Research and Partnership

Matthew’s Hub staff also contribute to the reach undertaken by other charities and research organisations:

Autistica Action Briefing: Employment

Autistica is the UK's autism research charity. This briefing summarises the most important scientific findings about employment in the autistic community.

(Harper G, Smith E, Heasman B, Remington A, Girdler S, Appleton V-J, Cameron C, Fell C.)

Anxiety is a comorbidity often experienced by autistic people. This important video resource was co-produced with autistic people from across the UK,  including members of the Matthew' s Hub staff team.

Matthew’s Hub’s Carl Cameron (MA) and Abbey Townend (BA) published a paper in 2021 in the journal ‘Advances in Autism” entitled; 

How might we best support the effective and meaningful employment of autistic people and improve outcomes?

Design/methodology/approach

This research was conducted to determine whether the mentoring of autistic adults is effective in helping them to gain and maintain employment. The study examined the mentoring records of 90 autistic adults who were in receipt of funded mentoring with 18 separate organisations across England.

Findings

It was found that 48% of autistic job seekers who were supported by specialist mentors found paid employment (full-time or part-time), demonstrating a 16% increase in paid employment between those who received mentoring support and those who did not.

Published in October 2020 The Neurodiversity Reader (edited by Damian Milton) quickly sold out its first two print runs. Written by 21 autistic authors in 3 sections (theory, lived and experience and practice) this book has gone on to become standard reading material for serious students of neurodiversity.

Chapter 11 of The Neurodiversity Reader was written by Matthew’s Hub’s Carl Cameron (MA).