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Slide 4:

Trainer’s Notes:

This slide introduces the broader context of autism in employment.

Let’s begin with the Global Context: people with disabilities make up approximately 15% of
the world’s population, and between 785 to 975 million are of working age. However, less

than 10% of individuals on the autism spectrum are in paid employment — a stark contrast
to the 45% employment rate among people with other disabilities.

This is not due to lack of skills or motivation. It’s primarily due to systemic barriers and social
misunderstanding.

The term “neurodiversity” refers to individuals whose brain function differs from the dominant
societal norm. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is one form of neurodivergence. It affects

roughly 1 in 100 children worldwide, though many adults remain undiagnosed.

In the section on Employment Barriers, it’s important to emphasise that autistic individuals

face significant challenges due to:

• communication style differences,

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Project Number 2023-1-IT01-KA220-VET-000152721