I read in a recent magazine article that more than a fifth of employers say they would be less likely to hire someone with a disability.

The report was based on research commissioned by the Leonard Cheshire disability charity and confirmed the serious discrimination and stereotypical views which are still faced by many disabled people when they try to get and stay in jobs.

It’s very disappointing that in 2018 we are talking about this.

It shows that more work is needed to create awareness of candidates’ abilities, with less focus on disabilities.

One such initiative is the government’s Access to Work scheme, which can help fund adaptations or any equipment such as assistive technology so that disabled people can thrive in workplaces.

However, it would seem that not enough has been done to make more prospective employers aware of this funding.

The research shows that only two in five employers said they have heard of the scheme.

It also found that, by the age of 26, disabled people are four times more likely to be out of work or not in education compared to non-disabled peers.

Here are the statistics for Scotland. A total of 1,219 adults with learning disabilities known to local authorities were in employment in 2017, with a further 981 adults in training for employment. There were also 903 adults working in the voluntary sector and, of these, only 95 were also in paid employment. There were 12,866 adults who were not in employment, while 471 were recorded as being in open or zero-hours contracts.

These statistics don’t make for good reading. More has to be done at a local and national level to support people with disabilities to get into the workplace.

On a different note, Down’s Syndrome Awareness Week took place recently, with a video of a group of mums singing alongside their children with Down’s Syndrome going viral.

The carpool karaoke-style clip shows the mums and their children lip-syncing to Christina Perrie’s hit A Thousand Years.

It’s encouraging to see this, as it keeps disability awareness in the public eye.

For me, every day is about raising awareness of disability. That’s why it is so important to have a organisation like East Renfrewshire Disability Action (ERDA).

We are always on the lookout for new members at ERDA – and you don’t need to have a disability to join.

To find out more, please visit our website at www.erda.org.uk and help to raise awareness about disability wherever possible.