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Disability should not hinder employment prospects

Feb 21 2008

A new book entitled User Driven has been published aimed at employers in the hope of improving prospects for disabled workers.

Mark Harris, who has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, edited the book and managed the 80 disabled volunteers who contributed to it, reports The Herts Advertiser

Harris told the paper he wants the book to show able-bodied employers what it is like to be disabled and convince them that despite physical problems, disabled people make good employees.

The book explains how he set up the WorkABILITY project, which provides work experience opportunities for young disabled people, with his colleague Andrew Bird who has Spastic Quadraplegia Cerebral Palsy.

According to figures from the Department of Work and Pensions, 44 per cent of all disabled people are economically active as opposed to 79 per cent of non-disabled people.

Despite their under-representation in the labour market, seven in ten disabled people who are in work say their disability does not affect the number or pattern of hours they are able to work.

For more informatiopn contact Hertfordshire Personal Assistant Support Service (http://www.hertspass.com/)

Comments [2]

Comment by Gillian Andrews

Thursday 13th March 2008

From which publisher does one obtain this book and how much is it please. I could not find it on Amazon. Thanks

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Comment by Adam Wayland

Thursday 13th March 2008

The book is available from Hertfordshire Personal Assistant Support Service priced at £5.99, including postage.

It can be obtained by emailing pass@hertspass.com or calling 01707 321442.

All funds raised from the book will go to the WorkABILITY project.

You can also find the book on Amazon by clicking here, but you may want to contact Hertfordshire PASS to check that they are still getting all the proceeds from the sale if you use this method.

Adam Wayland, Editor, SmallBusiness.co.uk

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