Sir, Alice Miles’s article “Who’ll be first to offer disabled people a job?” (July 23) made good points about how employer attitudes may harm the Government’s plans for moving people off benefits and into work, but it also stereotyped people with disabilities in a way that would be condemned had her remarks applied to any other group. Unfortunately, people with disabilities and/or who claim benefits are popularly maligned targets in our society, often because of ignorance.

I cannot imagine that Alice Miles would appreciate being castigated as “negative, aggressive, socially excluded and ready to take offence” based on comments she made among trusted supporters about the more difficult aspects of her life, yet she is quite happy to speak that way about Ouch messageboard members who consider the board a positive and safe space and gain advice and fellowship there — and yes, vent about our problems, which is a pretty normal thing for human beings to do, regardless of ability.

I suppose that I fit her stereotype now because I’m complaining, but it seems to be common in our history that when members of a minority group who are targets of prejudice find a voice, they are told that they are being too angry, too aggressive, too opinionated. I would like to think that as a society we can move beyond such destructive responses.

Angeline Adams
Holywood, Co Down

Sir, A radical shift in attitudes among employers is indeed needed. This is something Scope is working to achieve through initiatives such as our leadership recruitment scheme, which has opened the door for many talented disabled graduates to secure employment in leading companies, and the diversity works board, which promotes leadership opportunities for disabled people.

In addition to changing attitudes, there are also many practical issues that need to be tackled such as inaccessible public transport and inadequate social care support.

The Government needs to develop a more holistic approach on this issue. Until it does, too many disabled people will be denied the opportunity to work (in spite of government support to seek employment) and instead be consigned to a life on benefits.

Andy Rickell
Executive Director, Scope

Sir, I’d like to thank Alice Miles for raising awareness of the complex employment issues facing people with conditions such as autism. Many people with autism want to work, but experience great difficulty in finding and retaining employment, often because of inadequate support and misunderstandings related to their condition. The National Autistic Society has seen that with the right kind of long-term assistance for both individuals and the employer, people with autism can be successful in the workplace.

For the past 15 years our “Prospects” employment service has supported clients, with varying needs, through pre-employment training, work experience and long-term positions with a wide range of employers, from merchant banks and supermarkets to the Foreign Office and the National Archives. However, with autism affecting an estimated 500,000 people in the UK and only 15 per cent of adults with autism currently in full-time paid employment, the Government must work harder to address the gaps in understanding and specialist support.

David Perkins
National Autistic Society Prospects Employment Service

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