People with disabilities encounter significant barriers to participation in society. The powerful expression ‘Nothing About Us Without Us’ demonstrates the conviction of people with disabilities that they know what is best for them.
Thursday 3rd December is International Day of People With Disabilities, a movement whose aim is to celebrate and raise awareness of those with disabilities. The theme this year, “not all disabilities are visible”, focuses on those disabilities that are not immediately apparent, such as mental illness, chronic pain or fatigue, sight or hearing impairments, diabetes, brain injuries, neurological disorders, learning differences and cognitive dysfunctions.
People with a disability and unemployment
According to Scope, there are over 14 million people with a disability in the UK, 19% of which, over 2.5 million, are of working age. Yet data from the Disability Rights UK Labour Force Survey shows that people with a disability are more than twice as likely to be unemployed as their non-disabled counterparts.
People with a disability face higher living costs, stigma and prejudice. A report from Reed & Disability Rights UK demonstrated that whilst employers often recognise the valuable contribution those with a disability bring to the workplace, many are still reticent to employ a disabled person due to fears of raised employment costs.
A strong business case
Employing those with a disability makes good business sense. Amongst other benefits it expands your recruitment base, enhancing your ability to attract high quality applicants, and creates diversity, bringing alternative insights and skills to the workplace.
Raising awareness is key
Mental ill health as a disability in the workplace is common. Providing employees with the training and knowledge needed to support those with, and avoid, depleted mental health helps to create a safe, engaged and productive workplace; normalising the presence of mental health and ill health.
Despite best intentions, conversations around mental health can imply an idea of ‘otherness’. This is in large part due to the stigma around mental health conditions.
Educating employees and line managers regarding mental ill-health – how common it is, how we all exist on a continuum of health whether it be mental or physical, and how to support those in need – breaks down the stigma.
From disability to ability
Cordell Health is a social enterprise, committed to reinvesting profits to create positive social change. Our business is driven by a social mission, changing the employment focus from disability to ability.
Throughout our work we provide specialist advice to both employers and employees in order to support employers to sustain those with health problems and disabilities in their work, and to reduce the risk of those with disability falling out of work.
Find out how we help organisations recognise the individual needs of disabled employees and capitalise on the differences as organisational strength. Support: Moving the focus from disability to ability.
In conclusion
The more we invest in our employees – an employer’s greatest asset – the more authentic our workplaces become, creating open and understanding workplace cultures where everyone is able to thrive, bringing their best selves to work each day.
Find out more about International Day of People with Disabilities 2020.
