Work Experience: Autism

(asked on 14th January 2019) - View Source

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the supported internships scheme in helping young people diagnosed with autism achieve sustainable paid employment.


Answered by
Nadhim Zahawi Portrait
Nadhim Zahawi
This question was answered on 21st January 2019

Supported internships offer young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities a clear pathway into employment.

A Department for Education led trial of supported internships in 2012 to 2013 was formally evaluated and found that of the 190 young people who completed a supported internship and participated in the research, 36% gained paid employment, including apprenticeships (5%).

Good practice examples of supported internships are also gathered by our delivery partner, the National Development Team for Inclusion, and published on the Preparing for Adulthood website.

We are keen to do more to increase the uptake of supported internships and are considering how we can build the evidence base further.

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