This report concludes that young disabled people yearn to work and to thrive in their careers but far too many are written off and told that ‘people like them’ can never succeed. The Committee believe this needs to change. Starting with the presumption that young disabled people are fully capable of thriving in work, as long as they have the appropriate support, with aspiration and ambition at its heart. Key recommendations include:

  • Co-production: Young disabled people, both in and out of education, must be fully involved in designing the services that support them.
  • Supported internships: The Government should honour its commitment to double supported internships and expand eligibility beyond those with EHCPs, especially for those with the highest support needs.
  • Education: The Government must improve support for young disabled people in education and ensure local authorities can deliver EHCPs effectively and on time.

Careers advice: The Government should require specialised training for careers advisers, as current advice for young disabled people is often inadequate.