In 2022, 42% of deaths of people with a disability were found to have been avoidable, compared to 22% for the general population xliv . People with a learning disability are twice as likely to die avoidably and four times more likely to die avoidably from causes considered treatable with good quality healthcare than the general population xlv . There has been a significant decrease in the use of hospitals as long-term placements for individuals with disabilities. However, there are still over 2,000 people with a learning disability and/or autism currently in mental health hospitals in England, where people stay for five years on average xlvi . Only 26% of local areas have no more than 30 adult inpatients with a learning disability and/ or autism per million adults in the population, and 33% of local areas now actually have a higher adult inpatient rate compared to the earliest available data xlvii . Internationally, some organisations, such as the United Nations, have even begun to argue this practice could be viewed as tantamount to “cruel and inhumane treatment”, or potentially “torture” xlviii . Too many people with disabilities die, and it’s got worse – doctors don’t listen to us.” Julie, 57 Education and employment Working age disabled adults are 2.5 times more likely to leave education with no qualification xlix , and one in two excluded from school are neurodiverse l . There is an inequality of employment outcomes and financial stability between individuals with a disability and those without. Approximately a third of disabled people live in poverty li compared to 19% of the non-disabled population lii , and disabled households require an additional £1,000 per month to have the same standard of living as households without someone with a disability liii . 86% of unemployed people with a learning disability want a paid job (estimated to be approximately 950,000 people in England aged over 18-years-old), whilst only 5.1% of adults with a learning disability known to their local authority are in paid employment liv .
On average, between 2014 and 2022, disabled workers moved out of work at nearly twice the rate (8.9%) of non-disabled workers (5.0%). Workless disabled people moved into work at nearly one-third of the rate (10.0%) of workless non-disabled people (27.3%) lv . When I was younger I applied for a job and when they found I had a disability they wouldn’t take me on. They didn’t even want to meet me.” Julie, 57 Social interaction and relationships Mencap have found that “people with a learning disability tend to have fewer friends, are less likely to be in a relationship, and have fewer opportunities for socialising than the general population” lvi . One in three 18–35-year-olds with a learning disability spend less than one hour outside their home on a typical Saturday lvii . They are three times more likely to report feeling lonely than people in the same age group without a learning disability. People with a learning disability are twice as likely to experience online bullying as those without lviii , and people with a disability are significantly less likely to develop and maintain loving relationships, particularly sexual and romantic ones, than non-disabled people lix . I feel lucky because social care helps me, it helps me live in my own home.” Amy, 46
There is potential to further improve outcomes for working age and lifelong disabled adults Although these outcomes are achieved (to a varying extent) for many individuals, this is not yet the case for all working age and lifelong disabled adults. Below are examples of just a few of the outcome inequalities that disabled people experience, highlighting the scale of what remains to be achieved. Health Life expectancy for people with a learning disability tripled between 1960 and 2010, but it is still 20 years shorter than people without a disability xlii . People with a learning disability from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds are dying even younger. Recent data analysed by Mencap suggests that their average age of death is 34 compared to their white counterparts at 62 xliii .
Ultimately, as Social Care Future defines, “everyone wants to live in a place they call home, surrounded by loved ones, in communities where people look out for one another, doing the things that matter to them” xli . Being independent means having my own life and my mum having her own life. My mum hasn’t had a chance just to have her own time, she’s always worrying about me.” Dan, 27
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