Written evidence from the Association of Disabled Professionals (DEG0136)

Response to the Work and Pensions Enquiry – Disabled Employment Gap   

The Association of Disabled Professionals (ADP) has been providing a peer support service for disabled professionals and others since 1971.  It is one of the only national organisation where disabled people and people with long term health conditions can seek advice on employment training and vocational rehabilitation issues, as well as on issues associated with self-employment and entrepreneurship. Moreover, all of our Executive Committee and volunteers are disabled people. 

Due to the lack of time, we respond as follows:

1) Providing support is a complex issue. 

With the development of the internet and having found out more about our clients needs and adjustments we have provided information via Skype, text, facetime, and email. Perhaps these methods could be used as another source of contact on review. Support is tailored to the client. There is never a one fits all scenario in advising disabled people and many others.     

Reasonable adjustments.

The equality act says employers are required to consider reasonable adjustments but it does not compel them to implement. Unfortunately, In ADP’s experience,  a minority of employers do not implement.  

Access to work AtW.

Access to work is a very good scheme enabling Disabled people to work. Unfortunately, AtW support is very mixed.  Sometimes the response depends on the staff’s understanding of the AtW guidelines. The guidelines can be found on the GOVUK website.  ADP has had clients who have impairments that are not changing losing AtW on review of a claim and then wins on mandatory reconciliation (MR). Some clients lose on MR so frustratingly, they apply again and get an award. One client had to close their business because AtW refused to renew the award.           

Monitoring the Disabled Employment Gap.

As the largest cohort of disabled people are employed by the Private/Public sectors ADP would suggest the DWP holds the portfolio for the monitoring the gap.  If there is a requirement by the national audit office to have an independent government department monitoring the employment gap then perhaps the cabinet office or the treasury may be considered.   Finally, research has just begun into ‘why are many disabled people managed out of work each year’ led by Dr Sarabajaya Kumar and Dr Colin Provost of the University of London. It is anticipated the research will be published in late 2021 /early 2022.

December 2020