASCC) provide workplace skills to people with high-functioning autism and training for potential employers.
Ben Moriarty, a Recruitment Manager at insurance company Admiral, says ASCC have helped provide training and guidance on how to be a more accommodating company.
“We have supported autistic candidates through face to face mentoring. This included interview skills, running mock interviews and giving an insight into our process and business.
“We have staff with autism currently working here within the contact centres and also our support departments. We truly value their uniqueness and always welcome people with autism to apply or enquire about careers in Admiral.”
But although there is some progress, Mr Dean says there generally needs to be a stronger focus on education about autism.
