Daniel Saliba
Do Something Blue!
Fundraising for Blue Sky Autism
Story
This April is World Autism Awareness Month, and the Optimus Cards UK team, represented by Michelle Millsop and Daniel Saliba, will be jumping out of a plane into the blue sky, for the amazing Blue Sky Autism charity.
We’re fundraising to help change attitudes, to transform lives and create a society that works for people with autism everywhere, and in particular to raise awareness of autism in the workplace.
Despite multiple research studies showing that autistic professionals can be up to 140% more productive than the typical employee when properly matched to jobs, in the U.K., the unemployment rate for autistic people is as high as 78%. A 2020 report on U.K. employers sheds some light on this number, as 50% of managers surveyed admitted they would not hire neurodivergent candidates. This discrimination is a systemic problem.
When workplaces fail to recognise the experiences by people with autism in the workplace, they also fail us because they lack the understanding and the tools to create inclusive and welcoming environments.
Diversity and inclusion in the workplace shouldn’t be forgotten words in a company’s policy, they should be actions that start with the understanding that “Diversity and inclusion are particularly important for people with autism.”
About Blue Sky:
Blue Sky is one of the leading early intervention providers in the UK and works with children across the world to help them find their voice.
Through a specialist nursery provision and innovative therapy services, Blue Sky are providing much needed early help and support to children and families at the very beginning of their diagnosis journey.
As a grassroots organisation, Blue Sky rely on fundraising and donations to keep their services accessible to all.
Blue Sky Autism project is a charity providing specialist therapy and support to young children with autism and/ or developmental disabilities and their families across the world.
Located in central London, Blue Sky run their specialist Play2Talk nursery and therapy centre supporting families from all over the globe. The charity also provides online parent support to families who live at a distance from their London centre. Blue Sky is committed to providing specialist early intervention support to young children at a key stage of their development, in order to ensure the best possible outcomes. It bridges the growing gap in statutory services and is highly committed to making its services accessible to all.
Blue Sky are highly innovative and have created and researched their own play based therapy model called Play2Talk which focuses on helping young children with speech and language delays or difficulties learn to speak through creating exciting, motivating play experiences.
