Inclusion Daily Express -- Report: Brits With Disabilities Hit Hard By Poverty

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Report: Brits With Disabilities Hit Hard By Poverty
By Dave Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express
January 8, 2008

LONDON, ENGLAND--Poverty is a real and growing problem for millions of people with disabilities in the United Kingdom, according to a report released Tuesday by the advocacy and support charity Leonard Cheshire Disability.

The report showed that more than half of all people with disabilities in the UK -- up to 5.5 million -- live in poverty. At the same time, the day-to-day cost of living is about 25 percent higher than for people without disabilities, because of expenses for such things as mobility devices, transportation and personal care.

The report also showed that such people are more likely to live below the poverty line than they were 10 years ago.

One obstacle to getting out of poverty is low employment. About 50 percent of people with disabilities are without work, and those who are employed are much more likely to be in low paying jobs. The researchers blame discrimination in education, which has left many people without the qualifications they need to compete for higher paying jobs.

The report recommends that the government start measuring poverty in the disability community separately from the rest of the population, and begin developing and implementing specific plans to deal with the issue.

Related:
"Disability Poverty in the U.K." (Leonard Cheshire Disability)
http://www.lcdisability.org/?lid=6386
"Disabled poverty 'hits millions'" (BBC)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7175350.stm

Copyright © 2008 Inonit Publishing
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