I want to add a few more thoughts from an earlier post about the Disabled in Israel.
There are some serious implications about these high rates, and what they mean not just on an individual level, but as a reflection of what our social priorities are.
Here are four of the findings from the research done by my colleagues at Myers-JDC-Brookdale:
First, many of the disabled do have social networks, but they also have higher rates of isolation
14% of all working-age adults with disabilities and 25% of those with severe disabilities report frequent feelings of loneliness, compared with only 4% of people without disabilities.
26% of people with severe disabilities report having no friends, compared with 7% of people without disabilities.
Second, many have achieved higher education, but at much lower rates than adults without disabilities
46% of all working-age adults with disabilities, and 34% of working-age adults with severe disabilities, have received a high-school matriculation certificate, compared with 64% of adults without disabilities.
Only 20% of adults with severe disabilities have post-secondary education, compared with 38% of adults without disabilities.
Third, about half of working-age adults with disabilities work, but many more want to
52% of working-age adults with disabilities and 32% of people with severe disabilities are employed, compared with 74% in the general working-age adult population.
Of those working-age adults with disabilities who are not working, 45% are looking for work or are ready to begin work immediately if they were offered a job.
Satisfaction is high with the type of work and with work colleagues, but far less so with wages and prospects for advancement.
And finally - and maybe most importantly - the disabled face significantly greater economic hardships
Adults with disabilities who work earn an average gross monthly wage of NIS 6,361, and adults with severe disabilities earn a monthly average of NIS 5,000. This is compared with NIS 8,201 for people with no disabilities.
Only 34% of working-age adults with severe disabilities report being able to meet monthly household expenses, compared with 64% of adults without disabilities.
24% of working-age adults with disabilities did not buy necessary medicine because of the cost, compared with 10% of adults without disabilities.
There are some serious implications about these high rates, and what they mean not just on an individual level, but as a reflection of what our social priorities are.
Here are four of the findings from the research done by my colleagues at Myers-JDC-Brookdale:
First, many of the disabled do have social networks, but they also have higher rates of isolation
14% of all working-age adults with disabilities and 25% of those with severe disabilities report frequent feelings of loneliness, compared with only 4% of people without disabilities.
26% of people with severe disabilities report having no friends, compared with 7% of people without disabilities.
Second, many have achieved higher education, but at much lower rates than adults without disabilities
46% of all working-age adults with disabilities, and 34% of working-age adults with severe disabilities, have received a high-school matriculation certificate, compared with 64% of adults without disabilities.
Only 20% of adults with severe disabilities have post-secondary education, compared with 38% of adults without disabilities.
Third, about half of working-age adults with disabilities work, but many more want to
52% of working-age adults with disabilities and 32% of people with severe disabilities are employed, compared with 74% in the general working-age adult population.
Of those working-age adults with disabilities who are not working, 45% are looking for work or are ready to begin work immediately if they were offered a job.
Satisfaction is high with the type of work and with work colleagues, but far less so with wages and prospects for advancement.
And finally - and maybe most importantly - the disabled face significantly greater economic hardships
Adults with disabilities who work earn an average gross monthly wage of NIS 6,361, and adults with severe disabilities earn a monthly average of NIS 5,000. This is compared with NIS 8,201 for people with no disabilities.
Only 34% of working-age adults with severe disabilities report being able to meet monthly household expenses, compared with 64% of adults without disabilities.
24% of working-age adults with disabilities did not buy necessary medicine because of the cost, compared with 10% of adults without disabilities.
If you want more information and sources on these findings, message me, or contact my colleagues at Myers-JDC-Brookdale. If you want to receive this blog on a regular basis by email (about twice a week, depending on what else I'm up to), sign up in the top-right box where it says "follow" ...
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