On average, autistic people die several years earlier than non-autistic people. Alex Riches first heard this shocking statistic when sitting on the charity selection committee for a leading bank.

We move at a pace to find evidence-based solutions. For example, our 2016 report highlighting poor health and early death in autistic people prompted the NHS to include an autism health check in its Long Term Plan. We will release the results of a pilot of this health check later this year, with the hope that health checks will be rolled out across GP surgeries across the UK. Addressing health inequalities is just one of our ambitious 2030 Goals.

In the UK, just 3 in 10 autistic people are employed, one of the lowest rates in any disabled group. Hearing this motivated Alex to think about how he could personally support us to reach our ambitious Goal of doubling the employment rate for autistic people by 2030.

Alex donated towards the Neurodiversity Employers Index (NDEI®), an evidence-based index that looks at how companies across the UK are supporting autistic and fellow neurodivergent people at each stage of the employment cycle.

With Alex’s funding, over 100 companies participated in the NDEI® in its first year alone, helping employers in the UK be more neuroinclusive.

"It was important to me to invest in research to understand how employers can successfully include autistic people because a neurodiverse team can have a huge benefit to business. This was research that I had not seen before, and the NDEI® has created a groundswell of awareness, acceptance and connection both for neurotypical and neurodivergent staff."