'Autistic talent are not charity': Why neurodiversity matters

Hiring autistic talent is not a charity case – it makes business sense. This was the main takeaway from the ‘Austistic talent’ employment event which took place at Westminster last week.

Speakers included Mark Lever, CEO of the National Autistic Society, Sir Cary Cooper, CIPD President as well as MP Sarah Newton, who used the day to highlight the assets neurodiversity can bring to an organisation.

Statistics show that an increasing number of disabled people are in employment (40%). However, neurodiverse individuals (for example those with Asperger’s or autism) are being shunned out of the workplace. Despite one in ten UK individuals having some form of autism, just 32% of autistic individuals are employed.

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Speaking last Wednesday, the Minister of State for Disable People, Health and Work, Sarah Newton, said that it was up to both Government and employers to work together to encourage neurodiversity in the workplace. “People don’t employ autistic people because they’re worried about getting things wrong,” Newton explained. But, with several employers concerned about the future skills shortage, especially post-Brexit, she urged businesses to consider this pool of untapped talent.