According to the States-commissioned report, 13,900 Jersey residents living in private households – 14 per cent of the population – are living with a long-term physical or mental condition that impacts upon their every day lives.
Key findings from the report, which cost £45,200 to compile, include:
- A quarter of disabled people reported experiencing discrimination in the past 12 months
- 28 per cent struggle to find the type and amount of work they want
- One in ten disabled people say they have a lot of difficulty travelling around Jersey
- A fifth say they find it difficult taking part in community activities
- Ten per cent of disabled people report difficulty in accessing healthcare
- Disabled people are more likely to be lonely than non-disabled people
The findings from the Jersey Health and Life Opportunities Survey 2015 will now be used to help develop the Island’s future disability strategy, which the States aims to publish next year.
Today, Island organisations and individuals that work with people with disabilities have reacted to the report, with one stating that Jersey was ’30 years behind’ when it comes to disability.
