EMPLOYERS SHOULD SEE CHANGE TO DISABILITY LAWS AS OPPORTUNITY NOT THREAT

1.08.17pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 16th Sep 2005

Speaking today at the Partnership Board for Physical, Sensory, Cognitive Disabilities, HIV/AIDS (SW Surrey) Sue Doughty, former MP for Guildford said:

"This is good news. Disabled employees want to work well, and are loyal to their employers. Now that the Government, through Job Centre Plus, is prepared to help with making the adjustments that are needed, businesses should be looking more widely when recruiting." The new legislation means that not only all employers should play their part, but public bodies should have policies to include people with disabilities. Sue added "I'm really pleased that people with cancer, multiple sclerosis and HIV are included from the point at which they are diagnosed. Bosses haven't been sure how to deal with progressive illness and the law has really improved the situation for these people."

Although 6.9m people of working age are disabled. This is nearly a fifth of the working population. But half of them are out of work and those who are working earn on average less than half that of non-disabled people. But Sue had some concerns about the new law. She said:

"I am very aware that the Government needs to help more. For example, deaf people may need the help of an interpreter, but the Government has not done enough to get more people into training. While employers and other bodies want to do more, we need to ensure that they are able to obtain the help they need to ensure that people get the training they need and the understanding of the job. We also need to do very much more to educate people in the work place about mental illness and get rid of some of the terrible myths that go round. Without this we will still be excluding people who have lots to contribute, and are being wronged. Get this right, treat staff and customers well, and increased inclusion can also mean increased profits!"