Realising potential – EFD’s fresh insight into managing disability

23rd May 2006

A fresh insight into how managing disability as a business priority can benefit both business and the wider community has been published by Employers' Forum on Disability (EFD).

‘Realising potential - Disability Confidence builds better business' illustrates how an ageing population and enabling technology, combined with a global trend towards disabled people demanding better treatment as customers and employees, is changing the way business approaches this issue.

Disabled adults have an estimated spending power of £80bn a year; however, nearly a fifth of disabled people said that in 2005 they could not buy a product or service they wanted.

Similarly, almost one million disabled people on Incapacity Benefit say they want to work, but are unable to because of physical and attitudinal barriers.

Susan Scott-Parker, chief executive of EFD, says: "Thirty-three per cent of workers aged 50-64 have a disability and the number of workers in this group is set to increase significantly in the next five years.

"Flexibility and reasonable adjustments will be increasingly needed if we are to retain corporate intelligence, maintain productivity and cut the high costs associated with premature retirements.

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Notes to editors

Media enquiries, please contact:

Brenda Otema, Communications & Marketing Officer
Employers' Forum on Disability
Email: brenda.otema@efd.org.uk
Telephone: 020 7403 3020

About Employers' Forum on Disability

Employers' Forum on Disability is the employers' organisation focused on disability as it affects employers and service providers. With over 300 members, EFD represents organisations that employ around 20 per cent of the UK workforce.Since its establishment in 1991, EFD has worked closely with government and other stakeholders, sharing best practice to make it easier to employ disabled people and serve disabled customers.

www.efd.org.uk