DISABILITY CHARITIES have been failing. They have spent millions of pounds – usually government money – on work-preparation schemes designed to get disabled people into jobs. But the proportion of disabled people in employment was no greater in 2003 than it was 1983. And the situation shows no sign of improving.

Here’s how the charities’ argument goes: disabled people are under-represented in the workforce as a whole. They also have fewer qualifications than non-disabled people. So, they say, if we target vocational training schemes at disabled people, more of them will gain employment. Right?

Wrong. The training charities offer is usually low-level and often does not make the difference between getting a job or not. This approach also makes a false assumption: it identifies the problem as the disabled person who, we are told, needs to be made more employable.

“There is an even greater need for small businesses which offer disabled people employment”

But how about turning that approach around, and making employment more accessible? I’m not just talking about ramps. I’m talking about creating a supportive working environment that allows people to do work that they already have the skills to do or can pick up on the job.

Most people on incapacity benefit would like to work and are capable of doing so. True, some issues around entering employment are complex – such as managing the transition from benefits to wages – but they are not the barrier that they once were.

Businesses that provide a supportive working environment, such as my organization, Affirmative Business Ltd, have no problem recruiting disabled workers. Their problem, as small not-for-profit companies, is finding the investment to start or expand the business and create new jobs. Banks often won’t lend to small limited companies unless the directors give personal guarantees – and these are often difficult to offer.

As the government reduces its support for institutional employers of disabled people, such as Remploy, there is an even greater need for small businesses which offer disabled people employment. These social enterprises aim to be self-sufficient, but often need support to get going.

So please consider investing in social enterprises when thinking about helping disabled people. You’ll find many listed on the Social Firms UK website. Your support may have much longer lasting effect than charitable giving: you could transform lives, and you may even get a return on your money!
 

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Simon Probert is the director of Affirmative Business Ltd.

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