Find out more about autism

Sir, - As director of a school which specialises in education for boys with additional support needs, and one of the first independent schools in Scotland to be awarded Autism Accreditation by the National Autistic Society, I was saddened to read its recent report that only one in six autistic people is in fulltime paid work.

The findings show only 16% of autistic people are in full-time work compared with 80% of the general population and 47% of disabled people.

It is for this reason that I wish to join the National Autistic Society in calling for more training, not only for people who are working to help people with autism find a job, but prospective employers.

While one of the difficulties facing people with autism is the number of employers who do not understand autism, it is also true that employers are not aware of the huge contribution that people with autism can make to the workplace in terms of the specialist skills they have to offer and a pride in their work.

If employers were given the resources and training to better understand the condition and how to support those with autism, the interview and employment process could be adjusted accordingly.

I would urge employers to find out more about autism, allowing them to see past the label and what an asset to their company autistic people could be. Stuart Jacob. Falkland House School, Falkland.