Disability in Denmark

As of 2011, 15.1% of people in Denmark had a basic activity disability, and 16.9% had an employment disability.[1]

Policy and legislation

Denmark signed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Optional Protocol in December 2006 and ratified it in July 2009.[2]

Employment

Denmark operates an inclusive labour market through a series of employability programmes aimed at integrating people with disabilities into the workplace. The flex Job scheme was introduced in 1998[3] to bridge the gap in employment of disabled people by allowing employers to hire those with a reduced work ability at a rate which is then subsidised by the government in order to meet the minimum wage.[4] The Flex Job scheme along with other programmes such as the 'ice breaker' scheme and the Skaane job scheme have been seen as having a positive impact on the Danish labour market as participation by those with disabilities has increased greatly since 1998.[5]:12–13

Unlike many of its European counterparts, Denmark does not use a quota system for employing disabled people because it is viewed as placing disabled people in a special category,[5]:14 and instead favours an inclusive and active labour market approach. Denmark's disability employment rate is higher than the OECD average, with 52% of disabled people in employment.[6] However, the number of people in receipt of disability pensions remains high.[7] The number of disabled people living in poverty in Denmark is also above the OECD average at 24.8%.[8]

Activism

Danske Handicaporganisationer [da] advocates for people with disabilities in Denmark.[9]

Disability culture

Arts

The Sølund Music Festival [da] is a Danish music festival designed for people with disabilities.[10]

Sport
See also: Denmark at the Paralympics

References
  1. "Disability statistics - prevalence and demographics" (PDF). Eurostat.
  2. "Disability". The Danish Institute for Human Rights. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  3. Jensen, V; Lundager, B; Christensen, AL; Fonager, K (April 2014). "Unemployment under the flex job scheme increases the risk of permanent social security benefits". Danish Medical Journal. 61 (4): A4804. PMID 24814586.
  4. Greve, Bent (April 2009), "The labour market situation of disabled people in European countries and implementation of employment policies: a summary of evidence from country reports and research studies" (PDF), Academic Network of European Disability experts (ANED) VT/2007/005: 27
  5. https://pure.sfi.dk/ws/files/292672/wp182002.pdf Hogeland & Pederson, 2002 "Active labour market policies for disabled people in Denmark" The open labour market working paper 18/2002.
  6. http://www.oecd.org/denmark/46460721.pdf
  7. Kautto & Othman, 2010 "Disability and employment - lessons from reforms" Finnish Centre for Pensions Reports 2010/4:3
  8. OECD "Sickness, disability and work: Breaking the barriers" www.oecd.org 2010, p1
  9. https://www.handicap.dk
  10. "Threat to Danish disability festival". BBC News. Retrieved 2020-09-22.
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