17 July 2017 – Less than 10 per cent of New Zealanders who have been diagnosed with autism are in full-time employment – but a new programme hopes to change that. Altogether Autism has carried out a talent search of almost 100 people to identify who is working, who would like to be and what area they are working in.

The charity’s national manager Catherine Trezona said, of the responses they had so far, 50 per cent of the people were unemployed. Of those who did have work, less than 10 per cent were in full-time employment while 10 per cent had part-time work and 20 per cent did voluntary work.

She estimated there could be about 80,000 New Zealanders on the autism spectrum who were looking for work. Read more from the NZ Herald