ABSTRACT
This chapter highlights the importance of clear communication, support for managers throughout the internship, and a commitment to embrace individuality in the workplace. The ethical implications of employing people on the spectrum in unpaid positions or internships are considerable. While there is no doubt that any form of meaningful employment, paid or unpaid, can increase feelings of self-esteem in these individuals. Anxiety is experienced by the majority of people on the autism spectrum – and the interns interviewed on this scheme were no exception. Internships take some of the 'bungee jump leap' from benefits into employment. Although unpaid, internships do assist in 'testing out' a particular job without losing benefits. In 2017, Deutsche Bank, together with two British charities, Autistica, and Ambitious About Autism, launched a unique internship programme aimed specifically at autistic graduates. Project SEARCH is a programme designed specifically for young people with learning disability and/or autism spectrum conditions who are in their last year of education.
