Many people with Down’s syndrome thrive in the workforce, so a new push to help them get there is welcome, says Callum Mackinnon. Government minister Lord Freud last month commented that people with disabilities were not worth the minimum wage. While the Westminster welfare minister apologised within 24 hours, his comments do reflect the difficulties many people with Down’s syndrome in Scotland have in finding sustainable, salaried work. The modern apprenticeship scheme in Scotland is, in theory, open to anyone aged 16 or over. Yet despite the demonstrative difficulties people with Down’s syndrome have in finding work, and the obvious benefits such a scheme would offer to them, people with disabilities make up a mere 0.3 per cent of those in apprenticeships. This figure certainly highlights the perception of the capabilities of people with disabilities and their place (or lack thereof) in society. Down’s Syndrome Scotland (DSS) works with a lot of individuals who have seen the harshness of this reality. It is not unusual for people with the condition to work in short-term placements or voluntary positions. Nevertheless, despite contributing to the successful running of businesses, permanent positions are much harder to secure. Feedback from DSS members indicates that job descriptions are simply too inflexible to take learning disabilities into account in the long term. This puts a glass ceiling on both opportunities and personal development. It is, however, encouraging to see the Scottish Government are making some headway in this area.
Posted on: Thu, 11 Dec 2014 17:46:00 +0000
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