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Local Pathways to Prosperity 14 th September 2006

Local Pathways to Prosperity 14 th September 2006. Steve Davis, Get PAID Project (Positive Action and Information on Disability). Co-financed by ESF Objectives 3. The Seven areas of Learning Disability. Deaf Blind Mental health Dyslexia Learning difficulty Autism Physical disability.

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Local Pathways to Prosperity 14 th September 2006

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  1. Local Pathways to Prosperity14th September 2006 Steve Davis, Get PAID Project (Positive Action and Information on Disability) Co-financed by ESF Objectives 3

  2. The Seven areas of Learning Disability • Deaf • Blind • Mental health • Dyslexia • Learning difficulty • Autism • Physical disability

  3. Valuing People: A new strategy for learning disability for the 21st Century (March 2001) Objective 8: Moving into employment “To enable more people with learning disabilities to participate in all forms of employment, wherever possible in paid work and make a valued contribution to the world of work

  4. Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People – Prime Minister’s Strategy Group January 2005 Employment Five areas of intervention • Provide early support and guidance • Improve the skills and employability of disabled people • Smooth the transition into work • Engage employers to improve their attitudes and understanding of employing disabled people • Build information networks

  5. Welfare Reform Bill (2.6 million people on Incapacity Benefit) • Introduces the Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) replacing Incapacity Benefit and Income Support in 2008 • The “Support Group” will receive a higher rate of benefit • The “Work related Group” will have to attend assessments and work-focussed interviews • Also have to undertake work related activities e.g. work tasters – if they refuse without good reason benefit can be cut • BUT Government plans to remove Access to Work from central government departments

  6. Who does the Law apply to? Part One Disability Discrimination Act The Disability Discrimination Act defines a person as someone who has “ A physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long term adverse effect on his ability to carry out normal day to day activities”. Long term means have lasted at least 12 months or likely to last 12 months

  7. S Williams v J Walter Thompson Group • Sue Williams, a blind woman employed by the company in September 1999 • “Given nothing to do for two years” • Judge said: JWT was “ill-prepared for her arrival” and “no escaping the fact that nothing much happened” • “No Disability Discrimination Act training” • Needed specialist screen reading equipment and voice synthesising software • Unlawful discrimination on grounds of her disability • Total cost to JWT ran into to six figures

  8. Myths and Mothsor Objection Handling It costs a lot to employ a disabled people False – Reasonable adjustments usually cost little, average cost £67 Disabled people a lot of sick leave False – Barclay’s Bank survey found disabled people took 20% less sick leave than no disabled colleagues

  9. Disabled employees are less productiveFalse - Only 1 in 10 small businesses said soDisabled people can’t work and don’t want toFalse – 3.4 million disabled people are already working in this country. There are another one million who want to

  10. The Business Case • Disabled people spend around £50 Billion on goods and services a year • There are approximately 10 million disabled people in Great Britain, representing almost 20% of the British working age • Reduced staff turnover and lower absentee records. Disabled employees stay in the job longer and have less sick leave

  11. Disability Discrimination Act 2005 New Law to promote the rights of disabled people includes new measures to strengthen 1995 Disability Discrimination Act • Widening definition of disability to include people with progressive conditions like MS, HIV and cancers from diagnosis • Placing a duty on public bodies to promote equality of opportunity with Disability Equality Schemes and Three Year Action Plans

  12. Public Bodies shall have due regard to:(General Duty) • Eliminate discrimination against disabled people • Eliminate harassment • Promote equality of opportunity between disabled people and others • Promote positive attitudes toward disabled people • Encourage participation in public life • Account for the impairment and possibly treat the person more favourably

  13. Employment is a key pathway to personal independence. Work not only allows people to support themselves, but also to develop personal and professional interests and build social relationships

  14. Losing the services of an employee deprives employers of experience and skills Also can be expensive with extra recruitment costs e.g. £3,000 • Advertising for new staff • Interviewing • Induction • Training • Staff cover

  15. Possible Solutions Employer Engagement • Local Area Agreements and Incapacity Benefit • Work Together for Employment Group • Employer Award Schemes • Get PAID (Positive Action and Information on Disability) project • www.getpaid.org.uk • Piggy back onto existing employer initiatives e.g. Business Link and introduce a disability element e.g. Commercial Properties Seminar Disability with Discrimination Act access issues Information, Information, Information

  16. Access to Work • AtW is available to overcome practical problems in the workplace caused by disability • Jobcentre Plus can make a grant towards the approved costs • If an employer has recently recruited (within the last 6 weeks) a disabled person the grant is up to 100% of the approved costs. • AtW can help in a number of ways e.g. alteration to premises, specialist equipment, a support worker, taxis to and from work Employers need to know about AtW as so disabled people!

  17. Getting Older • Britain is an ageing population by 2010 40% of UK population will be over 45 • 45 is the age when disability increases • 7 out of 10 disabled workers become disabled during their working lives • By 2006 45-59 year olds will be the largest group in the labour force • 33% of 50-60 year olds have a disability • Many people will have to work longer for a decent pension • Businesses that don’t bring their policies and procedures into line with the DDA could face severe skills shortages

  18. Useful organisations • Disability Rights Commission • www.drc-gb.org • Helpline 08457 778 878 • Email:enquiry@drc-gb.org • Skill www.skill.org.uk • Information service 0800 328 5050 • Email: info@skill.org.uk South London Learning Partnership www.getpaid.org.uk www.sllp.org.uk

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