Organisations offering legal support The organisations in this list may be able to offer you free legal advice or support with issues about employment. Expand Ensure that you check first with any organisation you contact to make sure that they are able to provide support which is appropriate to you. LawWorks Clinic Finder tool - This helpful tool allows you to enter your postcode and the kind of issue you need help with and receive information relating to suitable free legal clinics in your area Disability Law Service - The DLS provides free legal advice on community care, employment, housing and welfare benefits to disabled people and their carers to ensure that they have access to their rights and justice The Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) - ACAS provide free advice to employers and employees on employment related disputes Toynbee Free Legal Advice Centre - provides free legal assistance on a range of issues within UK law Equality Advisory Support Service - This Helpline advises and assists individuals on issues relating to equality and human rights, across England, Scotland and Wales Citizens Advice - Citizens Advice offer impartial and independent advice online, by phone or in person.
Health and wellbeing It is important to look after yourself and stay healthy whether or not you are in work. This section links to advice on becoming and staying well. If you are unwell you should consider whether you should seek advice from your doctor or NHS 111. If you are in urgent need of help, call the emergency services on 999. You will find other sources of help in this section. Expand It is important to look after yourself and stay healthy whether or not you are in work. If you are unwell you should consider whether you should seek advice from your doctor or NHS 111 If you are in urgent need of help, contact The Samaritans or call the emergency services on 999 When reading advice online, in this website and in others, you must judge for yourself what is useful and appropriate for you Refer yourself for NHS Talking Therapy - Talking therapies can be very helpful if you are experiencing stress, low mood, depression or anxiety. NHS Mental Health services - Mental health services are free on the NHS. Your mental health is important and you should get help if you need it. Find out about the different ways to get help with your mental health, the process, and your rights. Samaritans - The Samaritans are available to talk to at any time. You can call them on free on 116 123, or email them at [email protected] Mind - The charity Mind provides advice and support, including a helpline for anyone with a mental health problem Access to work mental health support service run by Remploy, is funded by the DWP and is available at no charge to any employees with depression, anxiety, stress or other mental health issues affecting their work. NHS - The NHS provides advice on health and wellbeing and improving mental health. You can find and register with a doctor (GP) and if you don't already have one. NHS on Autism - The NHS guide on autism, including on getting a diagnosis and practical information. The Mix counselling service - The Mix Counselling service is suitable for you if you are looking for short-term help with your mental health and emotional wellbeing. For young people up to the age of 25. Stop, Breathe, Think - a mental health service for young people up to age 21.
Benefits and advice on looking for work This section contains a link to a benefits calculator to check if you qualify for financial support as well as links to information about specific benefits. There are organisations which can help with advice on benefits and looking for work. Expand The GOV.UK website contains details about government services and information: You can apply for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) if you have a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work Income Support can help you cover your costs if you’re on a low income Universal Credit is a payment to help with your living costs. It’s paid monthly - or twice a month for some people in Scotland. You may be able to get it if you’re on a low income, out of work or you cannot work You can apply for Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) to help you when you look for work Look for vacancies on the DWP's Find-a-job service You may be able to get help from Access to Work to make it easier for you to do your job or for support in interviews Citizens Advice provides free, confidential advice online, over the phone, and in person. You can ask them about benefits, housing, issues at work and many other things JobcentrePlus can assist with benefits claims and finding a job The National Careers Service provides information, advice and guidance to help you make decisions on learning, training and work. Some direct services only apply to people living in England, but the Skills Assessment and Job Profile search can be done by anyone Portsmouth University has free assessment tools for autistic people and employers with no or mild learning disabilities. There are different profiles to help identify your most suitable career and appropriate workplace adaptations. They can also be used by an employer to understand what adjustments are needed. Contact them direct to arrange an assessment. IMAGE, developed by 5 European universities, aims to improve the employability of higher education graduates on the autism spectrum by developing self-advocacy and employability skills in students, promoting high-quality support practice in higher education professionals, and developing employer awareness and recruitment practices.
Vacancy listings Job opportunities are advertised in many places - you may have to look in many different places to find vacancies which suit your skills and which you are interested in. We list a few here. Expand Jobs are advertised in many different places. We list a selection of places to look in our section on applying for work. There are also many places to look online, a few are listed here: You can search for types of jobs or sectors by area on the DWP's Find-a-job service JobcentrePlus can assist with benefits claims and finding a job Advice and support as well as job opportunities can be found at the government's job help site The National Careers Service provides careers information, advice and guidance.
Employment law and workplace rights The Equality Act 2010 protects people from discrimination in the workplace. The section contains guidance on the law and where jobseekers, employees and employers can seek advice. Expand Guidance on the Equality Act can be found on the Government website and covers responsibilities laid down in employment law The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) promotes equality and human rights ideals and laws across England, Scotland and Wales: You can contact them for expert information, advice and support on discrimination and human rights issues The EHRC produces guidance for employers EHRC information for employees on workplace adjustments You can download the EHRC Employment Statutory Code of Practice for detailed guidance about what the Equality Act means Acas (The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) - gives employees and employers free, impartial advice on workplace rights, rules and best practice. They cannot provide legal advice, but they have a helpline if you need to talk through options about a workplace problem LawWorks is a charity working in England and Wales to connect volunteer lawyers with people in need of legal advice Citizens Advice has information on where to go if you have a problem at work, or are making a claim to an employment tribunal
Resources about autism This section provides links to further information about autism. Expand Information Autism has up to date and scientifically reliable information about autism The NHS has information about autism and its diagnosis Let the fingers do the talking - a video featuring non-speaking autistic adults The Open University run a free course - Understanding Autism. You can start it at any time and it takes approximately 24 hours to complete.
Reports and publications Third party reports and publications on autism, disability and the law in relation to employment. Expand Office for National Statistics: February 2022 - Outcomes for disabled people in the UK:2021 "...disabled people with severe or specific learning difficulties, or autism ... had the lowest employment rates" Outcomes for disabled people across areas of life: education, employment, social participation, housing, well-being, loneliness and crime. Analysis by disability status and by age, sex, impairment type and severity, country and region based on survey data. HM Government: July 2021 - The national disability strategy "Underlying the approaches of devolved administrations is the Social Model of Disability. The social model helps us recognise barriers that make life harder for disabled people. Removing these barriers creates equality and offers disabled people more independence, choice and control." This strategy reflects the experiences of disabled people across the UK. It recognises and celebrates the diversity of approaches being pursued and highlights good practice and initiatives of note in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. HM Government: July 2021 - The national strategy for autistic children, young people and adults: 2021 to 2026 "By 2026, we want data to show that we have made progress on closing the employment gap for autistic people, drawing on the Labour Force Survey." By 2026 ... We want more autistic people who can and want to work to do so, and to ensure that those who have found a job are less likely to fall out of work. We also want to show that employers have become more confident in hiring and supporting autistic people, and that autistic people’s experience of being in work has improved. Centre for Social Justice: March 2021 - Now is the time - A report by the CSJ Disability Commission "The NHS in its Long-Term Plan has embedded employment as a health outcome for individuals with severe mental health conditions, learning disabilities or autism." 2021 will mark 26 years since the Disability Discrimination Act and 11 years since the Equality Act passed into law. Despite this legislative change, progress towards greater equality between disabled and non-disabled people has been erratic and, in some areas, non-existent.