1. Disability Rights UK: keeping it real 21st February 2018
Philip J Connolly – Policy and Development Manager Disability Rights UK
Disability Rights UK: keeping it real
21st February 2018

2. Are we even tracking the target?
Target 1 – halving the Disability Employment Gap Target 2 – moving one million disabled people from benefits into work by 2027 Both rely on being measured by the Labour Force Survey but there has been no statistical release by the ONS of the key table AO8 since the second quarter of 2017

3. Are we even measuring the right target?
Disability disadvantage is a relative concept which is best measured by relative measures such as the disability employment gap Top line indicator of disadvantage (Black Report,2008) It measures relative employment prospects It measures the under utilisation of labour at a time of skill shortages It is the target that best captures the ambition to promote equality

4. Are we making enough progress?
Progress on closing the gap is too small – at the present rate it will take 37 years to close the gap to 16% - beyond the working life of everyone over 30 years of age To produce an economy that works for disabled people, everything must not remain equal something must change. This needs bold and innovative ideas This means focusing upon employer behaviour and organisational practice at least as much as disabled people themselves

5. Does the DWP Command Paper cut the mustard? NO
Disability Confident – the Government’s main demand side measure Possible to obtain all three levels without employing a disabled person because it measures processes not outcomes Insufficient incentives – no link to advantage in the marketplace Ignores research that voluntary scheme don’t work Launched by the Prime Minister in the summer of 2012 but never evaluated – no documented job outcomes

6. Could there be something better than disability confident? Yes
I can make a pledge
Commissioners can specify contract clauses on inclusive recruitment and retention
Businesses can compete on social value as measured by the disability employment gap e.g. could construction and engineering improve the proportion of disabled people within their workforce by 2%?
If you answered yes to one of these then come to our “Pledgeathon” at the offices of the Financial Times on March 20th and make a pledge.
DPULOs and their disabled members will help you implement it. If

7. Thank you
Contact Philip J Connolly Policy and Development Manager Disability Rights UK Telephone: Website: disabilityrightsuk.org