Forum Brief: Disability employment assistance

Maria Eagle has announced a doubling of the funds available this year to help supported employment providers update their businesses.

The minister for the disabled said: "This government is committed to removing the barriers to work that many disabled people face.

"We are making real and lasting progress through our programme of legislative reform and active employment policies."

A spokesman for the DWP told ePolitix.com: "The New Deal for Disabled People was piloted in 1998, before being established nationwide in July 2001.

"At present it has helped over 11,000 disabled people back into work. Alongside other initiatives such as Workstep, the government is helping remove the barriers to disabled people finding work.

"Workstep has helped 22,500 people back into the labour market."

Forum Response: Guide Dogs for the Blind Association

Robin Hutchinson, director of communications at Guide Dogs for the Blind, told ePolitix.com: "Guide Dogs' welcomes any moves to improve the employment opportunities for disabled people.

"Changes to the physical environment and working practices can go a long way toward removing barriers but in the end the biggest win will come in changing employers mindsets.

"The greatest challenge lies in overcoming 'institutionalised prejudice' and it may be that the opportunity presented by the increased Factory Support Grants will put a spotlight on that debate."

Forum Response: Voice UK

Kathryn Stone, director of Voice UK, told ePolitix.com: "Voice UK is particularly pleased to learn of the commitment to increasing funding to modernise the workplace for disabled people.

"It is important that physical barriers to work are removed. Perhaps more important is the need to remove the attitudinal barriers faced by many disabled people in their attempt to gain employment.

"This is a longer term goal for the government and organisations like Voice UK."

Forum Response: Shaw Trust

A spokeswoman for Shaw Trust told ePolitix.com: "This government is to be congratulated for the investment it is making in creating long term employment opportunities for disabled people. However, Workstep supports only 22,500 disabled people; there are 3.3 million disabled people of working age who are not working. Workstep exists to support those who are severely disabled and require longer term support.

"Many disabled people require only a short term intervention in order to increase their confidence and to brush up on their employment skills. The New Deal for Disabled People is the programme the government has established to do this; it is still a pilot programme and no commitment has been made for its long term future.

"We challenge the government to commit to the future of NDDP so that it can take its place alongside Workstep. Then organisations like Shaw Trust will be able to cater for the needs of all disabled people who come to us looking for support to help them find and keep a job."

Forum Response: The Disabilities Trust

Matt Townsend, spokesman for the Disabilities Trust, told ePolitix.com: "We welcome the minister's announcement of a doubling of funding for factory modernisation. Any new initiative that helps people with disabilities gain better access to the world of work is positive.

"It is crucial that opportunities are improved for talented and hard working disabled people to find employment and that barriers to them doing so whether they be physical, or due to prejudice, are broken down."