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Listen
Working for a change? The same as you?
Introduction
'What do you do at work?' 'I do the photocopying, the mail and answer the telephone. I have my own computer at work. A job coach trained me. I work 10-4 Monday to Friday. I get picked up in a taxi at 9.30 and then taken home at night.' 'What did you do before you got your job?' 'I went to a day centre.' 'Do you enjoy your job?' 'Yes but I'm looking forward to moving offices'. 'What would be your ideal job?' 'I like my job now. I like being busy. I would like to do more typing, and I like different things ...' 'What do you do with your wages?' 'I bought a computer - I pay a bit at a time for it. I make cards on my computer. I am going on holiday in May and for a fortnight in September. I am going to Spain but I have been to Greece before.' Focus group for workers with learning disabilities: January 2003. |
Having a job is one of the most basic measures that indicates a person is likely to feel included in society.
The same as you? Recommendation 16 says:
'Local authorities need to give much greater priority to developing a range of employment opportunities for people with learning disabilities. And, with health boards, those authorities should lead by example in employing more people with learning disabilities.'
This report draws together experience and evidence to analyse the barriers to employment for people with a learning disability and makes recommendations for a joint strategic approach to tackle these barriers in Scotland.
This report is focused on employment - proper paid work doing a job that needs doing, with equal rights and the same pay as other workers doing the same job. Voluntary work can be a valuable alternative, but people with learning disabilities often get exploited because people confuse real work, work placements undertaken as part of training, and voluntary work.
The idea of supported employment as we use it in this report is described in Appendix 1. Other key terms are included in the Glossary in
Appendix 2.
One of the key elements of this report is highlighting the role played by dozens of supported employment agencies in Scotland who already use their expertise to nurture, create, and sustain the link between people with learning disabilities and the workplace. It is this practical work, already benefiting hundreds of people with learning disabilities in Scotland, that helps us know that the 'range of employment opportunities' looked for in
The same as you? is achievable. The breadth of experience, tenacity and flair used in supported employment projects in all areas of the country gives us real cause for optimism.
Methodology
In compiling the report the employment sub-group have drawn extensively on published literature to assess how entrenched the problem is and to identify the right questions to be asking.
We conducted two types of original research. Firstly, we developed employment- focused e-questionnaires (
Appendix 3) for every Partnership in Practice (PIP) co-ordinator in Scotland.
We then conducted five focus groups of people with learning disabilities and of family members, focusing on real life experiences of employment, seeking employment, and alternatives to employment.
Finally we used the rich experience and expertise of the Employment short-life working group members (
Appendix 4).
This report was approved by the National Implementation Group for
The same as you? on 22 August 2003.
Many recommendations in the report may be adapted for other groups who face major difficulties in becoming employed, for example people with mental health problems or people with physical disabilities. There are common issues facing many disadvantaged groups. But there are also issues that specifically and disproportionately affect the employment prospects of people with learning disabilities. Our recommendations aim to clearly and specifically address these.
We would like to thank everyone involved for their thoughtful contributions to this report. All names used in case studies and focus groups have been changed to maintain confidentiality.
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