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The Academic Network of European Disability Experts (ANED)

Statistical indicators - The development and application of indicators

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ANED Annual meeting 12 November 2013, Brussels

Professor Stefanos Grammenos (Centre for European Social and Economic Policy) presented a range of comparative data against key quantitative indicators relevant to the EU2020 strategy. These relate to headline targets agreed for the whole of the EU (with each Member State adopting its own target), with a focus on Employment, Education and Poverty and Social exclusion. The ANED indicators also considered Accessibility.

Figures were presented to enable comparison with non-disabled people in each country. There was a considerable range of experience between countries. There are common themes. The aging of population is leading to an increase in the proportion of disabled people across the range of European countries. In employment, the availability of part-time posts was clearly important to many disabled people in all countries.

It was also possible to give an indication of progress over time in relation to such indicators, by comparing figures for 2009 and 2011 (the most recent date for which figures are available). For example, during this period there was a small decrease in the employment gap between disabled and no- disabled people. There has also been a reduction of the gap between the proportion of disabled and non-disabled leavers from education and training. The proportion of disabled students in tertiary education has gone up. On the other hand, there has been a small but measurable deterioration in the numbers of disabled people living in poverty.

In discussion the complexity and limitations of statistics were emphasized. For example, whereas inclusion in employment is measured it is not clear whether this is in sheltered or subsidized employment. Frequently people living in institutions are excluded from surveys. There was felt to be a need for more statistics, for example in relation to accessibility.


Powerpoint presentation Prof. Stefanos Grammenos (PDF 1.323 kB)