Neurodiverse Self Advocacy mentoring into employment pilot project

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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.