People with Autism in Higher Education

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:07 pm on 3 December 2019.

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Photo of Bethan Sayed Bethan Sayed Plaid Cymru 2:07, 3 December 2019

Prior to this question today, I spoke to a number of people with autism. They were telling me that they're often drawn to higher education, and some of them are often overqualified because they feel safety in having that academic background, and safety in learning, as opposed to facing a job market where, potentially, they are stigmatised, and they find that job application processes don't fit with their needs.

The Office for National Statistics has recently said that there is a 12 per cent pay difference between disabled people and their non-disabled peers. So, we can talk about higher education and getting those with autism into the system, which is all well and good, but what is the Welsh Government doing to support them when they're going out into the real world, when they want to compete for jobs on a level playing field in a way that is equal to them and that respects them also?