As unemployment reaches its highest since 1995, Liz Sayce, RADAR's Chief Executive, argues that only an ambitious response to the challenges of the recession will stop disability equality from being another casualty.
There are those who argue that the big ambitions of the disability sector will have to be put on the back burner till after the recession. Ambitions, that is, like more people living with ill-health, injury or disability in employment, more in senior jobs with (heaven forbid) decent pay, more services that give us real control over our lives. After all, the argument goes, how can we support welfare reform policies that guide people vigorously towards non-existent jobs? And how can we expect transformation of social care and support services when we have no way as a country of affording support for the growing numbers of us living into our 80s, 90s and beyond? I disagree. I think we should keep ambition strong and keep pushing for equality and control over our lives.
Why?
Firstly because as we come out of the recession the UK will face intense and increasing economic competition from countries like China and India. The key to reasonable chances for our citizens is to be ready for the jobs of the future. The UK Commission for Employment and Skills reckons that one in 2 people will need to move up one skill/qualification level to achieve that. Of all the people with no qualifications whatever in this country, one third are disabled people. So we have to start now – raising our demands that disabled people can access jobs that offer skills and career opportunities needed in the future economy. This is in the interests of individuals and also in the interests of companies – they will be looking for all the talent they can find and, if it’s disabled talent, it would be seriously foolish (economically, quite apart from ethically) not to tap into it.
The very last thing we should do now is allow another generation to go on to long term benefits – like the millions that did so following the recessions of the 1980s and early 1990s. This is the time to argue to close the disability pay gap, to enable more disabled people to get skills ranging from apprenticeships to university degrees. It is definitely not the time to be arguing to ‘go slow’ on expectations of employment. (This does not mean there aren’t problems with the way Welfare Reform is being planned and implemented – but that is a separate issue).
So far the figures from Job Centre Plus suggest people living with IID are not leaving the workforce through redundancy any faster than other groups – which is encouraging. But we need to watch whether those who do lose their jobs are staying out of work longer. That would be a danger sign of a new lost generation of people living long-term without employment, a role in life or a decent income.
Secondly, there are some current opportunities worth seizing. The Speakers’ Conference in the House of Commons is a rarely convened committee, famous for finally getting cross-party support for votes for women in 1917. It has just issued an interim report on enabling more women, disabled people and people from bme communities to enter Parliament. The report argues that the public has lost trust in Parliament and that if the political parties send back ‘more of the same’ at the forthcoming general election public trust will stay at rock bottom. Therefore, it argues, political parties should take strong action to ensure the next Parliament is much more diverse. So – this is a good time for budding MPs living with ill-health, injury or disability to consider taking the next step in your political career. There are even rumours that the requirement that MPs stand down if they are sectioned under the Mental Health Act might be lifted. (After all, if an MP goes into hospital for heart surgery, politics goes on with cover arrangements or none and the MP returns once better. The same could apply).
The very last thing we should do now is allow another generation to go on to long term benefits – like the millions that did so following the recessions of the 1980s and early 1990s. This is the time to argue to close the disability pay gap, to enable more disabled people to get skills ranging from apprenticeships to university degrees. It is definitely not the time to be arguing to ‘go slow’ on expectations of employment. (This does not mean there aren’t problems with the way Welfare Reform is being planned and implemented – but that is a separate issue).
So far the figures from Job Centre Plus suggest people living with IID are not leaving the workforce through redundancy any faster than other groups – which is encouraging. But we need to watch whether those who do lose their jobs are staying out of work longer. That would be a danger sign of a new lost generation of people living long-term without employment, a role in life or a decent income.
