Commenting on the Review’s publication, Ali Gunn, United Response’s Head of Policy, Public Affairs and Communications said:

“United Response welcomes the publication of the Buckland Review on Autism Employment’s report and its recommendations. We were delighted to contribute to the consultation and share the lived experiences of autistic people from various backgrounds availing of our supported employment services. It is their views which shaped our proposals to the Review.

“The report repeatedly claims to recognise the unique contributions that autistic people can bring to workplaces and the importance of harnessing and nurturing neurodivergent talent. It goes on to say, rightly so, that there remain significant steps to take to realise these actions and tackle the systemic barriers to meaningful employment facing autistic job seekers.

“We welcome the report’s ambition and its innovative proposals of drawing on public-private partnerships, building on technological advances, and following person-centred approaches to provide working opportunities to autistic people.

“The Review’s focus on robust data collection and best-practice sharing on inclusion is also to be praised, which featured as one of our key proposals during the consultation. The full rollout of the Autistica Neurodiversity Employers Index is an exciting prospect, which we believe will help create better-informed policy solutions to the complex and diverse needs of the UK’s autistic community.

“Equally, the Review’s recommendations must usher in a long-overdue culture change in how autism and neurodiversity are understood and appreciated in workplaces. It is shocking, but not entirely surprising that only 35% of autistic employees are open about being autistic across their organisation, and only 4 in 10 participants who did disclose their autism to their employer reported a positive impact afterwards.

“As our colleagues in the National Autistic Society have said, the Buckland Review is the first step towards a much-needed radical transformation towards equitable working opportunities and support for autistic people. As we enter a recession for the second time in a decade amid a cost-of-living crisis, the actual test will be how decisively these proposals are actioned and how quickly their benefits are felt among a population already at higher risk of poverty and economic exclusion.”