A Cumbrian charity which strives for inclusion of disabled people in work has joined forces with a business from across the pond.

Tanner Whittaker, Project Manager from James Emmett & Company based in the USA, arrived in Cumbria this week to support a unique international project between them and the Penrith based charity, Triple A.

With the help of The National Lottery, Triple A have joined forces with James Emmett & Company, a disability inclusion strategic consultancy which operates successfully across the USA working with some of its largest employers.

A spokesperson from Triple A said: "Triple A brings James Emmett’s track record, expertise and success in disability inclusion to inspire and inform the new initiative, called 'Inclusion @ Work', designed for Cumbria.

"Launched in Carlisle in September last year the 'Inclusion @ Work' project aims to help employers to source much needed employment recruits from the autistic community.

"The Office of National statistics published data in February 2021 showing that only 22% of autistic adults are in employment.

"The project is special in that it not only supports the potential workers but it also supports the employers to make the reasonable adjustments in the workplace required to make autistic people comfortable in the workplace.

"Tanner will be working with a Triple A team of 3 inclusion partners to get ready for this role. Tanner will also be visiting a number of companies across Cumbria who keen to be involved in the project

"The James Emmett Company has had great success across the USA – where companies have found that working with autistic people and people with other disabilities has brought them a greater return on investment, greater productivity. better performance and a much lower staff turnover rate."

Sheila Gregory, Triple A chair said she was ‘excited about this international link with Cumbria'.

She added: "Work already done in the USA proves that autistic people make great employees given the right environment.

"I am really looking forward to seeing the project take off in Cumbria – supporting both local people and Cumbria firms.

"It’s brilliant that Cumbria is taking a lead in this work."