The Data and Marketing Association (DMA) has published a guide to help employers understand autism and its potential to diversify the talent pool.
The DMA Talent: Autism Employer Guide features insights from NHS autism specialists, autistic employees and employers. It features adjustments employers can make during recruitment, the workplace environment, the qualities associated with autistic people, and how to treat autistic employees as individuals.
Matthew Trerise, co-author of the guide, said: “Autistic people have been misunderstood and socially excluded for far too long. We must change the way we think about autism, have a lot more respect for the significant role autistic people have in society, and recognise the skills, strengths, honesty, and integrity that this exceptional group of people bring to the workplace and our community.”
There are around 700,000 people on the autism spectrum in the UK, but only 16% of autistic adults are in full-time employment according to the National Autistic Society.
The report can be downloaded for free from the DMA website.
