National Disability Strategy

Re this story https://www.rightsnet.org.uk/welfare-rights/news/item/government-sets-out-plans-to-make-the-world-of-work-more-inclusive-and-accessible-for-disabled-people-as-part-of-new-national-disability-strategy

‘introduce a new approach to conditionality for disabled people and people with health conditions, aiming to enable an ‘honest and open conversation’ between a person and their work coach about what they can do’

Can’t help feeling the use of the word ‘honest’ springs from a narrative that people on benefits are skivers or cheats.

Ianb - 28 July 2021 05:46 PM

Re this story https://www.rightsnet.org.uk/welfare-rights/news/item/government-sets-out-plans-to-make-the-world-of-work-more-inclusive-and-accessible-for-disabled-people-as-part-of-new-national-disability-strategy

‘introduce a new approach to conditionality for disabled people and people with health conditions, aiming to enable an ‘honest and open conversation’ between a person and their work coach about what they can do’

Can’t help feeling the use of the word ‘honest’ springs from a narrative that people on benefits are skivers or cheats.

It’s a concern given that I’ve fairly often had work coaches tell me “we wouldn’t know the claimant has a learning disability/mental health condition/is vulnerable unless they tell us”. And the apparent lack of training meaning some (many?) work coaches do not understand that people may lack insight, overstate their abilities, agree with everything that is put to them without understanding what has been said and so on.

I am sufficiently cynical to think this is more likely to end up as another claimant bashing exercise rather than a real attempt to address institutional barriers and discrimination by employers.

One of many concerns.

https://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/national-disability-strategy-outrage-over-rehashed-strategy-that-is-not-fit-for-purpose/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-58020735

Bottom line is that they won’t pay for what needs to be done so will endlessly rehash the same thing in the hope of a different outcome whilst then being utterly perplexed as the disability employment gap grows.