Autism, ADHD and dyslexia targeted in DWP push to get more into work

A new independent report says neurodivergent people can thrive in employment when they receive the right support - and the Government says it is already putting measures in place to help more people move towards and into jobs.

The push comes as figures show that just 34 per cent of disabled people with autism were in work in 2024/25, compared with 55 per cent of disabled people overall.

The Government says greater employment participation could also help reduce pressure on the health and welfare systems and boost economic growth.

Autism, ADHD and dyslexia among conditions covered

The Expert Academic Panel on Neurodiversity has looked at a broad range of conditions, rather than focusing on a single diagnosis.

These include:

• Autism
• ADHD
• Dyslexia
• Dyscalculia
• Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)
• Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), also known as dyspraxia
• Tic disorders
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and other acquired conditions

The panel also recognised that people can have more than one condition and may face additional disadvantage as a result.

Its recommendations include employment support based on an individual's needs, strengths and challenges rather than simply their diagnosis.

Government wants more people moving into work

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said: “When we get the right support in place, neurodivergent people thrive at work.

“That’s good for them, good for business and good for the economy. Everyone deserves a fair chance to succeed.

“Connect to Work is already proving this approach works, and we’ll keep building on it so more neurodivergent people get the tailored support they need to build fulfilling careers.”

Connect to Work is a specialist employment programme for disabled people, people with health conditions and those experiencing other barriers to work.

It has a dedicated pathway for neurodivergent and learning-disabled people, using the Supported Employment Quality Framework. The Government says the wider programme will support around 300,000 people by the end of the decade.

By the end of June, 1,000 people on the specialist Connect to Work pathway for neurodivergent and learning-disabled people had moved into work, including 470 young people.

The programme forms part of the Government's wider £3.5billion disability employment investment by the end of the decade.

Help for people on benefits to move towards work

The employment drive is also being supported through Jobcentres.

Around 1,000 Pathways to Work advisers are providing personalised one-to-one support to disabled and neurodivergent customers and people with health conditions.

The advisers can help people identify and overcome barriers that may be stopping them from moving towards or into work, as well as helping them access employment and skills support.

The Government says its Pathways to Work advisers have already helped more than 100,000 people who it says were previously written off by the previous Government.

A £60million Pathways to Work Innovation Fund is also intended to encourage businesses and charities to change how disabled people and those with health conditions are supported into employment.

However, the measures are not simply about moving people off benefits. The Government's stated approach is to provide tailored support to people who can and want to work, while helping them overcome barriers to employment.

Workplace changes could make it easier to stay in work

The panel says employers also have a role to play. One of its recommendations is wider use of Universal Design, meaning workplaces should be designed to work for as many people as possible from the outset rather than relying on individual adjustments after problems arise.

The Government has launched a 16-week policy discovery exercise to explore how Universal Design principles could be applied to workplaces.

Ministers will also speak to employers about practical, low-cost changes that could help neurodivergent employees thrive.

Practical workplace support is already available through Access to Work, which can provide grants for adjustments for eligible disabled people and people with health conditions, including those with autism, ADHD and dyslexia.

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Experts say neurodivergent talent is being lost

Professor Amanda Kirby, chair of the Expert Academic Panel on Neurodiversity, said: “Neurodivergent people have enormous talent to offer the economy, yet too often that talent goes untapped because support hasn’t matched their needs.

“Our report shows that when neurodivergent people get the support they need, everybody benefits: employees find roles where they can excel, businesses gain from different skills and perspectives, and the wider economy grows stronger as more people contribute.”

The Government says the report forms part of its wider drive to support disabled people and people with health conditions into work.

It has also committed to recruiting nearly 500 additional staff to clear the inherited Access to Work backlog and has expanded WorkWell, backed by £259million, which aims to help up to 250,000 people with health conditions stay in or return to work.

Alongside this, the Government has announced a £2.5billion youth employment support package, which it says will create nearly 500,000 jobs and training opportunities.

The wider welfare reform programme will be guided by the Milburn and Timms reviews, which are due to conclude later this year.

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