Secondly, there are some current opportunities worth seizing. The Speakers’ Conference in the House of Commons is a rarely convened committee, famous for finally getting cross-party support for votes for women in 1917. It has just issued an interim report on enabling more women, disabled people and people from bme communities to enter Parliament. The report argues that the public has lost trust in Parliament and that if the political parties send back ‘more of the same’ at the forthcoming general election public trust will stay at rock bottom. Therefore, it argues, political parties should take strong action to ensure the next Parliament is much more diverse. So – this is a good time for budding MPs living with ill-health, injury or disability to consider taking the next step in your political career. There are even rumours that the requirement that MPs stand down if they are sectioned under the Mental Health Act might be lifted. (After all, if an MP goes into hospital for heart surgery, politics goes on with cover arrangements or none and the MP returns once better. The same could apply).
If politics is not your ambition, bear in mind that Government has just set a new target for public appointments: 14% of people taking up these appointments should be disabled people by 2011. If met, this could create a critical mass of disabled people able to influence the cultures of public services and the priorities of major organisations from Primary Care Trusts to national organisations focused on education, sport and more.
There seems to be, if not a wind of change blowing through the corridors of power, at least the beginning of a breeze. We should ride on it.
And finally there is the question of the future support services we need. There are, it is true, big risks that the level of national debt will mean significant service cuts; and that Government (of whatever colour) will use the language of independent living, choice and control to hand back all control to individuals and families as they reduce services to the bone. I think our response should be to propose to local and national commissioners of these services – and to local and national Government - the service models that represent the very best use of public money. For example, evidence shows that flexible support to get and keep open employment or education is a better use of public money than sheltered day centres or workshops. Simplified assessment – starting with self assessment (as in the planned Right to Control) – is a better use of money than multiple professional assessments. There are many threats to services right now – but there are also opportunities to propose cost-effective models that work best from the point of view of the people who know best, those requiring support.
I have been accused, if that is the right term, of being a ‘glass half full’ sort of person – and there are undoubtedly huge threats ahead. However, retreating into low expectations is not the approach that will win through in the longer term. We who are part of organisations led by disabled people should lead the debate on how we seize those opportunities that do exist – and how we prepare now so disabled people are positioned well for the upturn when it comes. This will not be easy, as our organisations are rocked by tough financial times. But a vision of what is possible for disabled people longer term, given the new context, is vital to get us through. RADAR is doing its bit to help that happen. We are running a leadership and empowerment programme, supporting around 100 people this year to develop their leadership journeys, as well as supporting local groups to engage successfully with local planning and development. Last year we supported 40 disabled leaders, half from black and minority ethnic communities; many have gone on to lead significant developments, from being a local Mayor to setting up the first BSL signed Islamic service in the London Mosque.
I have been accused, if that is the right term, of being a ‘glass half full’ sort of person – and there are undoubtedly huge threats ahead. However, retreating into low expectations is not the approach that will win through in the longer term. We who are part of organisations led by disabled people should lead the debate on how we seize those opportunities that do exist – and how we prepare now so disabled people are positioned well for the upturn when it comes. This will not be easy, as our organisations are rocked by tough financial times. But a vision of what is possible for disabled people longer term, given the new context, is vital to get us through. RADAR is doing its bit to help that happen. We are running a leadership and empowerment programme, supporting around 100 people this year to develop their leadership journeys, as well as supporting local groups to engage successfully with local planning and development. Last year we supported 40 disabled leaders, half from black and minority ethnic communities; many have gone on to lead significant developments, from being a local Mayor to setting up the first BSL signed Islamic service in the London Mosque.
We are also exploring what enables disabled people to progress in our employment careers. We have influenced national policy, from recent amendments to make the Right to Control genuinely based on disabled people’s rights, expertise and self assessment; to increasing the budget and flexibility of Access to Work and improving the Equality Bill (for instance, Government is now likely to prohibit pre-job offer health questions – which could significantly reduce discrimination faced by people with conditions like HIV or mental health problems). Together, with many allies, we are creating a critical mass of people living with IID in different parts of society, who are changing national and local policy, taking the lead and making things happen differently. The more people who are part of a network to make that happen, the more will be achieved.
