PEOPLE with conditions like ADHD and autism are being widely discriminated against, a councillor has claimed.
County councillor Dan Boatright said there is a "bias" and a "lack of understanding" of conditions faced by people with neuro-divergent conditions.
Cllr Boatright, who has ADHD himself, is calling for better systems to be put in place to support people with the condition, as well as ASD (autism spectrum disorder) and Tourette's in finding jobs, accessing services and dealing with organisations like housing companies and banks.
In some cases, Cllr Boatright said people in his council ward are being "pursued" by companies chasing them for bills
Hitting out over their "lack of understanding" he said: "I have been really shocked by the level of discrimination I have witnessed in recent months, and the complete lack of empathy towards those who are neuro-divergent.
"I have residents who have been refused access to healthcare and retail services because of their disability, with unfair accusations that their behaviours are inappropriate.
"I find it particularly frustrating that we have situations where someone with ASD has followed the rules, the system has failed and when they react, the service provider has been unable to adjust accordingly to supply the support they need.
"In one instance I have an electricity company that is pursuing a man for money that he does not owe, are affecting his credit rating and, despite several attempts to rectify the situation, they are still showing defaults on his account."
Despite the Autism Act being passed in 2009, recent research by the London School of Economics shows that four in five people with ASD diagnoses are unemployed.
The Institute of Leadership and Management found 50 per cent of managers were willing to admit their discomfort in hiring neurodivergent individuals.
The bias was highest against those with ADHD or Tourette’s syndrome with one in three employers reporting they would feel uncomfortable employing or managing an individual with either condition.
Cllr Boatright added: "If we really are an inclusive society we need to stop this ‘computer says no’ approach to customer service.
"It is great to see some companies provide quiet hours for customers and provide specific services to help with communication but with one in three autistic adults experiencing severe mental health because of lack of support, more work is needed."
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