Disability Equality Plan is a small step but Scotland needs big leaps to deliver for disabled people.

On Friday 20^th June, Disabled Peoples’ organisations, Inclusion Scotland, Glasgow Disability Alliance, and Disability Equality Scotland hosted a joint event with the Scottish Government to launch the long-over due Disability Equality Plan. This Plan will take immediate action in a range of pressing areas to improve mental health and wellbeing, increase accessibility of advice and support services including financial support services like welfare rights and energy advice, and reduce digital exclusion. It will also create the environment needed to deliver real change by increasing accountability for disability equality and putting the lived experience of disabled people at the heart of decision making. The plan comes in context of UK Government’s plans to cut disabled people’s disability benefits.

Equalities Minister Kaukab Stewart said:

“Disabled people are facing unprecedented hardship, deepening poverty and increasing social isolation. Years of austerity, the cost of living crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic have not helped and services need to be equipped to respond to these challenges.

I am firmly opposed to the UK Government’s proposed reforms to social security and deeply concerned about the effects they will have on disabled people, people with long-term health conditions and unpaid carers. The UK Government’s own analysis estimates these will push a further 250,000 people across the UK, including 50,000 children, into poverty.

We will not mirror these changes. We are committed to safeguarding our Adult Disability Payment and upholding the dignity and rights of disabled people. Our approach is rooted in dignity, fairness and respect – not austerity- and the UK Government should follow our lead and protect the social security safety system, rather than dismantling it.

Scotland is showing that a better way is possible. The increased funding for the plan I am announcing today will build on our human rights-based approach to strengthen vital support and services for disabled people.

I want to thank all the organisations that have worked tirelessly to help shape this plan. Their insight and leadership have laid the foundation for lasting change.  We are committed to working with disabled people and their organisations, upholding the principle of ‘nothing about us, without us’. I am confident that Scotland can become a country where disabled people truly thrive.”

After disabled people’s organisations’ campaign “Disabled People Demand Justice” the Scottish Government committed a further £2.5 million investment in disabled peoples’ local, regional and national organisations. Whilst this is a hard-fought win for the many disabled people who engaged in this campaign, with rising levels of poverty and inequality experienced by disabled people, and imminent threats to disabled people’s income from UK Gov cuts to disability benefits, justice and human-rights are still to be realised for disabled people and communities.

Speaking about the launch of the plan and further investment, leaders of three disabled peoples’ organisations involved in a Short Life Working Group for the Plan said:

“This funding from the Scottish Government is a win for the collective action of disabled people and our allies. We are grateful to everyone who took part in our campaign ‘Disabled People Demand Justice’ and commend the Scottish Government for responding positively. But it is a small step, when we need big leaps; poverty and inequality experienced by disabled people remain at unacceptable levels, and we need both the Scottish Government and the UK Government to urgently invest in disabled peoples’ lives to deliver dignity and justice,” Tressa Burke, CEO, Glasgow Disability Alliance

 “This Plan and related Actions are a welcome step forward, but these will only be successful if it is properly resourced and if it there is accountability of delivery. We want this accountability to be led by disabled peoples’ organisations and disabled people themselves – genuine partnership between our organisations and the Scottish Government requires honesty and scrutiny, and that will be our focus going forward, “ Heather Fisken, CEO, Inclusion Scotland.

 “This shows the power of disabled peoples’ campaigning, and is a step in the right direction, but our campaigning work to deliver justice for disabled people will continue. This includes making sure that both the Scottish Government and the UK Government deliver dignity, security, and human rights for disabled people – that requires investing in our communities and including services- not cutting the support we rely on,” Lyn Pornaro, CEO, Disability Equality Scotland. 

Our campaigning work will continue to ensure this Disability Equality Plan makes a real and positive difference to disabled peoples’ lives, rather than being another plan filled with good intentions but poor delivery.

To read the disability equality plan please go to: https://www.gov.scot/publications/disability-equality-plan/documents/

To read more about the Disabled People Demand Justice Campaign please go to: https://gda.scot/2024/10/22/disabled-people-demand-justice/