What does ‘neurodiverse’ mean? While many of us might think of autistic savants like ‘Rain Man’, the reality is far removed from a Hollywood film.
To be diagnosed with autism, a person must display “difficulties with social interaction and communication, in addition to restricted interests and repetitive behaviours”, according to the Autism Research Centre at the University of Cambridge. They’re at a very high risk of mental health problems, particularly depression and anxiety, the centre notes. Data from the UK’s National Autistic Society shows that about 0.6% of the world’s population is on the autism spectrum.
In the UK, only 22% of autistic people are in employment, the Office for National Statistics reports. That is the highest unemployment rate recorded among disabled people, and represents a huge amount of wasted potential, particularly at a time of labour shortages.