For 70 years in Britain there have been attempts to increase the number of disabled people in paid employment. They have failed to do so, even in contemporary society where, in theory at least, the Equality Act, 2010 should prevent employers from discriminating against disabled people and there has been substantial investment in increased mandatory pressure on disabled people to prepare for work and the subsidisation of their wages when they are in work. This paper argues that given this record a new approach needs to be taken, one that rather than reiterating the tired mantra of a right to work for disabled people, argues for a right not to work. The paper suggests that such a right is, in fact, closely related to demands that disabled people should have a right to work, and is required if the exploitative and disabling aspects of paid work are to be avoided.