Are+You+Hiring?+An+In-depth+Analysis+into+Disability+Employment+through+Generations+X+and+Y.

Name: Mark O'Grady Student Name: 8294275 Tutor's Name: Michelle Newcomb

=**ARTEFACT** = Pro Infᴉrmis is a Swiss organisation which has been helping people with various disabilities (mental, physical, behavioural or psychological) since 1920 (Pro Infirmis, 2011). The commercial begins by a man in a bear costume standing in the middle of a pedestrian walkway and passers-by being intimidated of him, then one by one people start to walk up and hug him. At the end he removes his bear head, showing that he has a disability, then text comes up saying “Do we need to disguise ourselves to get closer? Get closer.” This phrase puts forth the idea of how society continues to discriminate against individuals with disabilities and how without something masking it, discrimination continues. media type="youtube" key="zFWr-CKMWGY" height="345" width="615" align="center"

[]

=**PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE** = Of the 22.74 million people in Australia (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2011), approximately 3.96 million have a disability (Australian Human Rights Commission, 2005). In 2003, almost two thirds of the countries which the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) evaluates had a higher employment rate for people with disabilities than Australia (Organisation for Co-operation and Development). It is obvious that over time, from Generation X to Generation Y, that the rates of unemployment within the disabled community have been decreasing (Australian Human Rights Commission, 2005), but not far enough for it not to still be a major issue in today’s community. As it is difficult to find a solid base for specific years for generations, for the purpose of this analysis Foggs (2009) article ‘When Generations Collide’ will be used as a basis for the years. This analysis aims to compare Generation Y and Generation X to gain further insight into the unemployment of people with disabilities in the work force.

=**LITERATURE REVIEW** = According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) (2011), disability is a term used to cover a wide array of areas such as; dysfunction in the body’s function or structure, trouble performing tasks or activities, or difficulty experiencing individuality in life. Thus when compiled together you receive a complex situation which 15% of the world’s population experience on a day to day basis (World Health Organisation, 2011) .Over the past decade several studies have been conducted and multiple papers written about the disabled and their employment, with the majority coming to the conclusion that they are still being discriminated against.

The Vocational Opportunities in Training for Employment (VOTE) implemented a two year pilot initiative with a total of 122 young adults with an array of disabilities and helped them attain numerous different qualifications (Taylor, McGilloway, Donnelly, 2004).Over this initiative four projects were completed, ranging from helping to provide the disabled with further education in either secondary or tertiary education, to counselling and providing work related skills to them (Taylor, McGilloway, Donnelly, 2004). These projects were documented by the VOTE support workers who were undertaking the projects and then analysed into the papers provided to the researchers Taylor, McGilloway and Donnelly (2004, pp. 93-101).

They used a methodology consisting of a relatively small sample size of forty three papers which were accompanied by one-on-one interviews and the study was conducted at the National University of Ireland at Maynooth (Taylor, McGilloway, Donnelly, 2004). The sample size could not be increased any further as the papers were produced throughout the pilot period, the only variable information obtained were from the interviews (Taylor, McGilloway, Donnelly, 2004). The results showed that of the 122 disabled people who finished the initiative, 69 completed with 160 qualifications. Of these 69 qualified disabled people, only 19 gained jobs on completion (Taylor, McGilloway, Donnelly, 2004).

Another study conducted by Hernandez (2009, pp. 4-13), conducted a survey called ‘The Disability and Employment Survey’. The survey was aimed directly at gaining valuable information from people with disabilities on their concerns regarding employment (Hernandez, 2009). They were contacted over a 12 month period at a variety of locations including, but not limited to; Rehabilitation Hospitals, Disability Organisations and Disability Job Fairs (Hernandez, 2009). There, they were asked to complete the survey for a compensation of $10 for their time (Hernandez, 2009). The methodology used in this study was highly effective at gaining accurate information in regards to the topic. Hernandez (2009, pp.4-13) included a large sample size of 300 people (only 279 were completed), targeted a wide array of locations which were guaranteed to provide accurate respondents, consisted of 32 questions which were applicable to the Likert Scale and took into account for all different disabilities by having the survey also in braille and sign language interpreters on hand. The results of this study showed that more people with disabilities are becoming less likely to experience occupation distresses due to the following four factors; job readiness, language skills, environmental and health outcomes and financial and familial concerns (Hernandez, 2009).

When just the information from these two studies are compiled together, it is easy to see why disability researchers, health care professionals and service providers alike are still having to draw the attention back to the lack of acknowledgment and support disabled people are receiving in Generation Y (Hernandez, 2009). Statistics also provide thorough evidence showing the decline in unemployment status from Generation X to Generation Y, yet the rate of unemployment for a disabled person is still relatively higher than that of a non-disabled person (Australian Human Rights Commission, 2005). The Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) (2005), provide various statistics which cover the years; 1993, 1998 and 2003. As Fogg (2009) has provided us with specific years for the comparison, 1993 is counted as Generation X, 1998 being the shared year of both Generations and 2003 is Generation Y (Australian Human Rights Commission, 2005).

