'Access to work' - enabling or disabling individuals with disabilities in employment: an autobiographical case study
Gill Parkinson, Educational Support and Inclusion Research and Teaching Group, University of Manchester
Abstract
'Work Matters', a Report commissioned by RNIB (2002), highlights some of the issues raised by people with visual impairments in maintaining employment, particularly when changes occur in its nature and scope.
I will present an autobiographical case study which provides evidence to support these findings within the context of academic employment. The intention is to draw attention to and provide illustrations of the flexibilities and inflexibilities of this Government support Agency and examine the case for moving to a system of individualised payments rather than coping with the rigidity of centralised agency funding mechanisms (Lord and Hutchison, 2003). The perception is that such agencies' primary concern is to place individuals with disabilities in (often short term) employment without due regard for maintenance in post. From the employees' perspective there appears to be a paucity of evaluation of support systems and payment mechanisms, which may result in inability to gain or maintain employment on a long term basis. Examples of the problematic nature of aids and equipment, travel to work and support worker mechanism are considered in this context, with a view to using such evidence as a method of informing policy, service monitoring and management.