The latest news on disability employment, workplace inclusion, and accessibility from around the world.
📰 Stay informed — sign up free to save articles, get personalised inclusion news alerts, and track policy changes.
The UK work and pensions secretary visited Denmark to learn from its 'Fleksjobs' scheme, which provides subsidised part-time employment with dedicated support for people with reduced work capacity, achieving a disability employment rate increase from 44% to 61% since 2012. The UK government is considering similar approaches as disability-related unemployment among young people has risen significantly, with 45.3% of NEETs now classified as disabled compared to 21% in 2014.
The UK Work and Pensions Secretary discusses how young people with mental health conditions and neurodiversity should be supported into employment rather than remaining on benefits, citing Denmark's Fleksjob scheme as a model that enables disabled workers to remain employed with reduced hours and adjustments. The Government plans to introduce new legislation next year in response to reviews on disability benefits reform and youth employment.
Seven in 10 working-age American caregivers balance paid employment with caring for loved ones with disabilities, chronic conditions or age-related needs, yet fewer than half inform their supervisors about these responsibilities. The Care Out Loud campaign is expanding support to address how caregiving affects employees' careers, financial security and wellbeing, highlighting caregiving as a workplace inclusion and retention issue.
A Japanese study of 158 employed patients who underwent surgery for gastric or esophageal cancer found that 78.5% were working at 18 months post-surgery, with median return-to-work times of 30 days for gastric cancer and 70 days for esophageal cancer. The research identifies pain, appetite loss, financial impact, and weight loss at 6 months as significant barriers to sustained work participation, with implications for workplace accommodations and occupational health support.
Four Rivers Behavioral Health in Kentucky is participating in a Columbia University randomized controlled trial studying the effectiveness of Individual Placement and Support (IPS) employment services for autistic adults seeking competitive employment. The study will recruit 174 autistic adults across four Kentucky sites and track employment outcomes over 18 months to compare IPS services with standard vocational rehabilitation.
A scoping review of 41 studies found that occupational therapy is a standard component of multidisciplinary rehabilitation for functional neurological disorder, a condition affecting working-age adults, but profession-specific interventions and outcomes were inconsistently documented. The review highlights gaps in evidence regarding occupational therapy's independent contribution to rehabilitation outcomes for this disabling neurological condition.
Riverside Industries Inc. appointed Markus Jones as president and CEO; the organization's mission is empowering individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through employment, community engagement and personal growth. During Jones's interim leadership, RSI completed a $500,000 construction project to create a new space for its Production Department, a social enterprise that employs program participants with disabilities.
The American Legion held its third Department Service Officer Symposium, training 62 veteran service officers from across the nation on navigating the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs disability benefits system. The training, conducted by Bergmann & Moore law firm, focuses on helping veterans access disability compensation and benefits, with participants emphasizing how the evolving system requires continuous professional development to better serve veterans with disabilities.
The Milburn review recommends the UK government create and subsidize paid jobs for disabled young people through 'flexi-jobs', employment subsidies, and skills support to address high unemployment rates among disabled 16-24 year-olds. The review proposes adopting a Danish-style flexible employment scheme, job carving, and voluntary employer targets for hiring disabled youth, while suggesting disability benefit spending be redirected toward employment support.
The Inclusion in Awards 2026 recognised leaders, teams and organisations driving workplace inclusion across hospitality, travel, leisure and retail sectors, with specific awards for disability inclusion and social mobility initiatives. The event also raised £300,000 for Team Domenica, a charity supporting young people with learning disabilities into employment.
Trillium Wellness, a residential mental health treatment facility, provides dedicated case management support to help clients navigate work-related concerns during treatment, including FMLA paperwork, short-term disability claims, and employer communication. The article explains FMLA protections for employees with mental health conditions requiring inpatient care and describes how case managers assist clients in maintaining employment continuity while receiving residential mental health treatment.
Trillium Wellness, a residential mental health treatment facility in Tennessee, provides dedicated case management support to help clients navigate employment-related paperwork including FMLA, short-term disability claims, and employer communication during their stay. The article explains FMLA eligibility requirements and how the facility's case managers assist clients in maintaining job protection and managing work-related concerns while focusing on mental health treatment.
Canadian occupational safety standards now prioritize disability inclusion and mental health as workplace safety issues. The article indicates a shift in how workplace safety frameworks address the needs of disabled and mentally ill workers.
UK government statistics show 5.6 million disabled people were employed in April-June 2026, with a 53% employment rate compared to 82.4% for non-disabled people, representing a 29.4 percentage point disability employment gap. The data reveals disabled people face higher rates of job loss, lower transition rates into employment, and are more likely to be underemployed or working in lower-skilled occupations.
The article explains Canada's disability benefits system, including federal programs like the Canada Disability Benefit and Canada Pension Plan Disability, provincial supports, and private insurance options available to disabled people. It outlines eligibility requirements and how to access various income replacement and support services for people with disabilities.
Workplace Belonging Week (9–15 November 2026) aims to connect conversations across diversity, equity and inclusion by examining whether employees genuinely feel they belong at work. The article emphasizes that belonging requires collective responsibility from leaders, managers and colleagues, and highlights how workplace design and psychological safety affect disabled and neurodivergent employees.
A former USC employee tentatively settled a disability discrimination lawsuit alleging she was wrongfully terminated while on medical leave for work-related anxiety disorder. The case involved claims of retaliation for taking medical leave and failure to accommodate her mental health condition.
Cheshire West and Chester has reduced its NEET (not in education, employment or training) rate to 3.62%, with the council working with partners including training providers to develop tailored support for vulnerable groups including young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The article highlights flexible pathways and programmes designed to help young people with disabilities and mental health challenges access education, training and employment.
A seven-week online therapy program based on acceptance and commitment therapy reduced distress and increased sense of meaning at work for 164 Quebec workers dealing with burnout, job dissatisfaction, and career difficulties. The program showed particular benefits for lower earners and workers without permanent jobs, addressing employment challenges in precarious work situations.
The Raw Carrot is a Canadian social enterprise that employs people facing barriers to work, including those with disabilities, by offering dignified paid employment in a flexible, supportive workplace environment. The organization operates 10 locations across Canada and demonstrates how inclusive employment models can provide purpose, independence and economic security for disabled and disadvantaged job seekers.
A Belgian survey finds that 82% of workers would consider working while ill if their employer made appropriate adjustments, but presenteeism is rising sharply with 81% reporting they have worked sick at least once. The survey also reveals declining comfort discussing mental health at work, dropping from 24% to 12% of employees feeling able to raise mental health concerns with their manager.
A coalition of public health organizations led by the Milken Institute filed a federal court brief challenging a CMS rule that requires Medicaid recipients with serious medical conditions to prove significant work impairment to qualify for exemptions from new federal work requirements taking effect in 2027. The plaintiffs argue the rule creates barriers that could cause people with disabilities and serious health conditions to lose coverage by imposing documentation restrictions not authorized by Congress.
The article discusses how invisible disabilities create employment barriers that are difficult to document, explaining that outward appearance does not establish work capacity and that proper documentation must show patterns of limitations affecting job demands. It covers how employees with invisible disabilities may qualify for reasonable accommodations under the ADA and discusses the documentation needed for disability insurance and Social Security disability claims.
The UK Government is developing welfare reforms for 2027 that could affect around one million young people, potentially changing access to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Universal Credit through a separate benefits system with more intensive employment support. The Department for Work and Pensions is also reviewing the PIP assessment process to improve how it identifies the needs of people with disabilities and long-term health conditions.
Join InkludX to get personalised disability employment news, policy updates, and expert insights delivered to you.