Written evidence from Name Withheld (DEG0060)

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 getting into 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 to get into work?

I've recently lost my job due to the pandemic and I have really struggled with looking for work. I don't drive and I have quite specific experience so this really limits me to what I can do. Universal Credit has saved me really because I don't have the mental energy to keep applying for jobs. The application process for many jobs takes so long and is so involved for what are essentially entry level positions. I also keep being rejected by computers for retail jobs before anyone has even seen my CV. Apparently my personality isn't a good fit or something. I understand why everything works like this but I just feel that people like me are at a huge disadvantage, yet we have a lot to offer and we aren't being given a chance. I'm not entirely sure what the solution is. Perhaps our work coach could act somewhat like an agent to help us get a foot in the door.

Looking to the future, what does the Government need to improve on to help disabled people get into, stay and progress in work?

Possibly a scheme similar to the apprenticeship scheme to help disabled people gain work experience and to help workplaces offer adjustments.

Personally I think the way recruitment works should be overhauled. however, as I said previously I do not know what the solution would be because, especially now, there are going to be so many applicants that a way to narrow down the candidates is vital. 

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.

December 2020