A Plaid Cymru MS has called for equality for disabled people during Disability Pride Month.
Peredur Owen Griffiths – who represents the South Wales East region – said disabled people are still discriminated against and has backed efforts to make things fairer.
Disability Pride Month takes place in July each year and provides a chance to celebrate the disabled community and highlight issues disabled people face daily.
According to the Disabled People in Employment parliamentary research briefing from April 2021, only 52.3% of disabled people are in employment compared to 82% of the able-bodied population.
According to data from 2020, the disability pay gap stood at 18% in Wales. The research also suggest that disabled women tend to be most affected by this pay gap, earning on average 36 percent less than their able-bodied counterparts. Disabled men earn £2.15 per hour less, on average, than their able-bodied
colleagues.
Peredur said: “Disability Pride Month provides us with the opportunity to celebrate disabled people and the contribution they make to our society.
“It also serves as a reminder of the difficulties they still face despite legislation like the Equality Act (2010) which is meant to promote both equal pay and equal employment levels amongst both disabled and able-bodied communities.
“We have yet to create that level playing field which is an injustice to all disabled people and their families.
“I hope in the months and years to come we will see equalisation in pay levels and employments levels between the disabled and the able bodied.”
He added: “In Caerffili County Borough, the issue of disabled adults that require day centre care but are not getting it, remains unresolved.
“Vulnerable adults are not getting the provision they deserve which means their families are also not getting adequate respite. “A consultation was launched into the future of services but there remain many questions about this.
“Meanwhile, disabled adults and their families are suffering and this is an injustice.”
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