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1 in 5 adults in the UK has a disability - government must do more to get disabled people into jobs

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12 June 2003

The Government cannot hope to meet its targets for getting more disabled people into jobs unless it adopts a more ambitious long-term strategy for change according to a new report published by the Institute for Public Policy Research (ippr) today (Tuesday).

Commitments to reduce significantly the difference between the employment rate of disabled people and the overall rate are not doing enough to transform the lives of the one million disabled people in the UK who want to work, but are currently unemployed. The report argues that although advances have been made support aimed at getting disabled people into work still focuses on the individual disabled person, with less attention given to the role of the employer or to effective rehabilitation policies and services.

Kate Stanley, ippr research fellow and one of the report’s authors said:

"With nearly one in five adults of working age now disabled this is a mainstream issue that permeates all sectors of the economy and society. In addition, we also have an ageing population in which older people are more likely to become disabled. Current policies are inadequate to meet the scale and importance of the challenge of supporting many more disabled people into work”

Notes to Editors:

The government must work towards creating an environment that supports the inclusion of disabled people and gives more disabled people work opportunities. The ippr report has established a seven-point strategy that can help the Missing Million get into employment. A renewed long-term approach should:

1. Dispel the myths that surround disability and work

2. Develop an ethical business case model that recognises that business and social benefits are intrinsically linked

3. Strengthen rehabilitation services for people when they become disabled which includes refocusing health services

4. Create more flexible benefits and reduce the risks for people moving off benefits and into work

5. Deliver successful welfare to work initiatives for disabled people through a twin strategy of expanding and enhancing schemes specifically for disabled people and making mainstream programmes accessible to them

6. Develop a more ambitious role for Jobcentre Plus

7. Transform the expectations of disabled people, employers, the Government and the independent sector

- The Missing Million by Kate Stanley and Sue Regan is available from the ippr media office (journalists only) or from Central Books on 0845 458 9910

Contacts:

Media enquiries:

Beatrice Stern, Media Officer 020 7470 6125 / 07971 851 145 / b.stern@ippr.org

Other enquiries: Sue Regan, Associate Director 020 7470 6113 / 07833 764 977 / s.regan@ippr.org

Kate Stanley, Research Fellow 020 7470 6107 / 07919 021 690 / k.Stanley@ippr.org