Meg's Hackney Gazette Column: Breaking barriers to help disabled people thrive at work

Hackney is renowned for its creative residents and workers. World class artists, photographers, chefs, musicians and actors all call the borough home. 

Graeae Theatre Company, based in a converted stable house near Hoxton station, is a jewel in Hackney’s crown. For more than 45 years it has supported disabled artists and performers into an historically inaccessible industry. 

One of the country’s first theatre companies led by deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people, Graeae is internationally renowned for its performances and workshops that highlight the experience of its artists. 

Not only has Graeae produced excellent shows and toured the world, it daily advocates for the rights of deaf and disabled people while supporting their careers. 

Graeae and Access All Areas, a theatre company making award-winning performances by learning disabled and autistic artists based in Graeae’s building, are experts in helping people access the Government’s employment support programme Access to Work. 

The Government has been clear that one of its priorities is to get more people who can work, into work. A decline in entry-level jobs, fluctuating health, and poor accessibility support is holding capable and talented people back. And insecure employment can worsen mental and physical health, keeping people locked out of society and the economy.  

The Access to Work grant supports disabled people to be able to start and sustain their careers – funding interpreters, assistive technologies, and transport. When it works, it really works: London’s Paralympics were the pinnacle. 

But recently people receiving Access to Work have seen their funding slashed for no apparent reason. The application backlog is over 60,000. While demand has grown, the funding pot has failed to keep up. 

But where there is a national problem, Hackney is there to solve it. 

I was delighted to welcome the Minister for Social Security and Disability to Graeae this month, where their insights and ideas to improve the system helped the Minister. 

It is vital that disabled people are in the conversations that shape these policies. That’s why I successfully pushed for any review of Personal Independence Payments to be co-produced with disabled people. 

Work should be accessible for everyone who wants it. It is unacceptable that talented people are unable to contribute to arts and society because they lack the support they need to work. 

For 45 years Graeae has been turning the dial for disabled people and I am determined for this to continue at Government level.