Policy Press

Disabled people and employment

A review of research and development work

By Helen Barnes, Patricia Thornton and Sue Maynard Campbell

This review of research and development initiatives intended to help disabled people get (or stay in) work, takes views of disabled people as a yardstick by which to assess good practice. It pinpoints gaps in existing research, and highlights the varying requirements of disabled people, employers and service providers as users of research.

Disabled people and employment is a review of research and development initiatives intended to help disabled people get or stay in work, which takes the views of disabled people themselves as a yardstick by which to assess good practice. Drawing on broad-based consultation, it pinpoints gaps in existing research, and highlights the varying requirements of disabled people, employers and service providers as users of research. It also identifies a need for the wide variety of development initiatives which exist to be more effectively targeted, more systematically evaluated, and brought to the attention of a much wider audience.

The report is divided into three main parts. The first part explains why the review was carried out and what it covers; the second part considers research to date and existing research and development initiatives; and the final part draws together the themes and evaluates the prospects for future research and development in the areas identified as a priority by disabled people themselves.

This report is essential reading for employers, policy makers, service providers, and everyone concerned with getting more disabled people into work.

Contents: Introduction; Part One: Setting the scene: About the review; The review in context; Disabled people and the labour market; Part Two: Getting work and staying in work: Preparing for work; Finding and applying for jobs; Being at work; Becoming disabled in work; Part Three: Future research and development: A changing agenda.