#InclusionRevolution: Supporting young adults with SEND into paid employment
Claire Cookson
Monday, October 17, 2022
We know that young people regularly say that getting a new job feels ‘impossible now’ because of the competition.
For young people with a learning disability or autism spectrum condition, getting a job is even harder. The impact of that means they are more likely to be socially isolated, live in poverty and poor housing, and have a shorter life expectancy.
It doesn’t need to be like that.
Having dedicated most of my career to redesigning special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) school curriculums in the UK, working with economists to explore the core employability skills that every learner needs I know things can and should be different.
Our evidence-based model of supported internships at DFN Project SEARCH challenges misconceptions and enables young adults with a learning disability and/or autism spectrum conditions to reach their full potential through employment. Our team works with so many brilliant young people who will make some of the best employees, but just need the opportunity.
That is why DFN Project SEARCH’s new employability campaign #InclusionRevolution is so important. The campaign aims to support 10,000 young adults between 18 - 25 years old with SEND in the UK into paid employment by 2030. The shocking reality is that only five per cent of people with learning disabilities known to adult services in England currently secure paid employment, compared to 80 per cent of their peers. That means an astonishing 95 per cent will be forced to live a lifetime on benefits.
We have seen multiple studies published over the last few years which have revealed that people with a learning disability and autism spectrum conditions stay in their jobs 3.5 times longer than their non-disabled co-workers. They also show that a high proportion of employees with a disability and autism spectrum conditions have their job performance rated as average or above and have been rated higher than those without a disability in terms of attendance and being on time. In addition, numerous organisations have also been known to dramatically improve performance and retention in some high-turnover or hard-to-fill posts by employing people with learning disabilities.
However, earlier this year, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) put out a staggering figure that there were over 1.3 million job vacancies in the UK. Roles which could be filled by the estimated one million people with special educational needs and disabilities who are out of work.
Confirming how the #InclusionRevolution campaign is so crucial in today’s working culture, as it encourages UK businesses to recognise the social and economic value in employing young adults with SEND. A move that would be beneficial for not only the individual but more to the point, good for our economy and for our society, especially with many sectors struggling with a skills gap, it really does makes simple business sense to explore this ocean of untapped potential and offer an opportunity.
Claire Cookson, is chief executive of DFN Project SEARCH