Epilepsy Scotland commissioned SCER and the FAI to undertake a scoping exercise to understand better the impact of epilepsy on employment and work in Scotland. Labour market data suggests that people with epilepsy experience significant labour market and workplace disadvantage and, even in the context of the overall disability employment gap, are significantly less likely that people with other disabilities to be in employment. The review finds inconsistencies and gaps in the data available on epilepsy and employment, however, making unclear the extent and scope of this disadvantage. It highlights that there has been little improvement for decades in the quality of data in this area, and that despite the existence of protections against disability discrimination and the availability of policy and practice interventions that might support people with epilepsy in employment, there is little understanding of how interventions and support might and do work. The review concludes by considering how better knowledge of epilepsy as a variable condition might shape interventions that can improve inclusion, and by highlighting how data limitations are harming the design, development and deployment of potentially positive interventions.
The research team includes Patricia Findlay and Johanna McQuarrie, Scottish Centre for Employment Research and Emma Congreve, Fraser of Allander Institute at University of Strathclyde.