As a person who has been blind-deaf all my life, I am astounded yet unsurprised by the treatment that is metered out by government departments such as the DWP and similar. I have had a profound experience with the DWP and disability work programs. As you may have read on our web page, I've had experience both positively and negatively with Possibilities, and I've been on Henshaw's skill step course. I’ve also had a vast amount of voluntary experience in the voluntary work arena. I had a bad accident in a voluntary placement, which instead of seeing a glass half empty approach, I now see as a glass half full approach. It has made me stronger and more determined.
I've been having a chat with many of my severely sight impaired (SSI) and blind-deaf friends, many of whom have other physical and-or mental health challenges. One woman who gave her opinion on how societal beliefs and employment beliefs have changed towards people with unique abilities, argues that in voluntary roles today, "You need at least 1 reference from an employer," which is all well and good, though we know that if you have unique abilities, securing employment can be very tough anyway.
I listen regularly to RNIB connect radio, which features Mat Stringer, the CEO of RNIB. One of the topics of discussion was the recently implemented national strategy of disability employment. Stringer believes that "Blind people will be at the bottom of the ladder. It is only the tip of the iceberg." Similarly with the disability confidence scheme which employers sign when they have disabled employees, it is only the tip of the iceberg.
Over 40 percent of disabled people are unemployed, or have never been employed, or have lost their jobs and had to retrain. This doesn't address why employers aren't employing as many disabled people as we at Ethical Recruitment Solutions, feel they should. We strongly are of the view that educating employers, and supporting disabled people, are of paramount importance. We know first-hand, that disabled people, or as we call ourselves, people with unique abilities, do overtime without question, and work hard both to prove ourselves, and to show others.
Many employers are of the misguided belief that many employers are worried about providing high ramps for wheelchairs, or specialist equipment, though the loyalty that we bring to any workforce is limitless, and we'll prove ourselves until the end.
A friend of mine who is self-employed, who is blind, a mum of 5, and who has Fibro Malaga, a chronic pain condition, and type of seizure condition, has really voiced her opinion on how the DWP treat us, disabled people, who wish to look for work, and who have tried to look for work. Her husband who is registered blind went on a work program and had a disability employment advisor. She said, "It really knocked his confidence." He now earns his own money being self-employed.
Disability Rights UK is one of the leading charities supporting us with unique abilities. Disability Rights UK want the UN to implement a National disability convention of the rights of disabled people is needed. You apparently don't have to have any qualifications, just experience, and been there/worn the T-shirt approach is welcome.
A zoom conference happened in late November. It remains to be seen if this will make any difference.
We are of the firm belief that we will change the world, bit by bit, little by little. Through our experience, education and attitudinal change is the key to success.