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PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Employment: Autism (4 September 2017)

Question Asked

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to increase the proportion of people diagnosed with autism who are in full-time or part-time work.

Asked by:
Rachael Maskell (Labour)

Answer

DWP has worked with the Hidden Impairment National Group (HING) to develop the Hidden Impairment Toolkit, which offers information on how to best support people with Autism.

DWP is an active member of the Autism Programme Board (APB), responsible for the cross-government implementation of the Think Autism strategy. DWP also helped to develop a Disability Passport - About Me - to support people with autism who are seeking jobs.

DWP worked with Autism Alliance UK to deliver an Autism training programme, to over 1200 staff members in Jobcentre Plus, and to develop an Autism and Neuro-diversity toolkit which is available across the Civil Service.

Finally, Improving Lives – the Work, Health and Disability Green Paper’ sets out the Government’s proposals for improving work and health outcomes for disabled people and people with long-term health conditions, including people with autism. We are now considering consultation responses and the next steps for longer term reform.


Answered by:
Penny Mordaunt (Conservative)
12 September 2017

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