Background

Employment is central to the ability of persons with disabilities to maintain a decent standard of living for themselves and for their families, and is an important factor influencing their opportunities to participate fully in society[1] . Work is a defining feature of human existence and in many societies the ability to work is viewed as one of the most important ways in which people can make their individual contributions to their communities. However, despite existing national, regional and international laws, and despite the activities of international bodies and Disabled Peoples’ Organizations (DPOs), persons with disabilities throughout the world too often continue to be denied the right to work and statistics indicate that the rates of unemployment, underemployment and economic inactivity among persons with disabilities tend to be much higher than those of other workers.

Many persons with disabilities in many countries all over the world, do not have access to the same educational and training opportunities as their non-disabled peers. Youth with disabilities, for example, are frequently additionally disadvantaged in their search for work and mainstream employment because they have not had access to education or vocational training, or because teaching staff are not appropriately trained, or because appropriate facilities are not available. Lacking educational qualifications and training in marketable skills puts them at a competitive disadvantage in their search for decent jobs[2] .

There may be stereotypes that persons with disabilities are not intelligent and are slow to learn. These same stereotypes and prejudices that can contribute to exclusion from education and vocational training may also create additional barriers in terms of employment, as prejudices and stigma among many employers, co- workers and the general public aggravate an already difficult position. In addition, persons with disabilities face barriers in the form of inaccessibility of information and of the physical environment, including transportation, housing and workplaces. Employers also often assume that the costs of implementing reasonable accommodation for employees with disabilities (for example, accessibility features or flexible working schedules) are prohibitively expensive. Barriers to accessing financing can also frustrate the ability of persons with disabilities to engage in self-employment.

Discouraged by discriminatory barriers and mistaken assumptions about their capacity to work, and in some cases fearing a loss of benefits, many persons with disabilities withdraw from an active search for employment and jobs, and rely either on disability benefits in countries where these exist, or eke out a livelihood in low value-added work in the informal economy, with support from their families and community.

In many cases, persons with disabilities who are unable to support themselves become financially trapped in a poverty cycle, unable to meet even their most basic needs for food, water, clothing, and shelter, or indeed raise a family as they would wish. In some countries employment provides a means of accessing the health insurance needed to obtain health care services. Where persons with disabilities are unable to obtain employment in such countries, their access to health care services may also be restricted.

While persons with disabilities continue to face significant challenges in relation to employment, it is important to note that there have been improvements in many countries. It is essential to build on these and to maintain this positive momentum.