More than 1,000 autistic jobseekers have participated in AsIAm’s employment programme, proudly supported by IrishJobs, So far, the programme has helped over 200 autistic individuals successfully secure employment.
The AsIAm employment programme, which is supported by IrishJobs, works with employers and jobseekers to help remove barriers for autistic people entering the workplace and to create more inclusive workspaces for autistic people who are already in employment.
Launched in 2022, the nationwide programme provides a range of support and training, including employment groups, webinars, and 1:1 career clinics to support more inclusive recruitment and provide a supported pathway for autistic jobseekers to enter the workplace.
To support more autism-friendly workplaces, the Same Chance toolkit, created by IrishJobs and AsIAm equips employers with the key information skills and policies they need to help attract, hire, and train autistic talent.
1,085 autistic jobseekers across the country have been engaged since the launch of the programme. 22 employers have participated in the programme, embedding more autism-friendly practices within their organisation to support autistic jobseekers and employees. This has resulted in 205 autistic jobseekers being empowered to secure employment at organisations across Ireland.
Sam Dooley, Country Director of The Stepstone Group Ireland with responsibility for IrishJobs, added:
“For the past three years, we have been working closely with AsIAm on the delivery of their nationwide employment programme for autistic people. We’re incredibly proud of the work achieved by the programme over this period and its positive impact in developing more inclusive workplaces across the country and supporting more autistic people on their career journey.
With more than 1,000 people engaged with the programme to date, it’s clear the programme is playing an important role in helping to inspire change. However, more work is needed to accelerate the pace of progress and ensure that every employer fully embraces a diverse and inclusive workforce. I’m looking forward to continuing the rollout of this important initiative with AsIAm to support more jobseekers and create a truly inclusive work environment that accurately reflects Irish society.”
Commenting on the figures from the programme’s figures, Adam Harris, CEO of AsIAm, commented: “It’s clear from the figures released from our nationwide employment programme today that we’ve made important progress in empowering employers with the tools to create accessible workplaces so that autistic people have the same chance to access the world of work. Since the programme was established, it has been inspiring to see first-hand the growth in confidence and skills developed by the participants throughout their engagement with the initiative.
The high level of engagement by employers around the country has helped to develop more autism-friendly policies from hiring right throughout the employee life cycle and help to tackle the barriers that prevent autistic people from entering the workforce. IrishJobs has been an important supporter of the programme and has helped to drive understanding and acceptance among employers across every sector of the economy. While much has been achieved, more work remains ahead to ensure that every organisation has the tools and policies in place to create a truly inclusive work environment for everyone.”