Including People with Disabilities in The Labour Market: The Nuts and Bolts of The UK Disability Legislation and Policies (UK Report)

Abstract

This article considers disability issues in the UK looking at the legal framework, policy considerations and some aspects of their implementation in the higher education -namely at the University of York-. It argues that the recent legislation, the EqA 2010, is disappointing, since it only provides for the minor improvements in the situation of disabled people. The current legislation focuses excessively on the impairment rather than on the removal of barriers, and the definition is still rigorously constructed around the medical model of disability. In contrast, the UK policies seem to make a significant inroad into employment practices. The article also considers quite promising proposals of the Coalition Government proposing changes in the career patterns of people with disability. Lastly, this article looks at some measures and strategies employed by the University of York that place it at the top of the league table regarding its treatment of people with disabilities.