Disabled people less educated and poorer than others

DISABLED people are calling for urgent action to help them become more involved in society, after a new report shows that many disabled people are poorer, less educated and in worse health than others.

The National Disability Authority (NDA) is blaming a lack of investment in the education of young people with disabilities after it emerged that they are twice as likely to live in poverty as non-disabled people.

The How Far Towards Equality? document shows that one-in-five people with a physical disability drops out of education before the minimum school leaving age of 15, while only a fifth of secondary schools are fully accessible.