Disability, Work and Poverty

Vunderground

I would like to make two points.

Firstly as the parties issue their job creation initiatives there is no mention at all of this sector. Nobody cares to acknowledge that 41% of 18-64 year olds with disabilities are at work compared with 71% of other in the same age group. This should be addressed in the parties primary documents not in a ghettoised way which only confirms the view that political parties do not see the need for these people to be integrated into society in every way. This is more than mere optics; it demonstrates the way society thinks of these people as being 'different'. It is important that we understand that the person comes first not the disability and act accordingly.

Secondly the rate of Disability Allowance is the same as that of Job Seekers. This is fundamentally unfair as the former can be in and out of work and can accrue assets and savings while a significant number of people with disabilities cannot do this.

So, on one hand people with disabilities are not included in mainstream job creation initiatives and are then penalised for not working by significant cuts in their benefits leaving 38% of working age adults who are unable to work due to illness/disability at risk of poverty.

That's a lot of people! People who are certain to become even more marginalised and impoverished in the coming years if action is not taken now.
This is a very important election and it is morally incumbent on those who want our votes to address these issues or misery for thousands will certainly ensue.

Buceph

I think a big area that needs looking at is what's available for people with disabilities who have degrees and higher. The universities and ITs have been quite forward in working with people with disabilities and helping them get into and through third level education. Once they've graduated though, there's very little for them after that.

I think there's only one agency in Dublin that deals with graduate employment and they don't really operate on a national level. And then there's just Fás and the universities themselves.

Vunderground

Another statistic:

17% of people with disabilities aged 25-29 years attained a third level educational qualification versus 29% of other in the same age category.