Amazon, the online retail giant, has revealed its intention to increase fourfold the number of young individuals with learning disabilities who will be offered supported internships. According to Mencap, a charity organization, only 5% of people with learning disabilities are currently employed, despite 86% expressing a desire for paid work. Challenges faced include difficulties with application processes and lack of necessary support in the workplace.
In 2021, Amazon initiated a program offering supported internships to young people aged 16 to 24 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), such as autism. Teaming up with the charity DFN Project SEARCH, Amazon has assisted nearly 300 young individuals across 25 locations in the UK, with over 80 of them securing permanent positions at Amazon. The company boasts being the largest private sector provider of supported internships in the country.
Participants in the program undergo a structured training at an Amazon fulfilment center, blending classroom instruction with practical work experience. Each individual is paired with a dedicated job coach who offers personalized guidance and workplace support, aiding in skill development, confidence building, and fostering independence.
Amazon has now declared its plans to expand the program, aiming to assist over a thousand young people with learning disabilities and autism in securing employment by 2030. One success story highlighted is that of Rhys, who completed a supported internship at Amazon’s Swansea facility and now holds a permanent position, having learned essential life skills during the program.
John Boumphrey, Amazon’s UK head, emphasized the importance of addressing the high unemployment rate among individuals with learning disabilities and expressed intentions to significantly upscale the program by 2030. Sir Stephen Timms MP, Minister for Social Security and Disability, commended Amazon’s initiative, noting the positive impact it can have on providing meaningful career opportunities for young people with disabilities.