A University of Winchester graduate has helped create a ‘passport’ to assist young neurodivergent people in transitioning from education to work.

Luke Jackson partnered with Disability Advice and Welfare Network (DAWN) and Suffolk Law Centre on the Autism Education Leavers Passport.

The 25-year-old contributed to the content and design of the 35-page booklet, drawing from his own experiences as a job seeker and the skills he gained at university.

Luke, who works as a volunteer website administrator with DAWN, said: "I really enjoyed what I learned at Winchester and the one-to-one tutoring I received."

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Luke contributed to the content by sharing his own experiences as a job seeker (Image: University of Winchester) The booklet was created in response to the findings of the Office of National Statistics, which showed that nearly 80 per cent of autistic adults are not employed, making them the least likely disabled group to be in employment.

Luke, who graduated with a degree in Computer Aided Design in 2023, explained that many autistic people have the necessary skills when applying for a job but struggle with interviews and employers make little or no allowances for them.

He said: "I'm hoping that this will give people the knowledge that they don't have to be alone with trying to find a job in the future."

Funded by the Baring Foundation, the new guide offers advice on transitioning from school to higher education, claiming benefits, applying for work and preparing for job interviews.

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A two-page ‘Know Your Rights’ section, written by Suffolk Law Centre, informs neurodiverse young people about their rights as disabled persons in the workplace and how to request reasonable adjustments for disability when necessary.

Since its launch in August, DAWN and Suffolk Law Centre have been inundated with requests for copies of the guide and have sent out more than 200.

Digital versions have also been distributed to the charities’ partner organisations.

The initiative has also attracted interest from the NHS and the Autism Centre of Excellence, based in Cambridge, which works closely with Cambridge University’s Autism Research Centre.

Julie Baker, a discrimination law caseworker at the Suffolk Law Centre, said: "We hope this can help these young people get into employment and thrive in the workplace."

Luke is currently working on the design of an SOS version of the passport, which can be carried in a small container attached to a keyring.