Only 17% of disabled people are born with a disability. The Department of Work and Pensions estimated in 2004 that there were approximately 9.8 million disabled people in Britain.

Most people who develop a disability do so during their working lives. Positive, proactive employers will therefore:

• Employ disabled persons in jobs suited to their aptitudes, abilities and qualifications whenever practicable.
  
• Endeavour to continue the employment of those who become disabled whilst in employment either by restructuring the employee's own job - retraining and/or rehabilitation if necessary - or by altering hours, shift-patterns etc.
  
• Provide disabled employees with the same opportunities for promotion, career development and training as those afforded to other employees.
  
• Make full use of the special services offered by Jobcentre Plus.
  
• Consider the needs of staff with disabilities when planning their training and development programs.

Good Practice

• Get to know your workforce.
  
• Develop an equal opportunities policy that includes disability and communicate this to your employees.
  
• On an annual basis survey employees to monitor their needs and evaluate whether you could be doing more to meet them.

Norton Park, 57 Albion Road, Edinburgh, EH7 5QY, Scotland
Tel. 0131 475 2369
Fax 0131 475 2379
Contact: enquiries@intowork.org.uk

Intowork is a company Limited by Guarantee (Registered in Scotland No. SC181737), and is a recognised Scottish Charity (Scottish Charity No. SC028327)