Arts industries not inclusive enough, says charity worker in Herts
New figures released today show 34% of disabled people miss out on opportunities in the arts due to a lack of understanding of appropriate needs
A leading UK charity is urging the arts sector to enhance opportunities for disabled people.
It comes as research from John Lyon’s Charity reveals that the UK arts and creative industries are not providing adequate opportunities for individuals who are deaf, disabled, or neurodiverse, highlighting significant barriers and suggesting a need for targeted interventions.
The main obstacles identified include a lack of understanding of appropriate needs (34%), lack of opportunities (33%), and discrimination from companies (28%).
To help people overcome some of these challenges, the charity will be collaborating with Pursuing Independent Paths (PIP), which will support both host arts organisations and individual young people to ensure successful internship placements.
Jack Taylor, from Hitchin, lives with autism and has faced discrimination in employment for years.
He now works with the Pursuing Independent Paths Charity.
He told Greatest Hits Radio: "In the context of employment, if you think about so much of getting a job is putting yourself out there and being able to communicate in what I would call a 'typical way' with an employer where in the interview, if you just don't express yourself quite right, that can often mean you lose out to another candidate."
"So immediately, even at the point of trying to secure employment, you can struggle, then you have this societal stereotypes about disability in the workplace."
"And then on top of that, you also have the challenges related to young people can be restricted in how they work because of the benefits, but also as well for everyone in life, everyone needs help often, but for many young people with disability, they can need a bit more help."
"Employers can be reticent or they might not understand what's needed, and added to that you have to fit a job into often a caring framework, and in the cost of living crisis, we rely so much on unpaid carers that it can just be another thing to try and balance those first steps in employment."
"But we know once someone is in a job that often it does work exceptionally well."
The research found more than half of UK adults believe the traditional education system, which leads into professional careers, is not effective for individuals who are deaf, disabled, or neurodiverse, limiting their career prospects.
While a notable portion of the population, 29% (15.4 million UK adults), believes that including deaf, disabled, or neurodiverse individuals in the arts enriches the industry by bringing a broader spectrum of voices and talent.
Both charities working together advocate for the development of more high-quality, accessible arts and cultural programs for deaf, visually impaired, disabled, and neurodivergent young people.
Based on discussions with special schools, charities, and arts organisations, the report emphasises the urgent need for investment in employment opportunities and support systems for young people with special educational needs and disabilities as they transition from education to the workforce.