London has worst unemployment gap for disabled people

By Joe Talora, Local Democracy Reporter

People with disabilities in London are more than twice as likely to be unemployed as those without, experts have warned.

The significant unemployment gap for people with learning difficulties is being driven by social exclusion, segregated educational settings and a lack of support.

Research from City Hall has found that segregated educational settings and a lack of support in mainstream schools leads to fewer qualifications, unemployment and low wages for those with special educational needs or disabilities – resulting in a lifetime of poverty.

City Hall figures from 2018 found that a third of disabled children with special educational needs in London were taught at specialist schools, while findings from Trust for London revealed that 70 per cent of students with special educational needs in the capital lack a Grade C or above in GCSE English and maths.

Michelle Daley, chief executive of the Alliance for Inclusive Education (ALLFIE), has said that segregation of disabled children in schools is one of the key things that “reduces people’s opportunities”.

She said: “Disabled people – particularly people with learning difficulties and people who require adjustments in the workplace – are much more likely to be out of work, to be managed out of work, to experience bullying and exclusion from social events.

“Additionally, there are limited opportunities for career development and moving into higher positions. Disabled people from black, minoritised and marginalised communities are more likely to experience further oppression.”

Children with learning difficulties are also more likely to be excluded from mainstream schools compared to their peers, leading to worse outcomes for their education.

Pictured Top: The new City Hall at The Royal Docks (Picture: Wikimedia Commons/Matt Buck)