The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced a new initiative aimed at increasing employment opportunities for people with invisible disabilities, such as fibromyalgia, ADHD, and other long-term health conditions. According to Express.co.uk, the plan is part of the Get Britain Working White Paper, which seeks to reduce economic inactivity and improve job accessibility for those with disabilities.
Government’s Push for Higher Employment Rates
DWP Minister Alison McGovern emphasized that the initiative is backed by £240 million in investment and aims to help more disabled individuals secure sustainable employment. She explained that the government’s long-term target is to achieve an 80% employment rate, ensuring that more people with disabilities have access to suitable job opportunities.
“Backed by £240m investment, the Get Britain Working White Paper launched on 26 November will drive forward approaches to tackling economic inactivity and work toward the long-term ambition of an 80% employment rate,” she stated.
Expanding Support for Neurodiverse and Disabled Individuals
The government has pledged to build on the findings of the Buckland Review of Autism Employment, expanding its focus to all forms of neurodiversity in the workplace. McGovern stressed the importance of tailoring support to individual needs and ensuring access to specialist services that integrate employment and healthcare systems.
“As a Government, we want to support all forms of neurodiversity in the workplace, and we are looking to build on the findings of the Buckland Review of Autism Employment by gathering expert evidence in line with this expanded focus,” she said.
She also highlighted the importance of employment for overall health and wellbeing, adding:
“Appropriate work is generally good for health and wellbeing, so we want everyone to get work and get on in work, whoever they are and wherever they live.”
Key Initiatives to Help People Enter and Stay in Work
To ensure individuals receive the right support at the right time, the government is introducing a range of specialist initiatives designed to help people with disabilities stay in work and re-enter employment.
“Disabled people and people with health conditions, including those with fibromyalgia, ADHD, and other invisible conditions, are a diverse group, so access to the right work and health support, in the right place, at the right time, is key,” McGovern explained.
The government has outlined several key measures to improve access to employment, including:
- Work Coaches and Disability Employment Advisers in Jobcentres to offer personalized career support.
- Access to Work grants, which provide financial assistance for workplace adjustments, transport, and mental health support.
- Employment Advisors in NHS Talking Therapies, integrating mental health and job support for those struggling with workplace stress or health-related employment barriers.
- Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care, which connects employment services with healthcare providers to deliver holistic support.
“We therefore have a range of specialist initiatives to support individuals to stay in work and get back into work, including those that join up employment and health systems,” McGovern added.
With these measures, the government aims to reduce the barriers that prevent people with disabilities from securing stable employment, ensuring they receive the right resources to succeed in the workforce.
