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Blunkett's welfare plans must not ignore people with learning disabilities, says the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities
Oct 11, 2005, 00:44, Reviewed by: Dr.
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"We welcome this first step but people with learning disabilities must not be forgotten. There are currently around 800,000 people with learning disabilities of working age. Many want to work yet only 11 per cent are in paid employment. Mr Blunkett needs to ensure that Government programmes become more sensitive to their needs and more appropriate support and training is provided to help people with learning disabilities find work. Many fear that they may be worse off in a job. The transition from benefits to work needs to be further improved."
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By Mental Health Foundation, UK,
The Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities welcomes David Blunkett's principles of welfare reform but warns that people with learning disabilities must not be forgotten.
The Work and Pensions Secretary today outlined his eight principles of welfare reform to get many of the 2.7 million people currently on incapacity benefit back into work.
Hazel Morgan, Co-Director of the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities says: "We welcome this first step but people with learning disabilities must not be forgotten. There are currently around 800,000 people with learning disabilities of working age. Many want to work yet only 11 per cent are in paid employment. Mr Blunkett needs to ensure that Government programmes become more sensitive to their needs and more appropriate support and training is provided to help people with learning disabilities find work. Many fear that they may be worse off in a job. The transition from benefits to work needs to be further improved."
The Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities is publishing a report about education and employment opportunities for people with learning disabilities later this month. The charity sincerely hopes that the Government takes serious note of its findings and acts on its recommendations.
- Mental Health Foundation, UK
mhf.org.uk
The Mental Health Foundation is the leading UK charity working to improve services for both people with mental health problems and people with learning disabilities. It is the only charity to fund and work with both service users and providers and plays an important role in funding research and new approaches to prevention, treatment and care. The Foundation's work includes allocating grants for research and community projects; contributing to the public debate; educating policy makers and healthcare professionals and striving to reduce the stigma attached to mental illness.
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