The employment landscape and the role of supported employment

Paper to EUSE conference 12 June 2013

Eithne Fitzgerald

Head of Policy and Research

The National Disability Authority

is the independent state body providing expert advice on disability policy and practice to Government, and promoting Universal Design in Ireland

UN Convention on DisabilityArticle 27

• Right to work, on an equal basis with others

• Effective access to vocational guidance, placement, and training

• Promote employment through affirmative action and other measures

• Provide reasonable accommodation at work

• Promote work experience in open labour market

Low participation in work

• People with disabilities are only half as likely to have a job

• Strong link between education and employment

• Strong link between no job and poverty

• 60% of people with disabilities not working are restricted in type or amount of work they can do

• But 15% of those who have difficulty working are in a job

Irish employment rate compared to others(World Report on Disability 2011)

36

44

35

47.5

75 74

0

20

40

60

80

51 countries OECD Ireland 2006

%

Employment rates 2011aged 20 to 64

66%

33% 34%

43%

18% 17%23% 23%

32%

14%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

No disab Pwd Blind Deaf Physical ID Learning M Health Ill Difficultyworking

% pwd employed by difficulty in working QNHS 2002

53.6

20.1

27.8

17.418.7

62.4

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

working not working

no restr

some rest

high restr

Review of Adult Day Services From services to supportsSupport for

– Making choices– Transitions and progression– Inclusion in your community– Accessing education and learning– Maximising independence– Personal and social development– Health and well-being– Vocational training and work opportunities– Personal expression and creativity– Meaningful social roles– Influencing service policy and practice

People with ID + learning disability of working age 18-64, National Disability Survey 2006

12,000

7,000

12,000

6,000

working age

ID much diff

ID mod diff

ID little diff

learning

Policy context

• International recession + high youth unemployment

• But won’t last forever

• Ireland - National Disability Strategy Implementation Plan

• Strategic goals include

– People with disabilities are enabled to reach their full potential

– People with disabilities have access to jobs

NDA learning from other countries• One size does not fit all

• ‘Place and train’ model is very suitable for people with higher support needs

• Job coaches play a crucial role

• People with significant disabilities (autism, intellectual disabilities, mental health difficulties) can be supported to make a real economic contribution

Supported employment

• Supports people to live ‘ordinary lives in ordinary places’

• Continuum of supports– Personal supports

– Job coach

– Employer support

• Supporting and enabling employers