SHEN Conference 27 March 2012 Glasgow Centre for

SHEN Conference 27 March 2012 Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living Employment and Housing Solutions Kelly Coote & Karen Anne Doherty

What we will cover • GCIL - Who we are and what we do • Introduction to models of disability • Barriers to housing • Barriers to employment • Interactive discussion

By the end of the workshop, you will: • Know who GCIL are and what we do; • Be aware of the different models of disability; • Understand the barriers disabled people face in accessing employment and accessible housing.

GCIL – who we are and what we do • The largest user led organisation of disabled people in Scotland • Inclusive living service • Payroll service • Training service • Accessible housing service • Employment support and training

Principles of the independent living movement • That all human life is of value • Everyone is capable of making choices • Right to assert control over their own lives • Disabled people have the right to participate fully in society

INDIVIDUAL MODEL Impairment = Disability Special Transport Hospitals Benefits Agency M. E. Spina Bifida Multiple Sclerosis Person Dyslexia O. T. ’s Social Work Dept. Day centres A. I. D. S Paraplegic Hearing impairment Cerebral Palsy Stroke Arthritis Learning difficulty Mental illness Visual impairment Charities Sheltered housing G. P. ’s Physio’s Sheltered employment Special Schools Responses in Society to a person’s medical condition Grant Carson - Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living (1999)

INDIVIDUAL MODEL Impairment = Disability Depersonalises Segregates Isolates Person (ill) Static Disempowers Dehumanises Grant Carson - Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living (1999)

SOCIAL MODEL Barriers = Disability Charities: Offensive images of Disabled People Lack of Access Social Myth’s Fear / ignorance Adapted housing “Ghettoism” Over-protective families Lack of employment Person Lack of education Isolation/ Segregation Lack of financial independence Attitudes Language Labelling Lack of antidiscrimination legislation Prejudice It is the Barriers present in society that really disable people Grant Carson - Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living (1999)

SOCIAL MODEL Barriers = Disability Suggests solutions Identifies barriers Person Seeks allies Grant Carson - Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living (1999) Offers hope

Language • Disabled people • • • Non disabled people Wheelchair user Access requirements People with ‘learning disabilities’ Blind person/visually impaired person Deaf person/hearing impaired person

Housing – what are the barriers? • Limited availability of accessible or adapted housing • Complex and fragmented service with limited availability of expert advice and advocacy • Past investment in accessible/adapted housing could be better recorded/managed

Housing – what are the barriers. . . continued? • Long delays for adaptations and support • Shortage of funds for improvements and support • Lack of flexibility and choice • Too little information on options and lack of awareness of need • Lack of opportunities to move between areas – creating geographical ghettos

Housing – managing a scarce resource ? GCIL gathered information from 80 landlords, covering over 48, 117 properties in & around Glasgow Fully wheelchair 528 accessible 1. 1% Barrier free 1667 3. 4% Some adaptations 2310 4. 8% Sheltered (inc FW and BF) 2532 5. 3% Very sheltered 206 0. 4% No adaptations 40, 874 85% ?

Housing – solutions • Supply – build more accessible housing across tenures – example Glasgow city council clause in city plan for 10 per cent of accessible housing in 20 or more units. • Housing management – be able to match accessible housing to need. – Example: Scottish Accessible Housing Register will be rolled out, known as “Homes 2 Fit” • Adaptations – need to be better resourced and provided

Housing – what we do • Provide support, information and advice to disabled people and their families, and agencies involved in housing or supporting disabled people. • Provide information on housing options • Assist people to apply for social housing, buy their own house, or make adaptations.

Housing – what we do continued. . . • Signpost and refer people to suitable agencies • Manage the Scottish Accessible Housing Register, SAHR) known as Home 2 Fit.

Employment GCIL – running successful employment programmes for disabled people since 2001. • • Over 150 participants. Transition into further employment 61 per cent. Transition into further education 12. 1 per cent. Total positive outcome rate = 80. 2 per cent.

Employment programme to date • Has worked with over 500 people since 2001. • Open Door programme – based on traditional ILM model, but using supported permitted work to support people in the transition to employment • 10 per cent of applicants identified as graduates. • Professional Careers programme – supporting disabled graduates into full time sustainable careers.

Employment service in context • 1 million disabled people in Scotland • 20 per cent of working age population • Disabled people are at least twice as likely to be unemployed (some groups 4 times as likely). • Disabled people are twice as likely to have no qualification.

Barriers to Employment • The benefits trap • Stereotypes and false assumptions • Lack of education and experience • Inaccessible recruitment process • Physical accessibility of premises. • Getting to work and • Inflexible working practice

Professional Careers and Open Door “”positive action programmes designed to address the under-representation and inequalities of disabled people in employment”

Trainee benefits • Salary • Genuine work experience (50 weeks or 30 months) • Access facilitation and support • Ongoing reviews and structured mentoring • Personal development • Peer support • Access to further or higher education • Support into further employment

Benefits to employers • Access to a pool of talented, motivated and committed individuals • Disability equality training • Access audit • Ongoing support from GCIL to minimise the impact of the placement on employers resources • Partnership working with GCIL • The opportunity to address the under-representation of disabled people in the workforce

Case study – Allan Barr 33 • Graduated from Glasgow University in 1998 • Never been in paid employment until joining GCIL. • ‘lived in bedroom of parents house’ • Didn’t access services, recreation or employment. • Now on Professional Careers, working with TPAS, gained post grad diploma in Housing and working towards MPhil. • Has his own flat and care package. • Uses access to work to fund his travel to & from work