Don't Write Me Off Launches in Scotland
Charity accuses Government of writing-off people with autism
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Only 15%* of adults in the UK have a full time job
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79% of those on Incapacity Benefit want to work
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50% have spent time without a job or benefits, some for over 10 years
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82% who have applied for benefits say they needed support to apply
The National Autistic Society (NAS) has accused the Government and Jobcentre Plus of writing off people with autism and condemning them to a life of financial hardship and even poverty. A new report by the charity reveals a third of people with the condition currently live without a job and without benefits. Many are forced to rely on family and friends for the basic means to live, some for over a decade.
Autism is much more common than people think. There are 50,000 people in Scotland with autism – that is 1 in 100. If you include their families, autism touches the lives of over 200,000 people every day.
In a report released today entitled ‘Don’t Write Me Off’, it has been revealed that a shocking 50% of all adults with autism in the UK have spent time both without a job and unable to access any benefits, many for over a year, and some for a staggering 10 years. Having been abandoned by government and employment agencies, nearly three quarters have been forced to rely solely on family and friends for support.
‘Don’t Write Me Off’
found that nearly two thirds of adults with autism told us that they wanted to work, yet only 15% have been able to find fulltime, paid employment, often due to a woeful lack of understating of autism amongst Jobcentre plus staff and a dearth of specialist support services.
Carol Evans, National Director for Scotland said:
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People with autism say their experiences of the employment and benefits system are marred by anxiety, confusion, delays and discrimination. It is absolutely vital they
are able to access the right help and services if seeking employment and are supported financially when they cannot work. It is scandalous, therefore, that thousands of people with this serious, lifelong and disabling condition are being consigned to poverty by a complex and counter-productive benefits system. We will keep campaigning until the Government’s “no-one written off” pledge is a reality for people with autism.”
The NAS are asking the Scottish Government to:
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Update the 2003 strategy entitled ‘Working for a Change’ to make it relevant for adults in Scotland who have a diagnosis of autism and Asperger syndrome
The report also exposes the common difficulties experienced by people with autism applying for the new Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), which replaced Incapacity Benefit. It is clear the system is not working for them with many experiencing a multitude of problems including getting a sick note, filling in complex forms, poor medical assessments, being misdirected to the wrong benefits and not even being asked about their disability. As a result people with autism often experience inadequate job-seeking support, unnecessary and distressing delays in payment or are being denied essential benefits altogether. This is a growing and urgent issue as the Government plans to move thousands of existing Incapacity Benefit claimants onto ESA in the next few years.
Scott Nairn, aged 20 and who has been diagnosed with Asperger syndrome has gone through the process of applying for ESA. His mum Lesley explained why the current benefit system is so confusing and bureaucratic for herself and Scott and why things need to change:
“I
filled in all the ESA forms with Scott, but when it gets to a particular question that may not apply I have problems. Despite me giving a thorough account of Scott’s support needs, when it came to the Work Focused Interview, I was not impressed with the fact that the advisor had no background on Scott's circumstances. So as far as he was concerned he was communicating with someone who had no difficulties.
“At Scott’s medical assessment, I offered an overview of Scott’s specific difficulties but made the assumption that because the person giving the medical assessment was a doctor I wouldn’t have to explain Asperger syndrome. But Scott felt that the doctor really misunderstood him.”
ENDS
For more information, interviews or images please contact Raemond Charles in the NAS Scotland Press Office on 0141 285 7111/07917 651617 or email raemond.charles@nas.org.uk
Notes to editors:
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* Statistic comes from a 2007 survey of 1787 people affected by autism
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Other statistics come from 323 respondents who completed benefit and employment related surveys; in-depth interviews with 39 people who had spoken to Disability Employment Advisors and ten people going through the Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) system, all in 2009.
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ESA replaced Incapacity Benefit in October 2008. It is a new benefit for people over 18 who cannot work, or find it hard to work, because of their disability. From 2010 onwards the Government intends to move everyone on Incapacity Benefit to ESA.
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Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, other people. It also affects how they make sense of the world around them. It is a spectrum condition, which means that, while all people with autism share certain difficulties, their condition will affect them in different ways. Some people with autism are able to live relatively independent lives but others may have accompanying learning disabilities and need a lifetime of specialist support. People with autism may also experience over- or under-sensitivity to sounds, touch, tastes, smells, light or colours.
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Asperger syndrome is a form of autism. People with Asperger syndrome are often of average or above average intelligence. They have fewer problems with speech but may still have difficulties with understanding and processing language.