ABSTRACT
The central Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) policy recommendation is to promote work through the establishment of a system of "mutual obligations" for both society and for persons with disabilities, somewhat analogous to systems that have been established for persons receiving unemployment insurance or social assistance payments. This new OECD report provides valuable new information on the urgent need for enhanced policies to promote work for persons with disabilities. The US experience with welfare reform provides some useful lessons and gives them reasons to be both somewhat optimistic as well as very cautious about a system of "mutual obligations". The OECD Report makes abundantly clear the importance of expanding early intervention initiatives, even before people become eligible for disability benefits. The OECD report concludes that a sanctions system makes sense within the context of a much stronger societal support system.
