A lot at stake: what the next government must do

At Leonard Cheshire, we want a society in which disabled people can live, learn and work as independently as they choose. We campaign to make that a reality, but we need the next government to step up too and take these crucial steps.

Give disabled people the chance to work 

Right now, we’re witnessing an alarming waste of talent. Disabled people who want to work are often locked out of employment opportunities. Our research revealed that 73 per cent of disabled people have fallen out of work due to being disabled. This leaves a shameful gap between the employment rate of disabled people and non-disabled people. 

None of this is inevitable. We know from delivering employability support programmes how much of a difference these can make. A boost in funding for such services is needed, as well as the government reviewing its own support packages.

The next government also must make reporting on the number of disabled people employed and the disability pay gap mandatory for businesses with over 250 employees. 

This, along with giving workers access to flexible working from day one, are just some of the relatively straightforward changes that will help more disabled people thrive in employment. 

Don’t forget disabled people around the world

We are working to improve the opportunities for disabled people globally through our sector-leading work to boost access to education and employment opportunities.

This includes our DFID-funded ‘innovation to inclusion’ project. The project will help 10,000 disabled people into paid employment in Kenya and Bangladesh. The next UK government must protect our contribution to international aid. 

As Stephen Twigg, former Chair of the Commons International Development Committee said, after visiting our Girls Education Challenge programme in Kisumu, Kenya: 

‘It felt to me as if the very best of UK aid was reaching those who are often left furthest behind, and that it was also giving UK taxpayers the best value for money.’

Don’t miss the opportunities of Assistive Technology 

Assistive Technology is a game-changer. Accessible gadgets and devices can be the reason a disabled person can communicate with friends and family. They can be the difference between being able to work and not; between living independently or not.

We work very closely with technology companies and right now, these life-changing aids are entering the mainstream. The next government must capitalise on this opportunity. Assistive Technology could revolutionise our workplaces and the welfare system for disabled people. 

Don’t let disability mean poverty

Poverty in the UK is increasingly hitting the headlines. You can see this in the deeply worrying statistics on food bank usage and the UN’s recent investigation into extreme poverty. 

Within this depressing picture, disabled people are more likely to suffer economic hardship than non-disabled people, with 39 per cent of disabled adults in working-age families living in poverty. The next government must review the welfare system root-and-branch if it wants to change this. This must include a thorough review of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment criteria as a matter of urgency. 

Disabled people and those with long term health conditions need to be part of this process. This will ensure new assessments are fair and truly reflect the extra costs disabled people face. We would also want to see the government bring back disability-specific elements to welfare payments. These are just some of the changes needed. Above all, disabled people must be a part of this redesign process from the beginning.

Create a social care service to be proud of

The system is on the brink of collapse. We know that over half of disabled people are not receiving the care they need and the cuts keep coming. More than quarter of disabled 18-64 year olds in England who rely on council funding have seen their care packages slashed in the last year. But we also know that the sector can change. 

We have already seen the massive reduction in 15-minute social care visits, following our campaigning in this area. The new government must now act swiftly and decisively to create a system that is fit for purpose. It needs to provide accessible, affordable social care support. This will ensure that disabled people can go about their everyday lives with dignity and independence. 

Among the big changes we’d like to see is for care to be free at the point of need. Like the NHS, the cost of this should sit across the whole population. 

Make transport work for everyone

Public transport is not working for disabled people, and the importance of this should not be underestimated. Inclusive transport is often the crucial link that allows disabled people to play a fuller role in society, be that through work, a social life or having a stronger presence in local and wider communities. 

We know that right now transport is a barrier to opportunities for disabled people. Our research showed that disabled people cannot use over 40 per cent of Great Britain’s train stations. Everyone should be able to get to work and visit their friends and family as they choose.