Get Disabled People into Work to Prevent ‘Another Generation’ Lost on Benefits – RADAR
Action must be taken to ensure disabled people get into – and stay in – work, in order to avoid another generation of disabled people being ‘lost’ on benefits and so excluded from many aspects of society, according to disabled participants in a new report from campaigning network RADAR.
As a result,‘Supporting Sustainable Careers’ recommends that disabled people be ‘mainstreamed’ into work, through an offer of support to all disabled people to get into open employment. This would lead to more sustainable employment and careers for disabled people rather than simply placing people into any job available.
The CEO of RADAR, Liz Sayce, believes it is time for the views of disabled people to be taken seriously when it comes to getting people of Incapacity Benefit or the new Employment Support Allowance.
“Part of the problem is low expectations within our society about what disabled people can do – this results in people not getting the qualifications they need, working far below their capabilities and in many cases not working at all,” she said.
“In past recessions, disabled people have ended up living on benefits for decades,” she pointed out. “As public sector jobs are cut we need to stop that happening again – by using scarce resources efficiently on the type of employment support we know works.
“That means offering all disabled people the chance of a regular job as jobs come back on stream, help to get the skills the economy needs and pay that is at least the minimum wage,” she said. “This could be the basis of the Coalition Government’s new Work Programme. Without providing support to mainstream disabled people into open employment, this government will fail to cut the benefits bill.”
The new report is supported by Remploy, whose Chief Executive Tim Matthews added: “The report makes clear that most disabled people can work in open employment provided they have the right kind of pre-employment support and continued support when they are in a job. It is important that those furthest from the labour market receive this support to enable them to play a full role in society.”
MORE: 020 7250 3222, www.radar.org.uk
My son is disabled he starts his new job in January but because of the lack of houses to rent with wheelchair access he may end up on the dole ,he want’s to work and has always worked and has a B.Sc.this will stop him from living his life as he would wish to do ..