Miss-Delectable
New Member
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2004
- Messages
- 17,160
- Reaction score
- 7
http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=653842006
THOUSANDS of people with hearing problems in Scotland face discrimination in the job market, with many unable to find work, campaigners say.
About 758,000 deaf and hard- of-hearing people live in Scotland, and figures from the RNID charity suggest more than a third are unemployed.
A UK-wide survey of 915 deaf and hard-of-hearing people found that only 63 per cent were in employment. This compared with 75 per cent of the national workforce.
To mark the start of Deaf Awareness Week, the RNID warned that talent was being wasted. Cheryl Cullen, the director of the RNID's employment training and skills service, said: "Every deaf and hard-of- hearing person is capable of working with the right support.
"At a time of real skills shortages in key sectors of the economy, the country cannot afford to neglect the vast pool of talent represented by deaf and hard-of-hearing people."
The survey showed that 53 per cent of deaf and hard-of- hearing people cited attitudes of employers as a stumbling block to employment.
Over half of those in work felt they had been held back from promotion or career development as a result of their deafness. A third did not think their job made full use of their qualifications.
The RNID said employers had a duty under the Disability Discrimination Act to make reasonable adjustments to the workplace to support deaf and hard-of-hearing people.
Stephen Boyd, of the Scottish Trades Union Congress, said many disabled people faced workplace discrimination and employers had a "long way to go" to improve the situation.
"If someone is in work and they are having problems because of hearing loss or something else they should contact their union representative.
"If they are out of work there are a range of organisations that can help."
THOUSANDS of people with hearing problems in Scotland face discrimination in the job market, with many unable to find work, campaigners say.
About 758,000 deaf and hard- of-hearing people live in Scotland, and figures from the RNID charity suggest more than a third are unemployed.
A UK-wide survey of 915 deaf and hard-of-hearing people found that only 63 per cent were in employment. This compared with 75 per cent of the national workforce.
To mark the start of Deaf Awareness Week, the RNID warned that talent was being wasted. Cheryl Cullen, the director of the RNID's employment training and skills service, said: "Every deaf and hard-of- hearing person is capable of working with the right support.
"At a time of real skills shortages in key sectors of the economy, the country cannot afford to neglect the vast pool of talent represented by deaf and hard-of-hearing people."
The survey showed that 53 per cent of deaf and hard-of- hearing people cited attitudes of employers as a stumbling block to employment.
Over half of those in work felt they had been held back from promotion or career development as a result of their deafness. A third did not think their job made full use of their qualifications.
The RNID said employers had a duty under the Disability Discrimination Act to make reasonable adjustments to the workplace to support deaf and hard-of-hearing people.
Stephen Boyd, of the Scottish Trades Union Congress, said many disabled people faced workplace discrimination and employers had a "long way to go" to improve the situation.
"If someone is in work and they are having problems because of hearing loss or something else they should contact their union representative.
"If they are out of work there are a range of organisations that can help."