**8. Employability of people with disabilities**

People with disabilities often encounter attitudinal and environmental barriers which do not allow their full active and equal participation in society. The fact that a fifth of the working age is unemployed due to disabilities is a critical Issue. In as much as it is accepted that many disabled people are able to work if they are given the proper support. Statistical data (Eurostat, 2010) reveal that persons with disabilities in the EU27 are employed by 42.30% as compared with non-disabled persons who are employed by 64.60% (Table 10). Evidently, the unemployment rates between disabled and non-disabled persons are dramatically unbalanced. (Table 11)


Table 10. Employment rates between 2000-2009, source Eurostat, 2010.

Language Disabilities: Myths and Misconceptions vs. Reality 17

consideration. Since, every type of disability is linked to the IQ score of disabled persons,

The situation requires immediate consideration and measurements in a multi-dimensional setting. The unemployment rates of persons with disabilities must decrease. It is necessary that these persons are included in the normal social setting as much as possible in order to contribute to the efforts of economic recovery which, also, will result to the reduction of

The problem of the use of disputable terms in describing and/or classifying persons with disabilities is extremely important, mainly in the sector of learning impairments, since situations like **slow learners, learners with difficulties, learners with disorders and learners with disabilities,** though seemingly identical they are characterized by substantial differences among them, which necessitate appropriate measures for dealing with them..

The terms of classification should be substituted by the appropriate ones. The provisions

Though a number of disabled persons are employed, barriers to employment should be

The social model of disability, implemented in UK should be considered. Under this model, persons with intellectual or psychological variations are not always considered to be

Alton,, G. (2001). The History of Special Education in America. Demand Media, Inc. USA Anastasi, A. ( ed. 1966) Testing Problems in Perspective, Washington DC. American Council

Chandler, J (2010) Learning Disorders, Learning Disabilities,,LoveToKnow,Corp.USA

Hallahan, D. & Kauffman, J. (1978). Exceptional Children: Introduction to Special Education,

Harris, B. (2008).The Nature and extent of aggressive behavior amongst people with

Haskvitz, A. (2011) Helping your slow-learner child Horace Mann, Reach Every Chid. Available from http://www.reacheverychild.com/feature/slowlearners/html Heward, W. & Orlansky, D.(1980).Exceptional Children (Bell & Howwell Company),

Mablett, D. (2002) Disabilities Categories in European Social Policy. Definition & Disability in Europe, A Comparative Analysis prepared by Brunel University, UK. Mandy, D. ( 2009 ) The art of communication. Basic Principles of effective communication. Helium (where knowledge rules) Available from http://www.helium.com/

Prentice HALL, Inc. ISBN 0-13-293944-4, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.

Charles E. Merrill Publishing Company ISBN 0-675-08179-3, USA

Disability, vol.37,issue 3, first published on line 28-06-2006.

Available from http://www.klis.com/chandler/pamphlet/learning/learning

learning disabilities in a single health district, JIDR, Journal of Intelligent

attention to the use and usage of terms is both important and necessary.

established by UNO (2006) and other organizations should be followed

Encyclopedia of Children's Health: Learning Disorders (2011)

**10. Recommendations** 

prevented.

disabled.

**11. References** 

of Education.

pamphlet.htm

public expenditure on supporting projects..


Table 11. Non-disabled VS disabled unemployed youth, source Eurostat.

Apart from the public assistance and the Active Labour Market Policies (ALMP) which are provided by EU27 to support employed persons with disabilities, at a percentage of 16.3% (Euro 7.233 million) in 2006 ( Eurostat database, 2010) a basic factor which reduces the unemployment rates of persons with disabilities is the level of education.The lower the level of education the higher the rate of unemployment (Table 12).


Table 12. Educational level and unemployment, source Eurostat, 2010)
