Press Release

January 2006

United Response calls for better support for disabled people and employers

National disability charity United Response has called for better support for disabled people and employers in its response to the government’s green paper on welfare reform.

“We welcome many of the government’s proposals, including the national roll-out of the Pathways to Work programme, as a step towards giving people greater access to employment.

“But we feel that some of the biggest barriers continue to be insufficient tailored support for people who want to work and the hesitancy of employers to recruit.

“Some may be nervous about employing someone with a disability. They may be worried about how to deliver training or wonder if the person is up to the job.

“We have found that the answers lie in working with the individual, rather than adopting a one-size-fits-all approach.

“Employers also need support to adapt to change. The support needs to be consistent, sufficiently resourced and more often than not, practical.

“In our experience, it’s the person we have supported into the role who changes attitudes. Once someone is given the opportunity to try out a job (employers have told us) they sell themselves.”

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Notes to Editors:

United Response is a national charity supporting over 1,500 people with learning disabilities or mental health needs across England. Its builds its care and support around each person, providing everything from 24-hour care to helping someone living in his or her own flat to get a job.