Battling Disability and Poverty in the United Kingdom
Like in so many other countries, disability and poverty in the United Kingdom is rampant. However, because the UK is not considered a developing country, the disabled are often overlooked. About 14.6 million people in the UK are considered disabled. The Equality Act of 2010 defines disability if one has “a physical and mental impairment for a substantial and long-term negative effect on one’s ability to perform daily activities.”
Disability and Education
Of the 14.6 million people battling disability and poverty in the United Kingdom, 9% of the people are children. Children are more likely to experience bullying and exclusion from the education system.
By the end of June 2021, of the people with a disability in the UK, about 25% of them have a university degree or an equivalent. Comparatively, 42% of the non-disabled people have a degree. Disabled people are three times more likely to not have a degree.
Disability and Employment
Disabled people in the UK are less likely to get employed than non-disabled people. The employment rate for disabled people in the UK is 53%, while the employment rate of non-disabled people is 82%. The employment gap between disabled and non-disabled people is 29%.
Because the employment rate is comparatively lower for disabled people than non-disabled people, poverty for the disabled is likely. In 2014, 18% of the disabled people within the working age, 16-64, experienced food poverty. Meanwhile, disabled people above the age of 65 are twice as likely to experience food poverty.
The Disability Resource Centre
The Disability Resource Centre (DRC) is a nonprofit organization that works to help disabled people. It was established in 1992 by the Birmingham Disability Rights Group. The Birmingham Disability Rights Group is a support group for disabled people. They advocate to improve the lives of disabled people across the UK.
DRC offers a variety of services including advocacy, life skills development, employment and training opportunities, among many other services. Their mission is to give disabled people an opportunity to live out their full potential in society.
Although disability and poverty in the United Kingdom is a growing problem, organizations like the Disability Resource Centre is giving disabled people a voice and an opportunity to thrive in a hostile society.
