DWP staff take autism and learning disabilities training

4,000 staff at the Department for Work and Pensions have completed part of training designed to transform how the government supports autistic people and those with learning disabilities.

The Oliver McGowan training was established to ensure that staff working with autistic people and those with learning disabilities have the knowledge and skills to support them safely. The training is named after Oliver McGowan, a young man with autism and a learning disability who died in 2016 after being given antipsychotic medication against his and his family’s wishes.

The training tackles “diagnostic overshadowing” - where symptoms are wrongly attributed to a person’s disability rather than investigated properly - ensuring people receive the right support at the right time.

It also gives staff practical tools to make meaningful reasonable adjustments for people with learning disabilities and autism as they navigate the benefits system. 

These tools include more time in assessments, reducing anxiety and allowing people to communicate clearly and confidently; simpler clearer communications from Jobcentres, making information accessible to people who may find complex language difficult to process; and sensory-aware Jobcentre environments, ensuring spaces feel safe and manageable for people who may find busy or loud environments overwhelming.

Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms, said: "Oliver McGowan’s story is a powerful reminder of why services must understand the people they serve.

"This training is part of how we achieve that, equipping our staff to treat every autistic person and everyone with a learning disability as an individual, and to provide support that genuinely works for them.

"We’re determined to break down barriers for disabled people, and to put autistic people and those with learning disabilities at the very heart of our decisions and direction.

"I pay tribute to the hard and brave work of the McGowan family in Oliver’s memory."