On 3 December 2024, International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Autism-Europe director Aurelie Baranger appeared before the European Parliament Committee on Employment and Social Affairs to discuss how to address barriers to skills, education and training for people with disabilities to boost inclusion. Autism-Europe’s intervention was followed by several interventions from Members of the European Parliament calling for reasonable accommodation in mainstream education and employment for people with disabilities, including autistic people.
Aurelie Baranger was invited to take part in the panel with Stefan Trömel, Senior Disability Specialist at the International Labor Organization (ILO). She provided some context on the education and employment situation of autistic people. Available data shows that only 16% of autistic people are in full-time employment, while they represent 1% of the population. The autism employment gap remains higher than for the rest of the disability community. Barriers to accessing the workforce for autistic people include poor understanding of autism, as well as prejudices and lack of accessibility in the recruitment process and lack of adequate reasonable accommodation in the workplace. However, discrimination starts much earlier with the majority of autistic people experiencing a lack of access to all levels of education. This contravenes the United Nations Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Aurelie emphasized that the shift towards more inclusive education in recent years must also be accompanied by a change of mindset to accommodate autistic learners. Schools remain badly equipped to meet their needs at all levels of education, due to a general lack of resources, and training about autism. The majority of autistic learners struggle as they are not provided with adequate support and assistance. As a result, the majority of them experience mental health issues, and the rate of school absences is very high. Available data also show that autistic pupils are more than twice more likely to be excluded from school than their peers.
Adequate training in autism and zero tolerance for bullying
Aurelie insisted it is essential to work in partnership with autistic people and their representative organisations to enhance access to education and lifelong learning across Europe. She highlighted the need to promote the use of EU Funds to support the development of accessible learning methods and environments for autistic people, and other persons with disabilities. It is essential to implement compulsory training for professionals – informed by the lived experience of autistic people – to meet their individual needs at all levels of education.
Autistic people should also be consulted and have access to an assessment of their support needs and strengths to establish individualised educational plans. Concurrently, flexible curriculum in education are requested so that they can make the full use of their strengths and interests. Teachers need initial training and continuous professional development, with practical and field-based experiences. They need to be equipped with teaching strategies that are neuro-affirmative and rights-based. Autistic learners should be provided with an accessible environment and reasonable accommodation.
It is essential to develop understanding and acceptance of autism, and to tackle bullying as autistic students are too often victims of harassment. There should be a zero-tolerance policy to bullying and adequate support should be at hand.
To make the transition to employment, on-the-job experience is key to success. It is critical to develop programs to support autistic people so that they can gain work experience. There is a need for tailored supported internships and apprenticeships for autistic young people to develop work experience and skills, with adequate funding and support available. It is also key to support Job coaching, mentorship programs, and peer support networks that can help autistic people navigate the workplace and develop their careers.
Several Members of the European Parliament highlighted the need for promoting inclusion in education and in the labour market, and to cooperate with disabled people’s organisations. The issue of bullying was picked up by MEP Rosa Estaras Vice Chair of the European Parliament Women’s Rights and Gender Equality, in a direct reaction when pointing particularly to autistic girls and women in education and employment. She was particularly calling for proper reasonable accommodation.
Why the hearing?
Autism-Europe was invited to the hearing alongside representatives from the upcoming Polish EU Presidency starting in January, the European Commission, service providers and the European Disability Forum (EDF). It was held on the occasion of the second European Parliament Disability Week 2024 on International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
Watch the entire hearing here. Autism-Europe’s intervention is here.