Centre for Public Policy

This blog is part of the Centre for Public Policy UK General Election Policy Insights series.   

Authors: 

• Charlotte Pearson, Jane Cullingworth, Nick Watson  (University of Glasgow)
• Janice McLaughlin, Katie Salmon, Tracy Shildrick, Amanda Bailey (Newcastle University)
• Edmund Coleman-Fountain (University of York)

In recent years, governments have become increasingly concerned about disabled people’s transition between leaving school and moving into adulthood. Young disabled people face significant gaps in support and there is a mis-match between policy aspiration and their experiences across a range of areas including education (school, further and higher education), the labour market, social care and access to social participation and community life. Currently much of the focus in terms of policy is on the transition to the labour market. For the next UK government, the dialogue around transitions for young disabled people needs to change. Policy discussions must include their voices and the focus of reform be expanded beyond education and employment to consider a wide range of policy, including social care, health, housing and transport. 

Our research – a 30-month ESRC funded project carried out by colleagues at the Universities of Glasgow, Newcastle and York – explores the experiences of young disabled people as they move towards adulthood. The project’s work has been informed by the involvement of young disabled people as partners across the lifetime of the project.  

The current picture

Our findings reveal challenges for both Scottish & UK governments. We have been told about consistently poor transitions planning in schools for young disabled people. Services are badly coordinated, often working in silos and with different age cut-offs. There is a clear lack of understanding of young people’s needs, particularly for those who are neurodivergent and have learning disabilities. Rigid ‘results-driven’ schools fail to support young disabled people in maximising their strengths and bullying is endemic. College programmes often fall short in providing meaningful opportunities to develop skills or prepare for employment. As they move into adult services there is a danger that they get lost to the system and fall between the cracks.  

Inflexible ‘one-size fits all’ employment initiatives, low expectations of young disabled people and their capabilities and a lack of understanding of neurodivergent behaviours all regularly feed into recruitment processes.  Nearly 30 years after implementation of disability discrimination legislation, employers are still routinely failing to make reasonable adjustments to support disabled workers.

Party manifestos

Looking at the two main parties’ manifesto policies for this group, the Conservatives limit their focus to a pledge to provide 60,000 more school places and 15 new free schools for children with special educational needs. Plans to develop 100,000 more apprenticeships, fails to mention inclusion of young disabled people who – with the right support - would clearly benefit from this type of initiative. Wider discussion of disability is limited to reform of Personal Independence Payment and a proposed narrowing of eligibility. This is particularly misplaced given that many disabled people need their payments to access the labour market.   

Labour’s focus on supporting young disabled people in schools, is described as a ‘community approach’ which sets out to improve ‘inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools and ensuring special schools cater to those with the most complex needs’. In wider policy plans, pledges to improve employment support and access to reasonable adjustments are welcome. Likewise, the introduction of disability pay gap reporting for large employers, represents a small shift towards the type of change required from employers to enable more disabled people to enter work. Other initiatives for young people such as the introduction of Young Future Hubs, aim to provide open access mental health services for children and young people in every community. Yet without additional resources to support these policies, it is unlikely that transformational change will emerge. 

A holistic approach

The 2024 UK general election is an opportunity for political parties to reset their social policy agendas and work with young disabled people and their families to ensure that the right transitions support is available. In order to achieve this, a holistic approach that coordinates policy and implementation across all levels of government is essential. 

Authors

Dr Charlotte Pearson is Senior Lecturer in Social and Public Policy at the University of Glasgow. Her research interests focus on disability policies, particularly around transitions to adulthood for young disabled people and the personalisation of social care. She is currently working on an ESRC study with colleagues at Newcastle and York Universities which looks at disability and youth transitions.

• Jane Cullingworth, Nick Watson  (University of Glasgow)
• Janice McLaughlin, Katie Salmon, Tracy Shildrick, Amanda Bailey (Newcastle University)
• Edmund Coleman-Fountain (University of York)

Follow the project on X at @disyoutransit

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^{Preview image: Illustration designed by Roots & Wings Design for the Disability and Youth Transitions project}

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First published: 18 June 2024