Neurodiverse Self Advocacy mentoring into employment pilot project

我们为自闭症成人运营了一个自我宣传信息网站和论坛，在那里我们策划了一个就业指导项目，包括论坛支持小组和在线支持就业课程，通过这种方式建立一个自闭症自我宣传和同伴支持网络，帮助自闭症成年人克服就业中的劣势。我们将培训自闭症成年人指导其他自闭症成年人找到就业的道路。自闭症患者的失业率是所有残疾群体中最高的，几十年来一直保持在77%，在危机中，自闭症患者是第一个失业，最后一个重新就业的群体。估计有23万人想要工作，其中58%的人希望得到一些帮助，但没有得到任何帮助。自闭症患者在当前的危机中尤其脆弱，因为他们的日常生活被打乱，他们在不确定性和强加的孤立中感到高度焦虑，这切断了他们所依赖的少数社会联系，关闭了支持服务，并将他们与家庭成员隔离。他们会努力寻求帮助，可能会在没有支持的情况下达到危机点。重点关注那些没有资格获得现有支持、无法获得帮助、患有严重精神健康问题（70%）、有自杀倾向（66%）、经济困难（45%）、预期寿命缩短16年、自杀是早期死亡的主要原因的所谓“较低需求”的人，方法是利用愿意指导他人的自闭症患者的技能和精力，特别是在当前危机中作为保障和支持的自闭症患者。英国国家审计署（National Audit Office）发现，在对高功能人士的支持方面存在缺口，并估计，即使只有4%的人得到帮助，有针对性的支持也会达到收支平衡，除此之外还能节省数百万美元，而就业支持每次就业安置的成本为4680英镑。只要1600英镑，我们就做这件事。研究表明，幸福主要围绕积极的自闭症认同、就业和对社会支持的感知。就业是所有这些问题的关键。在2019冠状病毒病期间，我们的规划不会让自闭症患者掉队。该项目改变了导师和学员的生活，它建立了自闭症社区的能力，减轻了残疾的劣势，并解决了社会排斥问题。我们有一个强大的团队。我们正在与领先的自闭症研究人员和专业人士合作。我们会把计划延长3个月，与客户测试我们的服务，并向公营机构、私营机构和自闭症人士推广我们的新试验服务。

We run an self advocacy information site and forum for autistic adults where we plan a mentoring into employment project including a forum support group and online supported employment course delivered by autistic people, this way building an autistic self-advocacy and peer-to-peer support network helping autistic adults overcome the disadvantages in employment.We will train autistic adults to mentor other autistic adults to find their way into employment.Autistic unemployment is the highest of all disability groups stagnating at 77% for decades, autistics are the first to lose and the last to regain employment in a crisis. Estimated 230000 want to work, 58% among them want some help but don't get any.Autistic people are particularly vulnerable in the current crisis as their routine is disrupted, they suffer from heightened anxiety amid uncertainty and imposed isolation, which cut the few social connections they rely on, closed support services and isolated them from family members. They would struggle to seek and find help, may reach crisis point without support.Focus is on people with so called 'lower level needs' ineligible for existing support, unable to access help and suffering from crippling mental health problems(70%), suicidality(66%), financial hardship(45%), 16 years shorter life expectancy, suicide being the lead cause of early death, by harnessing skills and energies of autistic people who are ready to mentor others, in particular as a safeguard and support amid the current crisis.The National Audit Office identified a gap in support for higher functioning people and estimated that targeted support will become breakeven if just 4% were helped and result in millions of savings beyond that, while employment support costs £4,680 per job placement. We will do it for £1600.Research shows that wellbeing centres around positive autism identity, employment and perception of social support. Employment holds the key to all of these. Our programme is not leaving autistic people behind amid COVID19.The project is life changing for both mentors and mentees , it builds capacity of the autistic community, relieves the disadvantage of disability and tackles social exclusion.We have a strong team. We are working with leading autism researchers and professionals. We will extend the project by 3 months to test our service offering with customers and launch the commercialisation of our newly piloted service to the public sector, the private sector and autistic people.