"Bethany Scott-Wright desperately wanted to work but the odds were stacked against her. The 22-year-old from Bromley has autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) a behavioural condition marked by frequent temper outbursts, defiance and hostility, particularly toward authority figures like teachers and bosses. In the UK, people with learning difficulties and disabilities face the highest unemployment rate of any group a staggering 95 per cent, according to the British Association for Supported Employment."
"At home, she worked hard to manage her ODD and ADHD. But she also wanted to contribute to society and the best way of doing that, she believed, was to get a job. The challenge was how. Stigma, employer attitudes, application processes and communication difficulties were some of the obstacles that made the whole process seem so daunting. I went to a special needs school which had protected me during my GCSEs and A-levels,"
Bethany Scott-Wright, 22, from Bromley, has autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and oppositional defiant disorder, which caused temper outbursts and defiance toward authority. People with learning difficulties and disabilities in the UK face the highest unemployment rate of any group, reaching 95 percent according to the British Association for Supported Employment. Bethany sought work despite stigma, employer attitudes, complex application processes and communication challenges. She initially secured one day a week in a café doing food preparation but wanted more meaningful employment. A referral to Toucan Employment provided targeted employability support. Four grassroots London charities received £62,500 grants each from the Dispossessed Fund.
Read at www.standard.co.uk
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