The statistics AHRC (2005) has provided, show further evidence of discrimination towards the disabled. In table 1 of their report, the labour force participation rate of the disabled from Generation X was 54.9% when compared to Generation Y whose participation rate was 53.2% (Australian Human Rights Commission, 2005). Also in Table 1, the unemployment rate of the disabled showed that; Generation X had an unemployment rate of 17.8% and Generation Y 8.6% (Australian Human Rights Commission, 2005).

AHRC (2005) then goes on to compare the rates of labour force participation and the unemployment rates of the non-disabled between the generations. Here Generation X shows a labour force participation rate of 76.9% whereas Generation Y shows 80.6% (Australian Human Rights Commission, 2005). In regards to the unemployment rates of the non-disabled, Generation X was 12.0% and Generation Y 5.0% ((Australian Human Rights Commission, 2005). Finally, when all of the data correlated above is compiled and compared, and even though there is a 10.0% decrease in the unemployment rate of the disabled from Generation X to Y, it is clearly visible that there is still discrimination occurring in Australia between the two groups (Australian Human Rights Commission, 2005 & World Health Organisation 2011)

=**CULTURAL AND SOCIAL ANAYLSIS** = Karl Marx’s socio-political views on unemployment and alienation in capitalised countries can be applied directly to what has been and is still happening to the disabled population of Australia (Yuill, 2005). Marx’s views on unemployment state that unemployment is essential within an insecure capitalised country due to the proletarian class working for low wages the bourgeoisie class maintaining a source of adequate income (Yuill, 2005). The unemployed people therefore are the ‘reserve army’ as Marx puts it, to keep the wages as low as possible. His second theory, Alienation, relates to the societal alienation of human beings from their counterparts (Yuill, 2005). These two social theories both represent the unemployed disabled population by hiring a more abled bodied person to complete the work at a lower cost and effort to the employer, and also by the discrimination which has clearly been evident over Generations X and Y.

Several social movements which aimed to not only proliferate the employment opportunities for the disabled, but to also incorporate the disabled into all aspects of ‘normal’ community life, have been initiated and completed by several organisations and foundations over the last 60 years in Australia (Disability Services Act, ND & Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, 2011). In the 1950’s, parents of the disabled population in Australia began to set up workshops where the disabled could be employed to complete vocational activities; this was the early beginning of the Australian Disability Enterprise (ADE) (Disability Services Act, ND & Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, 2011).

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">During the 1960’s through till the late 1980’s or the Generation X period (Fogg, 2009), several more crusades were initiated by the still developing ADE to further improve the social acceptability and grand outcome of their employment. During this period, a Sheltered Employment Allowance was provided by the Commonwealth Government to provide the disabled with a supplement income; the funding was increased further when The Handicapped Persons Assistance Act (HPA) was implemented in 1976 (Disability Services Act, ND). In early 1980s the HPA was reviewed by the Commonwealth Government, they then created the Disability Services Act (DSA) in 1986. The DSA had the ingenious idea of not providing funds for people to work in the shelters, but to provide the disabled with the opportunity to be employed in the Australian labour force, become more actively involved in the community and to be eligible to receive the Disability Services Pension (DSP) (Disability Services Act, ND & Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, 2011).

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">In the 1990’s and 2000’s or the Generation Y timeframe (Fogg, 2009), only a few further improvements and initiated were implemented by the Government to allow the disabled to further their education and work skills. In 1996 there were limited improvements made to the DSA including; the service funding is matched to the disabled receiving assistance, the funding is coordinated with the employers outcomes and the service quality was improved (Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, 2011). Now in the 21st century there are two types of employment options available for the disabled, these are business services and open employment services (Disability Services Act, ND). In the 2011-2012 budget the Commonwealth Government are looking to provide further support for Australians with disabilities; they are looking at introducing new criteria to meet to be eligible for the DSP, requiring that the disabled attempt to gain employment before applying to receive the pension, current recipients of the DSP will be encouraged undertake greater hours of work and new financial entitlements to help support employers who take on the disabled as employees (The Hon Jenny Macklin MP, 2011).

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Recently in the social media, there has been extensive coverage of the current skills shortage in Australia (Australian Broadcasting Company 2011 & News 2011). Prime Minister Julia Gillard is looking to fill the skills shortage with Australians and not Immigrants; she is looking for Australians who are willing to begin skills training and/or relocated into areas which require employees (Australian Broadcasting Company 2011). A document released by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (2011), called the Skills Shortage List Australia 2011, goes on to state the current occupations which are experiencing shortages throughout the nation (Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, 2010).

