Written evidence from Name Withheld (DEG0007)

I write this submission as a parent of a disabled young adult (22 years old), a trustee of a charity (Max Appeal) that supports people with the genetic condition my daughter has and as a person who has had experience at senior level (previous employments) in employing people and the challenges this has had.

I am the proud parent of 3 children of which my youngest has the genetic condition 22q11, sometimes known as “Di George Syndrome”. She has faced her challenges in her life and soldiers on through them with our support. She has a heart condition, Scoliosis and has learning difficulties. Despite her challenges she is in College 3 days a week (WFH currently) and has a little job two Saturdays a month at a support group. She is totally supported by us, her parents, in all she does but enjoys the element of independence College and her job gives her. It is my view that employment for people such as my daughter is the gift of the employer, she is very fortunate that the people who managed the Saturday Club she attended pre 18 years old recognised she could have a role to play as an assistant in the group post 18. She was invited to volunteer initially and then was taken on as a “bank worker” giving her a permanent, paid position where she enjoys a sense of fulfilment and is contributing positively to society.

This is my point; People like my daughter have a positive role to play in society and can contribute to the economy, it feels that is purely down to the people who have control in business to influence employment culture. In previous employments where I have been responsible for the employment of people I was influenced by HR professionals to only employ “people who could perform their role as per the requirements of the role profile” which in short was veiled discrimination against all who couldn’t operate at the required level. This was to ensure outputs were met and there were no team members who would drag performance down. I introduced Apprenticeship schemes into the business which helped to some extent but eventually left in 2016 when the clash between my own values and those of the HR department became too much. After I left the Apprenticeship scheme crashed. I see in recent Social Media posts my previous company are committing to the kickstart scheme which is a step in the right direction and is commendable. My current employer is a very good example of the contribution the Disabled group can offer and is most refreshing.

In my limited experience in this field I therefore conclude that schemes such as the kickstart scheme could have a role to play in what is currently a discriminatory culture where the benefit this group can offer society, in their contribution to the economy, improvement to their well-being and not being a burden on the welfare state is ignored. I repeat, the gift of employment is in the hands of the employer and while there are some employers who are sympathetic to the employment of people within this group many still aren’t and this culture is down to the incorrect, pre-conceived ideas around the potential issues disabled people bring with them. This can only be broken down in time and can only be driven from the top through Government policy and the lobbying of influential employment groups such as CIPD, IOD etc. The disabled group potentially have such an important role to play in their contribution to the economy and exclusion through culture and pre-conceived ideas is an opportunity missed.

I feel the introduction of schemes such as the kickstart programme aimed specifically at the Disabled group would be a step in the right direction in that the financial risk employers take would be reduced, it would change hearts and minds as confidence increased and the big oil tanker would slowly begin to turn around as cultures changed. I also think a more sympathetic approach within the Apprenticeship offer could assist, although I recognise current policy is failing on Apprenticeships and numbers are in freefall. This is a shame as the vocational route Apprenticeships offer to employment for the Disabled group is an ideal pathway….. but again, is in the gift of the employer and current evidence suggests the incentives offered now aren’t influencing able bodied apprenticeships let alone for the disabled group.

I hope this helps and I’m happy to contribute further to this debate should this be required.

November 2020