Wide gap between government rhetoric on disability and the reality, says TUC

 There is a huge gap in the rhetoric the government uses on disability and the reality of how its policies impact on opportunities for disabled people, says the TUC.

 In its submission to the Office for Disability Issues consultation on its three-year strategy on disability, the TUC argues that for disabled people who are able to work, paid, decent, secure and safe employment is the best route out of poverty and is an important step towards social inclusion.

 However, while the government says that disabled people need to do more to get into work and off benefits, its current policies are reducing the employment opportunities available to disabled people, says the TUC. The submission points out that ministers are making it even harder for disabled people to find a job – at a time when there are already far too few vacancies to provide the necessary opportunities for everyone looking for work.

 Spending cuts are threatening the employment rate for disabled people and as disabled people have disproportionately found jobs in the public sector, the TUC believes the impact of massive job losses there will be felt most keenly by disabled people.