Written evidence from Name Withheld (DEG0045)
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?
I am too scared to mention my disabilities as I was dismissed from my last job in my probationary period as soon as they received the independent medical report with recommendations for adjustments from occupational heath and safety.
Company's do not care we are all just a number and are expected to work at maximum capacity regardless of our disabilities. There are thousands of people who do not have a disability who could replace me, so why would a company bother? No legislation is ever policed or enforced so how can it ever change?
Additional support that would help to manage my disabilities in the work place would be the option to work reduced hours because of my pain levels and the impact this has on my ability to sleep. Working 40-50+ hours a week which is my only option now takes me to the edge, I really struggle to cope and it also has a huge impact on my mental health. I have to fight emotionally most days to keep going. I often think I would be better off ending my life than living this existence. My family and my faith are the only thing that keeps me from doing this.
Looking to the future, what does the Government need to improve on to help disabled people get into, stay and progress in work?
Police and enforce current and improved legislation for disabled people. Provide incentives for Company's to employ people with disabilities.
Disabilities can be invisible too, we are not all in a wheelchair.
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.