Transcript Comprehensive employment strategy for people with disabilities

Towards a comprehensive
employment strategy for people
with disabilities
Eithne Fitzgerald
Head of Policy and Public Affairs
The National Disability Authority
is the independent state body providing
expert advice on disability policy and
practice to Government, and promoting
Universal Design in Ireland
Outline
• Some facts and figures
• What a comprehensive strategy would look like
• What’s happening, and where next
Low participation in work
• A third of people with disabilities have a job v. three
quarters of others (Census 2006)
• 60% of people with disabilities not working are restricted
in type or amount of work they can do
• Raising employment rates will mean more emphasis on
supporting people to get and to keep work
% employed by difficulty in working
QNHS 2002
70
60
62.4
53.6
50
no restr
some rest
high restr
40
30
27.8
18.7
20
20.1
17.4
10
0
working
not working
% employment rate of people with
disabilities age 20-64
by type of disability Census 2006
80
73.8
70
60
46.7
50
40
38.1
35.1
29.4
30
21.8
25.6
25.3
20
10
0
no disab
all pwd
sensory
physical
ID +
learning
M health
chr illness
memory
People with ID + learning disability
of working age 18-64, National Disability Survey 2006
6,000
12,000
7,000
12,000
working age
ID much diff
ID mod diff
ID little diff
learning
Employment rates, disabled and other men by
education level
(age 25-34; Census 2002)
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Disabled
Other
Primary
Lr sec
Upr sec
Oth 3rd
level
Degree +
Main day services, people with ID
2009
Preschool
School
Training
Mainstream
Special
268
511
1597
830
275
1,689
Sheltered work
3,644
Sheltered employment
91
Supported
employment
951
Open employment
187
Other day services
8,455
Supported employment
Almost 4% of workers with a disability
• Two separate state-funded arrangements
• FÁS scheme
– In principle 18 + hours a week
– c. 900 in work; 1,100 in job assessment/job search phases
• HSE-funded supported employment
– Less than 18 hours a week
– c.1,000 receiving HSE or service provider job coach support
Comprehensive employment
strategy for people with disabilities
• Commitment in Department’s Sectoral Plan
• Target of 7,000 more in work
• Comprehensive strategy needs to be
– Comprehensive across range of government policies and agencies
– Address supply and demand for labour
– Comprehensive across range of disability
• Cross-sectoral team meeting to draw up
• Employment Forum with range of stakeholders to advise
• 3% employment target in public service
A Strategy of Engagement
NDA report
6 Pillars
• remove disincentives and benefit traps
• enhance capacity and effectiveness of the
education, training and employment system
• employers (public and private) to implement
informed policies for recruitment and retention of
people with disabilities
... Core elements of a comprehensive
employment strategy
• devise and implement a preventative strategy:
– reduce early school-leaving among young people with disabilities
– improve retention in employment following the onset of a disability
• systematic process of engagement with people
with disabilities
Cross-cutting Issue:
• diversity of programme provision, including for
people with severe disabilities
Where are we now
Comprehensive employment strategy
• Headings for strategy
• Where for those with high support needs
• FÁS + HSE inputs
• Reorganisation of Depts
– Education and Skills
– Social protection + FÁS activation
– Enterprise Jobs and Innovation
• Adult Day Services review
Review of Adult Day Services
From services to supports
Support for
– Making choices
– Transitions and progression
– Inclusion in your community
– Accessing education and learning
– Maximising independence
– Personal and social development
– Health and well-being
– Vocational training and work opportunities
– Personal expression and creativity
– Meaningful social roles
– Influencing service policy and practice
Where next?
• National Disability Strategy Implementation Plan
• Employment Strategy will be a key element
• NDA seminars to guide next steps
– What works well
– What is critical to success
– How do you create a joined-up approach