Brussels, 02/04/2014 (Agence Europe) - Some 100 Europeans with autism from five EU countries have been helped to get on to the job market by a series of European Commission pilot projects, according to a statement by the Commission on World Autism Awareness Day (2 April).
The projects aimed to boost the employment prospects of people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in Bulgaria, Germany, Denmark, Poland and Italy. It has been shown that people with autism can be empowered and thrive in structured and well-organised job environments.
Viviane Reding, EU Justice Commissioner said: “People with disabilities face barriers getting into the workforce... The EU projects …show what practical steps can be taken to improve the work prospects of people with autism. I want to see these good practices replicated in more countries so that people with autism across Europe can benefit and considered fit and right for the job”.
Autism puts sufferers at a disadvantage in the jobs market due to impairments in social interaction and communication. At the same time they often have strengths, such as accuracy, a good eye for detail, reliability and meticulous application of routine tasks, making them particularly well suited to specific work environments. EU-sponsored pilot projects ran from 2011-2013 and focused on assessing the needs of people with autism, offering targeted training and support to improve skills and overcome the challenges identified. The Commission explained that it would continue to support projects raising awareness about problems related to autism and promote good practices developed by pilot projects. (IL)