Neurodivergent People: Employment

Adam Dance agrees that recognising neurodiversity in school is important for early intervention, supporting Charlotte Cane's stance on distinguishing between neurodivergent people and those with learning disabilities.

Afzal Khan supports Charlotte Cane's call for raising awareness among employers to ensure that autistic people have fair access to the labour market and are not discriminated against in terms of employment opportunities.

Congratulates the hon. Member for Ely and East Cambridgeshire on securing this debate, but no specific contribution details provided. Highlighted the significant contributions neurodivergent individuals can make when provided with opportunities.

Apsana Begum agrees that job coaching and mentoring are crucial for neurodivergent individuals to stay and flourish in their workplaces, emphasizing its importance in retention and empowerment.

Thanked everyone for speaking in the debate, noted agreement across parties on the issue, welcomed the Minister's commitment to build on the Buckland review and work with the independent panel, appreciated personalised jobs and careers support but noted problems with Access to Work.

My hon. Friend points out the irony of requiring strong executive functioning skills from neurodivergent people applying for Access to Work, which often poses a significant barrier due to their conditions.

Clive Jones praises the Kimel café’s effort to take on neurodiverse youngsters, providing key skills and integration into their community. He calls for more businesses to employ neurodiverse individuals.

The MP discusses the social model of disability versus the medical model, highlighting barriers faced by neurodivergent individuals. She also praises colleagues for their contributions on universal screening in schools and supports efforts to address issues in special educational needs funding. Asked for service level agreements to ensure clarity and speed in accessing employment support schemes.

Highlighted the work of Switch Now, an organisation supporting neurodiverse people into employment through tailored training and collaboration with employers. Advocated for funding changes to improve direct contact with young individuals.

Provided a Northern Ireland perspective, citing figures from the 2021 census and reports indicating high prevalence of autism among school-aged children and undiagnosed ADHD cases in adults. Emphasised the need for awareness and support to help neurodivergent individuals find fulfilling jobs. Suggested sharing good practices with Northern Ireland's Minister to benefit both regions.

Discussed the challenges of accessing suitable jobs in rural areas due to poor public transport and employment instability. Emphasised the importance of recognising the unique needs of neurodivergent individuals.

The MP diagnosed with ADHD shares his personal journey of recognising his condition, advocating for early identification and whole-family support in the SEND system to help neurodivergent young people access timely diagnoses and employment opportunities. Emphasized the importance of removing barriers for neurodiverse people to ensure their full potential is realized in employment.

Focussed on the challenges autistic people face in finding and staying in work, highlighting that only around 28% of autistic adults are employed. He suggested the need for clearer guidance and training for employers to support neurodivergent individuals.

Leigh Ingham does not provide a specific contribution in the given transcript, but he requested to give way during Charlotte Cane's speech. The hon. Member agrees that businesses need support in facilitating work experience for neurodivergent pupils and highlights the challenges faced by Walton Hall Academy in this regard.

My hon. Friend raises concerns about young adults over 25 losing access to NHS-funded ADHD assessments, which can be a vital first step towards employment for many neurodivergent individuals.

Agreed on the importance of recognising neurodiversity as distinct from learning disabilities, highlighted funding issues in rural areas for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), mentioned the positive transformation in disability employment under the Conservatives with 2.6 million more disabled people entering work since 2013. Cited examples of local initiatives supporting people with learning disabilities into work, such as Little Gate Supported Employment in her constituency. Asked the Minister to use his influence within government departments to ensure that findings from expert panels are used across various sectors.

The hon. Member agrees that the Connect to Work scheme needs to work better for individuals facing difficulties in accessing payments and support under Access to Work.

Acknowledged the importance of care and understanding towards neurodivergent people in securing better employment outcomes, emphasising the need for tailored support methods.

Rachel Gilmour highlights the Foxes hotel in her constituency, which offers structured on-the-job training, dedicated mentorship, and clear progression pathways for young people with learning disabilities.

Samantha Niblett discusses the support provided by Momentic for people transitioning from benefits to self-employed work, suggesting it might suit some neurodivergent individuals better than traditional employment.

The MP highlights the importance of fair funding for education, advocating for tailored support and early intervention services for neurodivergent young people to ensure they can thrive in school and move confidently into work.

Announced ongoing initiatives including a new jobs and careers service, local commissioning of Connect to Work services, and efforts to monitor outcomes in different regions.

Steve Yemm agrees with Charlotte Cane's point about individual treatment of neurodivergent people and praises West Notts college for offering bespoke courses that help young people into further education and employment.

The Lib Dems call for more funding for schools to support children with special educational needs and disabilities. Only around three in ten autistic adults are employed, and the speaker urges a national strategy that links education to employment. Stressed the need for better opportunities and support systems for neurodivergent individuals to improve employment rates.

Asked about the impact of proposed changes to personal independence payments on people's willingness to seek work, agreeing that the rhetoric used by Ministers may discourage those seeking support.

Standard teacher training includes only half a day on autism-specific education, which is insufficient. Education must support neurodivergent individuals to succeed in employment.