Supported employment for people with learning disabilities in the UK - the last 15 years

This paper revisits the aspirations of the authors for supported employment development from 1997 against a changing policy context with the introduction of Valuing People and Valuing People Now. It reviews developments in employment policy, innovation, the framework for funding supported employment and changes in the level of employment for people with learning disabilities since 1997. It summarises the issues relating to progress in this area over the period and suggests the need for further action to deliver the government’s vision of employment inclusion and to secure the rights of people with learning disabilities to a place in the workplace.