1. Supported employment and the National Disability Strategy
Eithne Fitzgerald
Head of Policy and Public Affairs
National Disability Authority

2. Outline Facts and figures National Disability Strategy
Promoting partnership

3. Low participation in work
A third of people with disabilities have a job v. three quarters of others (Census 2006)
60% of people with disabilities not working are restricted in type or amount of work they can do
Raising employment rates will mean more emphasis on supporting people to get and to keep work

4. Employment and disability Census 2006

5. Highest level of education achieved Age 24 who have completed education (Census 2006)

6. Employment rates, disabled and other men by education level (age 25-34; Census 2002)

7. Difficulty in types or amount of work people with long-term illness or disability QNHS 2002

8. National Disability Strategy Employment and disability commitments
Develop a comprehensive employment strategy for people with disabilities
Numerical targets for increased employment
Develop and enhance FÁS supported employment programme
Cross-departmental co-operation across Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Health; Social and Family Affairs
Specific commitments to enhance supported employment; to bridge between HSE and mainstream training; systematic process of engagement with people with disabilities to establish employment aspirations
3% target mandatory under Part 5 Disability Act

9. National Disability Strategy Targets Employment and disability
Sectoral Plan
7,000 more in work by 2010
National Development Plan
participation in education, training and employment up 50%
proportion at work up from 37% to 45% (QNHS)

10. Comprehensive employment strategy NDA report - Key pillars
Make work pay, remove benefit traps
Equip pwd to compete in labour market now and future
Enlist public and private sector employers
Prevent flow into inactivity
School leavers
People acquiring a disability
Systematic process of engagement
Comprehensive across individuals and levels of ability

11. Supported employment Almost 4% of workers with a disability
Two separate state-funded arrangements
FÁS scheme
In principle 18+ hours a week
c. 900 in work; 1,100 in job assessment/job search phases
HSE-funded supported employment
Less than 18 hours a week
c.1,000 receiving HSE or service provider job coach support

12. Joined-up thinking HSE review of Adult Day Services
Decline in sheltered workshop nos. – opportunity for alternative forms of employment support
Review of ETE Supported Employment programme
Earnings disregard of 50% over €120 a week
Social Welfare developments
Commitment in Government programme on medical card continuation
Importance of dovetailing changes in HSE, ETE and social welfare
Less rigid conditions for FÁS support may allow more opportunities under FÁS rather than HSE umbrella

13. Part 5 Disability Act Legal obligations on public bodies to
Promote and support employment of people with disabilities
Achieve 3% target of employees with a disability
People with ID under-represented in the public service relative to other employments
Good models of partnership with local disability services and supported employment consortia could be built on
Small bodies that find it hardest to reach 3% could use supported employment work experience placements

14. Conclusion Lots happening in employment/disability policy
Opportunity for partnerships and joined-up thinking
Supported employment partnerships with both public and private sectors