INTERNSHIPS for disabled people will be offered at Holyrood as part of efforts to overcome barriers to employment.
Scots without disabilities are twice as likely to have jobs than those with physical or other conditions, with the employment rates 81.5 per cent and 40.9 per cent respectively.
The Scottish Government aims to halve this and the internship programme will begin in September as part of 120 work placements on offer across the public sector, charities and voluntary organisations.
This will be followed by a major congress on disability, employment and the workplace in December.
Announcing the measures, Social Security Minister Jeane Freeman said a new campaign would begin next month to raise awareness among small- and medium-sized businesses of the benefits of hiring more disabled people.
Meanwhile, a review of the Access to Elected Office Fund, which helps disabled candidates fight elections, will also look at extending this to those who wish to undertake other forms of public service. Currently the fund provides financial support to help disabled people overcome extra difficulties they may face in accessing elected office – such as transport costs – with 39 candidates supported in the recent local government elections and 15 elected as councillors.
Freeman said: “Time and again I hear from disabled people across the country about how they want to contribute and play their part in society. Part of this is having meaningful employment.
“While businesses have a vital role to play in this, it is also up to the Scottish Government and the public sector to lead by example.”
The Scottish Trades Union Congress welcomed the news and Tressa Burke, chief executive of the Glasgow Disability Alliance (GDA), said: “Disability and disadvantage are still intricately linked in Scotland today. Seventy per cent of GDA members live in the four most deprived areas of Scotland. Over half live within the top 20 per cent most deprived areas in Scotland.
“Hundreds of GDA members have taken part in feeding into the Scottish Government’s Disability Delivery Plan to contribute their lived experiences and expertise on what needs to change to make the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities a reality.”
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