disability

As part of the implementation of the Equal Partners in Care (EPiC) Highland Carer’s Strategy 2014-2017 it was agreed to undertake a review of respite for Adult Carers of Adults (aged 16+). Independent consultants were commissioned by NHS Highland through Connecting Carers to undertake this work. There are four groups of people – totalling an estimated 200 people - with whom conversations have taken place during the review:

Disabled micro-entrepreneurs are no longer waiting for job opportunities that don't materialise. This New Zealand based pilot project was carried out as a proof of concept that such learning materials can inspire disabled youth to take charge of their career development. This idea is still at the experimental level. The project will develop these interviews into a core online curriculum for disabled youth to get inspiration from stories of unusual successes.

Families share stories of how they overcame obstacles to get the best outcomes for their disabled children. This parent leadership development programme collates and distributes these important experiences so that parents can inspire each other into action and benefit from each other's experiences 24/7.

The inequality between disabled people’s employment rates and those of the general population is stark. Despite improved legislation and various employability initiatives to tackle the disparity, little progress has been made in increasing the level and quality of disabled people’s labour market participation.

The stories provide a picture of the outcomes that supported employment can achieve, both for the clients of supported employment services, and for employers.