Amazon has revealed its intention to increase fourfold the number of young individuals with learning disabilities who will be offered supported internships. Only 5% of people with learning disabilities are currently employed, despite 86% expressing a desire for paid work. Challenges such as difficulty in completing job applications and lack of necessary workplace support contribute to this low employment rate.
In 2021, Amazon initiated a program offering supported internships to young people aged 16 to 24 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), including autism. Collaborating with the charity DFN Project SEARCH, Amazon has assisted nearly 300 young people across 25 UK sites. Over 80 participants have successfully transitioned into permanent roles at Amazon, making the company the largest private sector provider of supported internships in the nation.
Each individual undergoes a structured placement at an Amazon fulfilment center, blending classroom instruction with hands-on experience. A dedicated job coach supports them, offering personalized guidance and workplace mentoring to enhance practical skills, confidence, and independence.
Amazon has unveiled plans to expand the program significantly, aiming to assist over 1,000 young people with learning disabilities and autism in securing employment by 2030. An example highlighted by the company is Rhys, who completed a supported internship at Amazon’s Swansea fulfilment center and now holds a permanent position, having acquired budgeting, transportation, and routine-building skills.
John Boumphrey, Amazon’s UK leader, emphasized the need to address the high unemployment rate among people with learning disabilities, attributing it to a lack of employer imagination rather than a skills gap. The company intends to scale up the program by 2030, supporting a larger number of individuals in more than 40 locations, citing its effectiveness in facilitating employment opportunities.
Sir Stephen Timms MP, Minister for Social Security and Disability, commended Amazon’s initiative to expand its supported internships program for young people with learning disabilities and autism. He highlighted the importance of providing equal opportunities for all young individuals to excel in the workforce, aligning with the government’s commitment to significant youth employment reforms and creating 500,000 earning and learning opportunities for young people.