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">According to the Australia Bureau of Statistic (ABS), only 55.0% of grade 12 graduates who had a disability were employed once leaving high school, this compared to 81.0% of people with no disability (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2011). Also people with disabilities who further concentrated studies to attain a certificate only experienced a 72.0% employment rate compared to 89.0% of the non-disabled holding the same qualifications (Australian Bureau of Statistics (2011). It is clearly evident, going strictly by the statistics provided by the ABS that not only is discrimination occurring towards the disabled, but that there is a significant rate of disabled people with a grade 12 certificate or higher who are prepared to begin further skills training and who are looking for employment.

=<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**ARTEFACT ANALYSIS** = <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">When I first stumbled upon the artefact on a friends Facebook wall, I was immediately convinced that I had just found the perfect video for my wiki. The main reason that I thought this would be the perfect artefact for me, was that one of my cousins has Down Syndrome and is 35 years old. My Uncle and Auntie have raised and cared for her their whole life; they are currently in the process of setting up a foundation in which funding will be available for self-care home for them. When I reflect back on this wiki, and think about what I have learnt through the statistics, journal articles and social media sources, it simply amazes me as to how far the disabled community of Australia has come through Generations X and Y. Yet it appals me as to how they are still discriminated against and aren’t completely accepted in the community. But hopefully over the next few years with the new reforms in the 2011-2012 budget, people with disabilities whether they are mental, physical, behavioural or psychological will be able to be accepted in workplaces and in our communities.

=<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**REFERENCES** = <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Australian Broadcasting Company (2011). Gillard back Australians to fill skills shortage. Retrieved on November 1, 2011 from []

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Australian Bureau of Statistics (2011). Population Clock. Retrieved on October 26, 2011 from []

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Australian Bureau of Statistics (2011) Poorer Employment Outcomes for Australian with Disabilities. Retrieved on November 2, 2011 from []

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Australian Human Rights Commission (2005). National Inquiry into Employment and Disability. Retrieved on October 24, 2011 from []

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (2011) Skills Shortage List. Retrieved on November 2, 2011 from []

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (2010) Australian Disability Enterprise. Retrieved on November 2, 2011 from []

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Disability Services Australia (ND) Life to Live – The History of People with Disabilities in Australia – 100 Years. Retrieved on November 2, 2011 from []

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Fogg, P. (2009) When Generations Collide. //Education Digest, 74// (6), 25-30. [|http://web.ebscohost.com.ezp01.library.qut.edu.au/ehost/detail?sid=c9efd4b9-2720-4c15-b1fb-df76e89a3e66%40sessionmgr112&vid=1&hid=111&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=tfh&AN=37333230]

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hernandez, B. (2009) The Disability and Employment Survey: Assessing Employment Concerns among People with Disabilities and Racial/Ethnic Minorities. //Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling, 40// (1), 4-13, []

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">News (2011). Skills shortages felt among small firms. Retrieved on November 1, 2011 from []

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (2003). OECD Employment Outlook 2003 – Towards More and Better Jobs. //OECD Employment Outlook, 8,// 1-342. Doi: 10.1787/empl_outlook-2003-en

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Pro Infirmis (2011) Home – Pro infirmis. Retrieved on October 22, 2011 from []

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Pro Infirmis (2011, March 5). Jung von Matt/Limmat: Pro Infirmis Get closer [Video file]. Retrieved from []

<span style="color: #231f20; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Taylor, B., McGilloway, S., Donnelly., M. (2004). Preparing young adults with disability for employment. //Health & Social Care in the Community, 12// (2), 93-101. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[]

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Hon Jenny Macklin MP (2011). Supporting Australians with disability into work. Retrieved on November 1, 2011 from []

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">World Health Organisation (2011) Disabilities. Retrieved on October 22, 2011 from []

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">World Health Organisation (2011) Disability and Health. Retrieved on October 22, 2011 from []

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">World Health Organisation (2011) 10 Facts on Disability. Retrieved on October 22, 2011 from []

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Yuill, C. (2005) Marx: Capitalism, Alienation and Health. Social Theory & Health. 3(2), 126-143. doi:10.1057/palgrave.sth.8700046

=<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Reflective Comments = Today 3:54 pm Erin, what an interesting read! I was awe shocked to know that so many young women in Generation Y are affected by eating disorders. I am in 100% agreement with Naomi Wolf, and how she has portrayed the social media as the cause of this. The media, advertising, and cosmetic industries will have to take some of the blame of this to help raise awareness and prevent this from getting any further. But overall a wonderful read and I feel 10 times more knowledgeable about the subject. Thank you!
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1. Are you still hungry? The consequences of media pressure on Generation Y. **

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2. ** Attitudes towards mental illness - we’ve got to change our minds ** Today 4:06 pm Great choice of artefact! The way you bought this issue into the spotlight, via the artefact, literature review, social analysis and such was fantastic! As I have a family member suffering from a mental illness, I found this wiki very interesting and highly accurate. As there is still little known about most mental illnesses and we still have a long way to go before there are harmless ways of treating them, I feel as if you’ve analysed this to the tee. Good Job!