Employment Support for Young People on the Autistic Spectrum
Created: 13/01/2025, Bright Futures @Ruils
Who by? Express CIC and Skylarks, parent experience
Why might it be of interest?
Although the question went out about support for young people on the autistic spectrum wanting to get into work these resources may be helpful for any of our more able young people who would like to get into the workplace.
Express CIC and Skylarks shared information they had about support for autistic young people to get into work as well as other parents and I am sharing them in this document so you can take a look yourself at what might be an option for support.
These are NOT recommendations and I have no knowledge of how most of these organisations work. If you want to give a bit of feedback should you try any of these options I would be glad to hear it.
Enna Global
Recruitment Agency for neurodivergent job seekers (not volunteering, work placements or supported internships), including dyslexic, dyspraxic, autism, ADHD.
Support for employers/parents/carers including jobs board, job coaching and many resources such as reasonable adjustments, how to disclose your diagnosis, understanding and managing workload, networking, relationships in the workplace, job search tips, interviews, CV writing etc.
Choice Support (Richmond and Wandsworth)
https://www.choicesupport.org.uk/find-support/find-support-near-you/richmond-wandsworth
Support around employment, CV writing, volunteering. Choice Support is commissioned by LB Richmond and LB Wandsworth to provide a support service for people looking for work – part time, full time, etc – with learning disabilities and / or autism.
Working Well Trust (RB Kingston)
https://workingwelltrust.org/services/back-to-work/kingston-supported-employment-services/
This is the same service as Choice Support but for Kingston residents.
Finding Employment for people with autism
NAS free on-line modules/training for autistic job-seekers or those supporting person with autism. Understand your own strengths and abilities, choosing a role, CV writing, applying for work, preparing for interviews, starting work and reasonable adjustments. The Finding Employment and Managing Money modules are free of charge but you do have to create an account to access them.
Exceptional Individuals
www.exceptionalindividuals.com
Neurodiversity recruitment, mentoring, info about getting assessment/diagnosis, online workshops, cv writing, job coaching, your rights, Access to Work etc:
Autistic & Unapologetic
A site created by an autistic man offering advice about finding work – from the first steps, through to CV writing, interview, etc.
National Careers Service
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/discover-your-skills-and-careers
This is a link from the Autistic and Unapologetic website which takes you through quite a few questions to determine your strengths and weaknesses. It might well be an easier way for many people to reflect on these as you answer the questions as they come up – you don’t have to go in pre-prepared. It may or may not come up with reasonable job types for you but the point of this is the process to think about your strengths and weaknesses.
Indiana Resource Center for Autism
Another link from the Autistic and Unapologetic website. It has a lot of suggestions about the types of jobs that might work and not work for an autistic person/
AfC Local Offer
https://kr.afcinfo.org.uk/local_offer
There’s a lot of information on the local offer and while it’s not difficult to navigate it’s just so much it can be difficult to work out which bits you need to be reading.
The main categories that will have relevant information for the transition age group are:
Post 16 Education: https://kr.afcinfo.org.uk/pages/local-offer/information-and-advice/post-16-education
Getting a job – training and employment: https://kr.afcinfo.org.uk/pages/local-offer/information-and-advice/training-and-employment
Transition and Preparing for Adulthood: https://kr.afcinfo.org.uk/pages/local-offer/information-and-advice/preparing-for-adulthood
Next Steps News
AfC’s info and newsletter providing young people (SEND) with the latest information on local training opportunities, useful training resources, apprenticeship vacancies and other local employment opportunities. You can find all the latest tips and guidance, virtual events and workshops around Kingston and Richmond borough, particularly aimed at young people aged 16-25.
Richmond Aid: Neurodiverse social/support group for young adults (18–35 yrs)
https://hamptonhillmedicalcentre.nhs.uk/neurodiverse-social-group-for-young-adults/
For Richmond residents. 2 hour weekly group, Friday, 230-430pm. No 1:1 support provided, so if required, would need to bring your own. First hour topics such as accessing support, healthy boundaries, eating well, and some more complicated topics and second hour is social/open chat. You can contact Josh Fisher at Richmond Aid for more information: j.fisher@richmondaid.org.uk.
This group comes highly recommended by a parent.
The Larch
A weekly social club for those with autism but not learning disabilities aged 23 yrs +. In Kingston, but can access if live in neighbouring boroughs. Wed 6-9pm at the Enhanceable Centre, 13 Geneva Road, Kingston KT1 2TW.
The Lighthouse Project
https://kr.afcinfo.org.uk/pages/young-people/information-and-advice/the-lighthouse-project
Closed group, 11 to 24 years with Autistic Spectrum Condition. Run by AfC Youth Service
Ambitious about Autism – work experience
These are work experience opportunities usually for about 8 weeks and they are paid.
Ambitious about Autism – supported internships
https://www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk/what-we-do/employment/supported-internships
Ambitious work with the Project Search supported internship model and partner with the Whittington Hospital and Chessington World of Adventures.
West London Alliance Supported Internships
https://wla.london/our-programmes/supported-employment/
You can download the current guide to supported internships in West London from this page.
There’s information about more local options on the AfC local offer: https://www.afcinfo.org.uk/pages/local-offer/information-and-advice/training-and-employment/supported-iternships
Kaleidoscope Group
https://www.kaleidoscope.group/
A suite of services to support disabled people to work.
Kaleidoscope Investments is a programme for disabled people who have a business idea and want to run their own business
Kaleidoscope Recruitment helps disabled people find work and supports both job seeker and potential employers
Kaleidoscope Quest is a careers transition programme
Kaleidoscope Foundation has 2 strands – a sharing circle as an online supportive community and an incubation programme – helping disabled entrepreneurs create businesses which are non-commercial, e.g. charitable, voluntary organisations, community enterprises or small, lifestyle businesses enabling the entrepreneur to become self-supporting.
Genius Within
Working with the neurodiverse community offering coaching and assessments and tools to help individuals explore their strengths and challenges in the workplace.
Diverse Thinkers
https://www.diversethinkers.org/
Julie Sanders is an integrative counsellor and coach, specialising in neurodiversity with experience of the barriers neurodivergent people face with the workplace. Julie integrates coaching with psychotherapy and counselling. She offers a free 15 minute consultation to explore whether you might work well together.
Action for Neurodiversity
https://www.actionforneurodiversity.org/
Autism specialist counselling
Categories: Education & Employment, Employment
