This will be followed next year by a further paper, setting out the delivery plan in more detail.
Paul Farmer, Chair of the Disability Charities Consortium*, which is formed of seven of the UK's leading disability charities including Mencap, said:
Disabled people want to work, but face huge challenges finding and keeping jobs. Barriers such as negative attitudes from recruiters and employers and a lack of workplace flexibility, make the labour market a daunting place.
Today's proposals are welcome, especially a recognition of the importance of mental health, and it's right that the Government
The Government are the people who run the country. The Government decide how much tax people should pay and how things like the National Health Service (NHS) should work. recognises the importance of employment
Employment means having a job. in disabled people's lives. But the scale of the challenges disabled people face requires a step change that goes beyond these recommendations.
Twice as many young disabled people are not in employment, education
Education is when you learn things. When you fill in a form to get a job, education means you write where you went to school, college or university. or training as their peers, and half of disabled people aren't employed. We need clarity on the future of Work Choice and the Work Programme. And we need to ensure disabled people can be supported to find work, earn a decent wage
A wage is the money you get for doing a paid job. , and live more independent lives.
Our experience shows that a personalised approach is needed, both for disabled job seekers and potential employers.
The Government Paper can be found at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-disability-and-health-employment-strategy-the-discussion-so-far.
* The Disability Charities Consortium (DCC) is formed of seven leading disability charities: Mencap, Scope, Leonard Cheshire Disability, Mind, RADAR, RNIB and Action on Hearing Loss.