The number of Disabled in Britain is over 9.5 million, which accounts for 18 percent of the entire population. This percentage can be broken into 45 percent male and 55 percent female. The highest number of these disabled live in the North East of England, where 22 percent of its population face some physical disability.
Living and working day to day, the disabled are sometimes forced to do so in areas or buildings with no disability access. As disability becomes more prevalent with age, every working adult has the right and need to have access to disability access help for the statistics in the number of disabled in Britain that are working adults are estimated as being nearly 1 in 5, 1 or 2 of those 5 being over the pension age. This 1 in 5 can be further compared with around the 1 in 20 children. Statistics show that only 17 percent of those adults were actually born with their disabilities.
Most disabled have to live with a disability during their working life. Furthermore, for those who are not disabled during their working life, it should be noted that with age comes an increasingly risky chance of an injury, causing lasting effects on the body. If an individual is active as a part of their daily routine and becomes disabled due to illness or injury, having to work in an area not compensating for this disability could cause further damage to an existing injury.
Less than 8 percent of the number of disabled in Britain use wheelchairs, although and although this may seem like a small number when thought of as a percentage, but the actual number makes a clear statement as to disability access needs. Around 1.2 million people in the UK need a wheelchair to help with their mobility which in turn accounts for 2 percent of the entire population of the UK itself. Many businesses are, more than ever, seeing the long term benefits to having access ramps for their customers and clients as well as employees. While not always used by a wheelchair user, access ramps for the disabled can help those with weak lift in their legs and knees feel more welcome.
While the disabled at less likely to be in employment due to the severity of their disability, the population of the number of disabled in Britain, 47 percent of the disabled currently work, despite their disabilities. This is compared to the 77 percent of non disabled people who work. 6.9 million disabled people are of the working age, representing 19 percent of the entire working population of Britain. Many of the disabled who live with work-limiting disabilities, often cannot work but want to or cannot find a job that can accommodate their disability. A third of the 60 percent of disabled working-age adults who are not in paid work say they want to work but are unable to find a job that will hire them. Employment and unemployment rates differ across the range of impairments, although those with learning disabilities were those as having the lowest rate of employment. Because of this wall that is sometimes met when a person of disability looks for work, more and more of the number of disabled in Britain face long term unemployment.
Although the statistics are that employers are helping their employees and customers to have access despite their disabilities, a large consensus among the general population is that employers could in fact to more to help create greater employment options for the disabled, while in turn aiding their career progression. Disabled adults are twice as likely as an adult without a disability to have no formal qualifications with no form of education, employment or training. While only 40,000 disabled graduate from some form of post secondary education, those who not still need to have the chance to gaining the skills they need to move forward and find a greater fulfillment in their daily lives. Thankfully the government does have advice for those that are disabled and looking for work.
To help ease the number of employment options, the ‘positive about disabled people’ is often featured on a work place’s application or advert. If the job displays this symbol, a disabled person will be guaranteed an interview. The DEA will also help find employers in the area while giving an ‘employment assessment’ to the disabled person so that they can present themselves in their very best so that they may get the job they are hunting for.
The number of disabled in Britain may just be a statistic, but it is an every growing one that needs to be considered as the disabled still should be given the same chances and opportunities as a person without.