An official review in England has found there is a risk of people being over-diagnosed with ADHD and autism.

What bugs me around rows over diagnosis and the "NEET" debate is that it forgets a lot of jobs autistic or other SEND adults would go into in previous years has pretty much gone for now.

Retail, Cleaning, Warehouses, Garderning, Admin etc. 

I work with adults that have been officially diagnosed with disabilities of all types. I agree with your statement. I think creating jobs specifically accessible for persons with disabilities should be something industries and governments should be more worried about, rather than fretting over the concept of over-diagnosis. If it’s true that we are getting a huge influx of disabilities diagnosed, then wouldn’t it make sense to utilize that demographic in the workforce?

I’m not as convinced retail is a generally safe environment for folks with disabilities (particularly thinking of Autism, though), but I completely agree that cleaning and warehouses are HUGE for us with disabilities. Low social pressure, repetitive tasks, and usually close support from supervisors make those two generally good fits for those with Autism in particular. I’m lucky to have a local custodial employer who is very willing to work with my clients, but despite the fact that we have like five or so warehouses/factories in this town NONE of them are willing to assist these disabled clients to get quality work.

I believe employers and governments could do more to encourage us to work rather than solely rely on government-funded social services since all the options for jobs out there are not disability friendly at all.

(Note: I’m not saying that relying social services are not acceptable nor am I inferring that all individuals with disabilities should be working. I am merely suggesting that more safe opportunities in workplaces could lead to less reliance on social services overall.)

I understand what you mean about retail, I should also clarify that my retail experience was in a garden centre outdoors which was not too stimulating. My own personal worst is hospitality, I had to leave soon after I started. 

I think Alan Millburn did allude to what you are saying a few months back that we don't really spend a great deal on helping people (including SEND adults) get into work.

It's depressing you mention how unhelpful your local warehouses are. I have been told similar around employers in this area. In interviews now I never disclose my disability, they don't have a legal right to know if i am correct.

To be honest there just seems to be so little work at the moment. Even on Indeed and Reed there does not seem huge amounts within a 45 minute radius of my area.

That is really good that one of your clients could find work despite being non-verbal, it does give inspiration to us that work is possible. Just for reference due another condition I have in the past struggled with speech. 

It sounds like you are doing well, that is quite a few people into roles in just the past year. Esp in the current job climate. 

Okay, so my successes have included:

Two as high school custodians. I met an awesome manager who loves hiring my clients and helping them figure out what they are most successful at. Unfortunately, one had to quit because he chose to yell at a supervisor.

One as a service provider at a day services location for people with disabilities. Unfortunately, he had to quit primarily due to health issues.

One at Goodwill, which is a store in the US that resells donated items and clothes. He’s very successful there. I had a second one there, but he was fired for weird reasons. Given it was the same guy that yelled at a supervisor, I’m pretty sure that may have been part of it.

One as a technician at a company that develops large signs. He found the job himself, but I assisted him with preparing for the interview process.

One as a dishwasher at a high school. It’s not the same school as the custodians. I helped figure out how to keep him safe in a potentially loud and dangerous area despite him being non-verbal.

One as a teacher at a daycare, and hopefully another one soon.

One as a custodian at a bowling alley. His mother mostly helped get the position via local connections, but I helped a ton getting him settled in.

One at a fast food chain, though he is currently struggling to go to work consistently.

One as a deli worker at Walmart. She found it herself (I wouldn’t have picked that for her skills) and she wasn’t very happy there, but by the time we closed it obviously changed her for the better. She started terrified of others because she was a hypochondriac to now she seems more confident and capable.

One as a seasonal worker for a lawn care company. Unfortunately I had to leave that case early since it was seasonal, but it was perfect for him. He does summer work on a golf course mowing and then is going to do plowing/shoveling for the lawn care company in winter. Weirdly, my bosses still don’t count two seasonal jobs as one year-round if they are at different companies.

One guy quickly flew through two jobs as a college custodian and a pizza delivery driver, but he had a bad habit of being deceitful to me, so that likely played a part in the short employments.

I think that’s it? Every other case I’m either currently looking for a job for them or they already had a job before I started with them. Those individuals I just help them maintain their employment instead of finding work. Overall I think I’ve done well for having only done this for a year and a half, but it sounds like I’m actually a bit behind compared to other employment specialists.

Okay, so my successes have included:

Two as high school custodians. I met an awesome manager who loves hiring my clients and helping them figure out what they are most successful at. Unfortunately, one had to quit because he chose to yell at a supervisor.

One as a service provider at a day services location for people with disabilities. Unfortunately, he had to quit primarily due to health issues.

One at Goodwill, which is a store in the US that resells donated items and clothes. He’s very successful there. I had a second one there, but he was fired for weird reasons. Given it was the same guy that yelled at a supervisor, I’m pretty sure that may have been part of it.

One as a technician at a company that develops large signs. He found the job himself, but I assisted him with preparing for the interview process.

One as a dishwasher at a high school. It’s not the same school as the custodians. I helped figure out how to keep him safe in a potentially loud and dangerous area despite him being non-verbal.

One as a teacher at a daycare, and hopefully another one soon.

One as a custodian at a bowling alley. His mother mostly helped get the position via local connections, but I helped a ton getting him settled in.

One at a fast food chain, though he is currently struggling to go to work consistently.

One as a deli worker at Walmart. She found it herself (I wouldn’t have picked that for her skills) and she wasn’t very happy there, but by the time we closed it obviously changed her for the better. She started terrified of others because she was a hypochondriac to now she seems more confident and capable.

One as a seasonal worker for a lawn care company. Unfortunately I had to leave that case early since it was seasonal, but it was perfect for him. He does summer work on a golf course mowing and then is going to do plowing/shoveling for the lawn care company in winter. Weirdly, my bosses still don’t count two seasonal jobs as one year-round if they are at different companies.

One guy quickly flew through two jobs as a college custodian and a pizza delivery driver, but he had a bad habit of being deceitful to me, so that likely played a part in the short employments.

I think that’s it? Every other case I’m either currently looking for a job for them or they already had a job before I started with them. Those individuals I just help them maintain their employment instead of finding work. Overall I think I’ve done well for having only done this for a year and a half, but it sounds like I’m actually a bit behind compared to other employment specialists.

That is really good that one of your clients could find work despite being non-verbal, it does give inspiration to us that work is possible. Just for reference due another condition I have in the past struggled with speech. 

It sounds like you are doing well, that is quite a few people into roles in just the past year. Esp in the current job climate.