Educational and Employment Experiences of People with a Disability in Ireland: An Analysis of the National Disability Survey
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The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has recently carried out research analysing the micro-data on education and employment from the National Disability Survey 2006. The research study was funded by the National Disability Authority and the following is an overview of some of the findings:
- There is low employment among people with intellectual disabilities, which is linked to low levels of education.
- 17 per cent of people with disabilities missed some time in school because of their disability and 15 per cent left school sooner than they would have liked.
- 70% of working-age adults with a disability acquired their disability in adult life, with 30% affected from birth or childhood.
- Most working-age people with a disability have worked in the past (56 per cent) or are currently working (29 per cent).
- The highest proportion who have never had a job or who have left a job because of a disability is among those with poor health, low stamina, or mental health difficulties.
The report highlights a number of policy areas and a number of areas where improvements can be made to assist people with a disability. These include:
- Helping people complete their education.
- Provision of lifelong learning opportunities geared to the needs of people with intellectual or learning disability.
- Helping people whose disability emerges after their working life has already begun to stay in employment.
- Income supplementation to compensate for the extra costs of services and aids needed by people with a disability and to compensate for the reduced earning capacity linked to low levels of education or to the need for reduced working hours.
To download a non-technical summary of the ESRI Report click here.
