Occupational and Employment Services

Autism Initiatives UK believes that everyone with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has a right to lead a productive occupational lifestyle. For some adults this may mean accessing open or supported, paid employment, for others voluntary work and others the occupational focus may be more about developing life and occupational skills for use in the future.

Autism Initiatives UK seeks to support the individual in the following ways:

• Working alongside generic and specialist Supported Employment agencies
• Enabling the individuals we support in our services to move towards employment wherever possible
• Developing Social Firms for people with ASD (see below).

Social Firms

In March 2007 Autism Initiatives UK in Scotland was awarded a 2 year grant to employ a Social Firms Coordinator. On behalf of a group of autism specific service providers, Autism Initiatives UK will appoint a Coordinator who will facilitate the development of Social Firms specifically for people with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in Scotland.

A Social Firm is a business that primarily provides employment opportunities for people who are disabled and disadvantaged in the labour market. This is an excellent opportunity for people with ASD who are excluded from employment to be helped into real jobs compatible with their unique skills and support needs.

This is an innovative project with several agencies working together, sharing expertise and developing a new way of supporting people ASD which is sustainable and has wider community benefits.

The purpose of the project is to develop the capacity and knowledge within autism services and simultaneously develop the capacity and knowledge of generic Social Firms to become more accessible for people with ASD.

A Social Firm can be developed around the specific skills and interests of individuals and groups. This is particularly attractive for people with ASD who have difficulty generalising skills, being flexible to new environments, adapting to new workplaces and may have specific but limited skills and interests. Real employment also means the person can identify themselves by a job title rather than being a service user.

For further information on the Social Firm project contact: Richard Ibbotson – National Director Scotland (sds@autisminitiatives.org / 0131 240 2370)

If you would like to make a donation please click here.