Thinking differently about ‘work’ and social inclusion for disabled people

This book focuses on policies, primarily in the United Kingdom, which are designed to facilitate the participation of disabled people in wage work. The book takes a critical approach to these policies by examining three main issues. First, the way in which eligibility rules and assessment procedures increasingly mean disabled people have responsibility for their own financial support as the legitimacy of their benefit receipt is questioned. Second, the book examines policies that are supposed to support disabled people into paid work. Problems with the supply side focus of policies upon employability are highlighted, as are those associated with demand side interventions in labour markets where the fear is that disabled workers will be less productive than other workers. The market-based nature of provision to ‘support’ people into wage work is highlighted as being particularly disadvantageous to disabled people. Third, the book examines the nature of ‘work’ in the agenda to get more disabled people into paid employment. It questions the narrow definition of work and productivity that frame policies, and which pose a challenge to disabled people as they are based on norms of productive capacity to which they are often unable to conform. Alternative ways of understanding and valuing the contribution that disabled people make are considered. The book argues that the focus upon increasing the participation of disabled people in wage work is problematic for the core demands of the disabled people movement, is counter to the social model of disability and means many disabled people face an increasingly precarious financial future. This is the first book to challenge the concept of paid work for disabled people as a means to ‘independence’ and ‘self determination’. Recent attempts in many countries to increase the employment rates of disabled people have actually led to an erosion of financial support for many workless disabled people and their increasing stigmatisation as ‘scroungers’. Led by the disability movement’s concern with the employment choices faced by disabled people, this controversial book uses sociological and philosophical approaches, as well as international examples, to critically engage with possible alternatives to paid work. Essential reading for students, practitioners, activists and anyone interested in relationships between work, welfare and disability. Led by the disability movement’s concern with the employment choices faced by disabled people, this controversial book uses sociological and philosophical approaches, as well as international examples, to critically engage with possible alternatives to paid work for disabled people. Paid employment is the primary marker of social inclusion. Welfare reform is encouraging disabled people to move from reliance on welfare to income from employment. For those with qualifications and skills new opportunities are emerging. For many, however, gaining access to and staying in employment is challenging. The proportion of disabled people in mainstream employment has plateaued at a level far below that for non-disabled people. The chapter examines two alternatives to paid employment for disabled people, which can offer the benefits of work without many of the difficulties of mainstream workplaces. First, social enterprises offer flexible and accommodating conditions of employment that recognise the complex challenges of impairment. Second, volunteering and creative arts can provide many of the personal and social benefits of paid employment and, through contributing something of social value, challenge dominant assumptions about the place of disabled people in society. Alternative forms of ‘work’, whilst not addressing the financial challenges faced by many, do offer possibilities of being valued and feeling included. The chapter draws on data and research evidence from Britain and Canada.