Opinion | Those with special needs are capable of adding special value

A survey of Hong Kong firms has found that more than three-quarters have never employed young people with special needs. While that might come as little surprise, the silver lining was that about three-quarters of them expressed an interest in doing so in the future.

The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups said 76.5 per cent of firms polled said they had never hired someone with special education needs.

The survey’s list of special needs included attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, and dyslexia – which along with Aspergers are regarded as neurodiversity – as well as speech and language impairments.

Miranda Wong Ho-yee, a federation supervisor, said employers shared concerns about the additional time for training and questions over whether the jobs were the right fit for these youth.

They also said they would be more likely to hire them if they were made aware of the candidate’s special needs, had help in work delegation, and received regular support from social workers.

Collaborative internship programmes also would help. Firms experienced in hiring special needs workers said internships, assistance from social workers and a willingness to understand the needs and strengths of the employee facilitated a good fit with the workplace.

Parents and carers for special needs students require support, especially as they prepare to leave their specialised school programmes, integrate into the community, look for work and contribute to society, support groups say.

The Social Welfare Department in April set up special teams in the 21 district support centres for young people with disabilities to arrange post-school care plans and link them to community services, though support groups have concerns about the teams’ unclear scope and operation.

The department would do well to reflect on their feedback and adjust the programmes to better meet the special needs if required.

People who have shared their neurodiverse backgrounds include Richard Branson, who credits dyslexia for his entrepreneurial streak, Elon Musk, who recognises his autism and Olympian Simone Biles, who has shared about her ADHD.

For some years, major banks have been running specialised recruiting programmes for neurodiverse candidates, as they have appropriate skills for many specialised roles, require less time to train, and ramp up quickly. Future employers would do well to consider the financial industry’s example.

Special needs students need internships and employment opportunities in order to help them fit into society. It is good that so many firms are willing employers. It is hoped they can work with support groups and authorities to offer more opportunities with the support to ensure a smooth integration into the workforce.