Autism-friendly spaces: The employability twist Training and intervention program towards the employability of autistic individuals.
▶Summary
The AFS Employability Project focuses on autistic individuals, addressing the matter of unemployment, through a program that involves training stakeholders and influencing European employment poli...
▶Objectives
The Autism Friendly Spaces Employability Project addressed the significant challenges autistic individuals face in securing and retaining jobs that match their preferences and abilities. Literature reveals a fundamental lack of understanding among employers and staff about autism, along with a general failure to adapt workplace environments appropriately (Lopez & Keenan, 2014). Scott et al. (2016) emphasised the necessity for improved communication between autistic employees and their employers to ensure mutual understanding of needs. Key objectives of the project include: 1. Client Engagement: equip individuals with all the information to make informed decisions 2. Social Hub Creation: A community space for autistic individuals in 3 countries. 3. Vocational Profiling and Training: identifying work skills and preferences, and training in pre-vocational skills 4. Job Finding: Job searches 5. Employer Engagement and Training: the consortium collaborated with employers and job seekers to cover various topics 6. On/Off Job Support: Specialised professionals, trained as autism ambassadors provided ongoing support 7. Policy Report Creation 8. Awareness Raising The AFS Employability project aimed to advance social inclusion.
▶Activities
The AFS Employability Project activities are presented below: -Literature research and questionnaire/semi-structured interview creation to measure the quality and progress of the project -Raise awareness seminars for all involved target groups -Certification Scheme Development -Curriculum and training material creation for Employers Training by adjusting the already-completed and successful Project ABLE manual, including Autism Ambassadors -Employers Training, Assessment and Certification -Curriculum and training material development for the Pre-Vocational Training for autistic individuals -Autistic individual Training, Assessment and Certification -Autism Friendly Working Spaces guidelines and Certification procedure, along with the respective Certification Training for auditors -Social Hub -Interested stakeholders contact details database creation -Training guidelines & Manual for the AFS Employer Training -Training guidelines & Manual for the AFS Autistic Employee Training -AFS Employability website -Adaptations and certification of Autism Friendly Working Spaces -On-Off Job Support: Job placements of autistic individuals to Autism Friendly Certified businesses and continuous support to all parts (autistic employee, co-workers, Autism Ambassadors, and employers) for at least 3 months of the working contract. -Adjustments made on the training material based on the Job Placement procedure -Working contracts for autistic individuals -Dissemination activities -Policy Research and Recommendation Document disseminated to relevant authorities according to the Policy Recommendation Plan
▶Impact
The AFS project's primary goal was to address the unemployment challenges faced by autistic individuals by integrating proven strategies and concepts from earlier successful initiatives like Autistic Friendly Spaces and Project ABLE. This comprehensive approach included an individual-oriented methodology known as Supported Employment, which facilitates job access and retention for people with disabilities through ongoing support. Key Actions of the AFS Project: Client Engagement: Informed individuals about supported employment to help them decide if they want to use these services. Vocational Profiling: Assisted individuals in identifying their work skills and preferences, supplemented by seminars on work demands. Job Finding: Searched for suitable employment considering all parties' needs. Employer Engagement: Collaborated with employers to discuss employment terms, required skills, and available support. On/Off Job Support: Provided necessary support to both clients and employers, including training for autism ambassadors. Additional Activities of the AFS Employability Project: Hosted awareness seminars targeting all relevant stakeholders, including organisations, businesses, and caregivers. Provided training for employers and personnel, with assessments and certifications. Modified workspaces into Autism Friendly Spaces, complete with certification. Developed a social hub for autistic persons in 3 countries. Conducted job profiling and vocational skills training for autistic adults leading to assessments and certifications. Developed a protocol with guidelines to transform workspaces into Autism Friendly Spaces. Launched an online platform and website. The AFS Employability project strives to mitigate unemployment among autistic individuals by offering continuous support to all key target groups, aiming for broader social inclusion and improved quality of life. It also seeks to influence national policies through its recommendations, aiming for widespread adoption and lasting impact.