Stourbridge MP Suzanne Webb has said local disabled people should be able to have well paid jobs in accessible workplaces following a meeting with the charity Scope.
Suzanne had the Zoom call with representatives last week and discussed disability issues and how to close the disability employment and pay gaps.
In her maiden parliamentary speech, Suzanne said employers needed to be disability confident to help increase employment rates for disabled people. Across the UK there are one million disabled people who want to work, including hundreds in Stourbridge.
However, disabled people are over a third less likely to be employed than non-disabled people and they earn 20% less. This is despite government help such as Access to Work grants that can help disabled get to and from work and adapt their work environment.
“For more than ten years I worked with PHAB on its holiday programme so helping disabled people find jobs at the same pay as the non-disabled is something I have said is a priority for me as an MP,” said Suzanne.
“The pandemic has made progress in this area even more urgent as many disabled people have seen their incomes and prospects severely damaged with some employers now saying they won’t hire because they can’t give the right support during the crisis.
“This attitude must change. Disabled people want to work, they can work and they can offer a great deal to many, many employers here in Stourbridge even though many businesses still don’t know what support is available.”
Suzanne said she hoped the government would soon publish its National Disability Strategy that will address many of the issues of inequality.
She will also use her position as the Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to the Women and Equalities Minister Liz Truss to highlight the issue.
In addition, she is also attending a virtual drop-in meeting on 24th November with Scope to learn more about the role of disability in Stourbridge.
