Workforce facts on disability

Did you know that:

• There are approximately 10 million disabled people in Great Britain who are covered by the Disability Discrimination Act. This represents around 18% of the population.
• There are over 6.9 million disabled people who are of working age, representing nearly one in five people of working age in Great Britain.
• Many people think that people are usually disabled from childhood. In fact, most people who have a disability or a health condition develop it in later life.
• 78% of disabled people acquire their impairment aged 16 or older.
• 2% of the UK working age populations becomes disabled every year.
• Only about half of individuals with disabilities of working age are in work.

Research has found that disabled employees are:

• As productive as their colleagues
• Have less time off sick
• Stay longer in their jobs
• Have fewer work accidents

If you have a disability or long term health condition, you may need to tell your employer so that you can work together on any "reasonable adjustments". Workplace adjustments may also be made on a temporary basis.