Matthew was enrolled in a course called “Improving Confidence & Motivation When Applying for Work”, delivered via video-conference. The facilitators were made aware that Matthew had Asperger Syndrome and that his engagement with the course would be monitored by his father. Matthew’s initial engagement during the video session was limited to one-word answers and only a few seconds of camera time.
Following the first course, Matthew provided feedback to the employment coach that he enjoyed the course and felt more confident in speaking to people. He was subsequently enrolled in a Preparation for Job Interviews course and the same approach was taken by the facilitators as before. By the end of the second course, Matthew was spending more and more time on camera, joining in discussions and engaging throughout most of the class. The job centre Matthew was engaged with said they had noticed a marked improvement in Matthew’s confidence, in particular in relation to finding employment.