A CAMPAIGNER is teaming up with Southall's MP to encourage employers to help people with autism.
Katharine Williams, a National Autistic Society (NAS) member from Hanwell, is working with Ealing Southall MP Virendra Sharma to help get more adults with autism into work.
The ‘Undiscovered Workforce’ initiative calls on MPs across the UK to work together with local authority services, as well as local businesses and employment providers to improve job opportunities for people with autism .
Miss Williams attended the launch of the campaign in Parliament last month. She said: “I want to help the NAS with their employment campaign because I believe that with the right support, people with autism are employable.
“In the past I’ve struggled to keep work due to my difficulties, but with support from Prospects, the NAS’ employment service, I’ve been able to apply for far more suitable jobs.
Mr Sharma said: “Katharine is bright and capable, but due to not having the right support, her autism has made it so much harder for her to find and stay in employment. That’s why I am behind this campaign, and I urge my colleagues in parliament to support this enterprising initiative.”
Mr Sharma added that he hopes services and businesses local to Ealing will be encouraged to get on board with the campaign
Mark Lever, chief executive at the NAS, said: “It’s great that MPs like Mr Sharma are getting involved with our campaign to ensure adults with autism are not written off in their local communities. The vast majority of adults with autism in the UK want to work, but experience great difficulty in finding and staying in employment, often due to inadequate support and misunderstandings related to their condition.”
For more information visit the website www.autism.org.uk/undiscoveredworkforce
