Marginalised and misunderstood by society…… fearful of the world of employment and what the future holds…. bullied, excluded, shunning social interation and crippled by anxiety … phrases regularly used by the estimated 1 in 100 UK adults living with Autism to explain the challenges they face on a daily basis both in the workplace and socially.
Autism is a lifelong developmental condition which affects how a person communicates and interacts with the outside world and impedes the ability to prioritise tasks and make informed decisions. 85% of adults with Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC) never succeed in holding down full-time employment. The stigma experienced can result in family conflict, a complete withdrawal from society and heavy reliance on state benefits
Self-employment is rarely considered as a career option by those with ASC. Offering support in all aspects of business start up and beyond, IWORK4ME is Scotland’s only charity to champion self-employment as an achievable, beneficial and fresh career solution for people with ASC. The organisation provides services including six-weekly 1:1 coaching sessions and, where necessary, specific advice sessions from industry professionals up to and beyond the business start-up. The organisation actively contributes to the knowledgebase of good practice in supported self-employment.