The panel – headed up by Professor Amanda Kirby and comprising leading academics in the neurodiversity field - will develop recommendations for ministers this summer, as part of the Government's Plan for Change, which will put money back into people's pockets, boost living standards and drive economic growth.  

Minister for social security and disability, Sir Stephen Timms, said: ‘For too long disabled people and those with a neurodiversity condition have been left behind, ignored, and not given the support they need to get into work.  

‘As part of our Plan for Change, we will turn this around, and with the expertise of these leading academics we will achieve our mission of supporting neurodivergent people into the workplace and reaching our 80% employment rate ambition.'

Under a third (31%) of people with autism have a job compared with 55% of all disabled people.

Building on its Get Britain Working White Paper, the Government will bring forward proposals in the spring to reform the welfare system to help people who can work secure employment.  

The Government said it will work closely with charities, disabled people and people with health conditions to ensure their voices are at the centre of any policy changes which affect them and to move beyond a binary system of fit or not fit to work.