Suchergebnisse

This paper describes some of the policy changes that have taken place during the last ten years in the United Kingdom with regard to disability and employment. The first part of the paper begins with an account of major changes in the vocational rehabilitation services provided by the government. More recent changes arising from the 'New Deal for Disabled People' are also described, together with those affecting training and supported employment. The Disability Discrimination Act is then outlined and, finally, some significant social security benefits for disabled people are considered. The second part of the paper attempts to analyse the values underlying these policy changes. The Consultative Document, which proposes changes in the vocational rehabilitation service, is examined, and this is followed by an analysis of a Social Security Green Paper, and a series of newspaper articles discussing the New Deal. The third part considers other influences on policy, such as the ongoing changes in perceptions of and social responses to disability, including the influence of the 'social model' of disability, (party) political influences and the influence of European Union policy and practice in other European countries. The final part offers a brief look at how UK policy is likely to change in the next few years.