A 100,000 strong petition has prompted members of the select committee on work and pensions into calling the Secretary of State Iain Duncan Smith in for questioning on December 9th over his officials and advisors role in the negative representation of disabled people in the media.
Liz Sayce, chief executive officer of Disability Rights UK welcomed the news and the work of those who had organised the petition. Liz Sayce said, ““We call on Government Ministers to change the whole way we as disabled people are described in public debate and in the media. Today we launch a report on the contribution of disabled people to the new economy - and a new social media campaign, called We Do More Than You Think. The report shows that disabled people are major contributors to our society. Disabled employees contributed £9 billion to the UK economy for the last year figures were available. Disabled people are also twice as likely to be carers than non-disabled people; and make all kinds of other contributions as volunteers, entrepreneurs, inventors and employers of other people'.
35% of disabled people participate in formal volunteering and an equivalent percentage in civic participation. 3.6% of businesses have one or more disabled owner, representing roughly 10,700 companies employing 78,000 people
Disability Rights UK notes that you cannot allow disabled people to be called workshy or benefit cheats and then expect employers to think that they are great workers. The Work Programme has failed most disabled people who were formerly on health related benefits but found fit for work and the endless stories about disabled people as scroungers makes it that much more difficult for them to convince employers to take them on. Government Ministers should convey a completely different message - that fully respects disabled people.
Philip Connolly, Policy and Communications Manager of Disability Rights UK said, “in addition to all this economic activity it also ought to be acknowledged by the Government that many disabled people on benefits are committed to and working on their own self development, caring for other people and contributing to civic society whether in their neighbourhood or community. We will work with any newspapers and journalists who want to write that story.”
For further details contact Liz Sayce on ….or Philip J Connolly on 07590 929441.