Abstract
The United Kingdom (UK) was a member of the European Union (EU) until July of 2016 when the citizens, by a majority, voted to leave the EU. At the time of this writing, the required referendums to move forward with the formal detachment have not yet been passed, and the economic, social, and political impact of that decision is yet to be realized. Thus, our discussion of vocational rehabilitation (VR) is based on the system in which the UK was part of the EU. The purpose of this chapter is to discuss the VR policies and practices for people with disabilities who reside in the UK. A brief overview of the region is presented along with legislation concerning individuals with disabilities. Next, the status of people with disabilities including disability and geography is discussed followed by social attitudes toward people with disabilities. Third, barriers for people with disabilities including attitudinal, social, cultural, governmental, and familial barriers are discussed. Fourth, select government initiatives are presented. Finally, cross-cultural or international implications for collaboration are discussed.
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Learning Exercises
Learning Exercises
Self-Check Questions
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1.
How do vocational rehabilitation services in the UK compare to that of other countries?
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2.
What are the barriers to health and social care services in the UK for people with disabilities?
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3.
What are the distribution rates of disability based on geography in the UK?
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4.
How effective is the social model in addressing challenges for people with disabilities?
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5.
What are the key elements of vocational rehabilitation services in the UK?
Experiential Exercises
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1.
Conduct an interview or survey with a rehabilitation counselor in the UK to determine service delivery challenges and barriers.
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2.
Compare and contrast disability legislation in the UK and USA.
If given the opportunity to redesign the vocational rehabilitation system in the UK, what major recommendations would you make?
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Harley, D.A., Fleming, A.R., Greer, S.L., Mundt, P. (2018). Disability Policies and Practices in the Rural United Kingdom. In: Harley, D., Ysasi, N., Bishop, M., Fleming, A. (eds) Disability and Vocational Rehabilitation in Rural Settings. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-64786-9_24
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