Written evidence from Name Withheld (DEG0031)
I am responding to your call for evidence through Scope, the disability equality charity. I want to share my experiences of the barriers I've faced in work and what can be improved to help disabled people in the future.
I've answered two questions below as part of your call for evidence.
What extra support would you benefit from in work? Or what would you change about existing support on offer?
Now retired but previously 26 years working for a Government Dept. Became disabled during this time and had to go to two tribunals for failing to make reasonable adjustments. First was not contested and settled, second was contested and I won forcing the installation of a wheelchair access ramp for employees. Disability issues were often ignored or overlooked. Worked as a Disability adviser and Technical consultant before they shut down Disability Services and moved staff. Facilities for help were eroded over about 10 years until little help was available and customers and employees alike were being treated badly. I could go on for hours but have to limit this.
Looking to the future, what does the Government need to improve on to help disabled people get into, stay and progress in work?
There needs to be a complete change of attitude. Currently disabled people are considered a drain on the community and not worth helping. I worked for 15 years until I was 65 as a wheelchair user and was able to do a full job, with some assistance like a special chair and guaranteed parking but it was a constant fight. It could have been a lot easier if the attitudes were changed.
The disability employment gap has been stuck close to 30 percent for over a decade, and the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic has seen disabled people falling out of work faster than non-disabled people.
Scope wants the Government to deliver on its pledge to tackle the disability employment gap. The Government must use the opportunity of the forthcoming National Strategy for Disabled People to set out plans to close the gap.
I hope that the evidence I have provided, alongside research from Scope will prove useful to the committee.