Understanding Autism

Learn about autism from Jade Fuller, Programme Manager from Ambitious About Autism

About Autism

Jade Fuller, Programme Manager - Employ Autism, Ambitious About Autism

Ambitious About Autism has been working with Investment20/20 to help investment management firms be more confident in recruiting autistic talent. We are the national charity for children and young people with autism.We define autism as a lifelong neurodevelopmental disability that affects the way a person communicates and how they experience the world around them.The condition is unique, and each individual will have their preferred way of describing themselves. There are many autistic people who will choose not to describe themselves as having a disability or being disabled, but this word does highlight that autism is covered within the Equality Act and is a protected characteristic. For individuals, this brings potential access to support, funding and employment rights, which some employers may not realise.

Did you know….

In the UK it is reported that 1 in 100 people are autistic, however this number is likely to be much higher as the process for getting a diagnosis can be difficult, lengthy and sometimes expensive. In comparison, the US work on the statistic of 1 in 54. (The NHS Information Centre, Community and Mental Health Team, Brugha, T. et al (2012). Estimating the prevalence of autism spectrum conditions in adults: extending the 2007 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey. Leeds: NHS Information Centre for Health and Social Care)
Autism is three times more prevalent in boys than girls. This doesn’t mean girls can’t be or aren’t autistic. It is recognised that girls have an ability to mask and even suppress some of their behaviours in certain situations as they can be more aware of a need to ‘fit in’ at a young age. (The NHS, Mental Health of Children and Young People in England, (2017))
Autism can sometimes co-occur alongside other conditions. Someone who receives a diagnosis of autism may also have other neurodevelopmental conditions such as ADHD, Dyslexia or OCD, giving them a truly unique experience of the world.

Why Autism Is A Gift To The Industry

Courtesy of Ambitious About Autism based on research by York St John University