The guide uses good practice, insights and experiences of a number of providers from across England.  The aim is to highlight where and how providers can work to make their offer of workplace learning more inclusive for disabled employees and it is for all providers who would like to make their offer of workplace learning more inclusive for disabled employees. Recommendations are provided throughout the guide under four key areas: working with employers to make your offer of workplace learning fully inclusive, promoting the support you offer to disabled employees, offering high-quality information, advice and guidance, and encouraging disclosure. 

This guidance provides principles to guide the way people with learning disabilities are supported in relation to employment. It considers the provision or commission of employment services by local authorities and sets out the business case. The guide states that less than 10% of people known to services are in paid work and very few of them work more than a few hours a week. Options such as work experience, volunteering, self-employment, social enterprise and supported employment are discussed. The guidance states that supported employment is the model and approach that will deliver the greatest number of employment outcomes for people with a learning disability in receipt of a social service. The Supported Employment and Job Coaching – best practice guidelines are also provided as an annex.

This is an update to the strategy published in 2010 after the 2009 Autism Act was passed. It is estimated that more than half a million people in England have autism. As well as providing updates since the 2010 strategy this document describes the 15 priority challenges for action including “I want support to get a job and support from my employer to help me keep it.” The 15 challenges are set out under three key areas: an equal part of my local community, the right support at the right time during my lifetime and developing my skills and independence and working to the best of my ability. The update also provides information on how progress will be checked.