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This response was informed by the lived experience of GDA members, disabled people who have a range of impairments and conditions including those with physical impairments, mobility impairments, people who are neuro-diverse, those who have learning difficulties, disabled people who are blind and deaf or who have visual or hearing impairments, people who experience mental health conditions and distress and people who have experienced head injuries among others. The age ranges were from 17+ - 65.

65 disabled people attended a specific online event, held in April 2023, including members representing the views and experiences of younger disabled people, Black, Asian and minority ethnic disabled people and LGBT disabled people.

This response also draws on GDA’s significant dialogue and intensive engagement and supports with and for disabled people over two decades, most notably over the duration of building Social Security Scotland which GDA has been closely involved with. The Report therefore draws on the lived experience shared by thousands of disabled people and reported to us.

It's been a busy year for GDA Members!

Thank you for your hard work and dedication to campaigning, contributing and working with us to make sure disabled people's voices are heard in Glasgow and beyond.

GDA Voices Programs Include:
Drivers for Change
Social Care Expert Group
Young Drivers for Change
BAME Network
LGBT Network
Women's Network

This newsletter gives a short overview of our activities in 2022.

GDA’s BAME Disabled People Network is a dedicated space for the voices, experience and expertise of disabled people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds – including disabled asylum seekers and refugees.

This report shares evidence from GDA’s recent Mental Health Research Project which also builds on findings from GDA wellbeing check-in calls and survey including failures in statutory services to provide accessible mental health supports.

It calls for holistic services that support disabled people’s physical, emotional and psychological wellbeing.

The Research finds that disabled people are aware of what is needed to support their wellbeing and how they can maintain or improve their mental health but that there is a distinct lack of support from statutory services when a disabled person requires interventions for mental ill health.

The Report calls for action across 5 areas-

1. Involve and Listen to Disabled People

2. Eliminate barriers to access

3. Invest in accessible and holistic wellbeing services

4. Address gaps in services

5. Promote and uphold human rights.

Learning & Events Bulletin Autumn 2022
• Online learning. • New in-person learning.
• Menopause support group. • GDA Peer Networks.
• Social Care Expert Group. • Drivers for Change.
• Important info about COVID-19 & flu vaccines.

GDA’s response to the National Care Service (Scotland Bill) is the result of a series of events and discussions with GDA’s Social Care Expert Group, meeting online and in person, over a number of months. This response also draws on GDA’s significant experience of dialogue with disabled people over two decades, including members representing the views and experiences of younger disabled people, Black, Asian and minority ethnic disabled people and LGBT disabled people.

The response outlines GDA’s position that the NCS must be shaped to respond to people and communities who need and use social care services.

The Bill, future amendments and the service created must also be built on rights – both human rights and the rights to Independent Living enshrined in UNCRPD Article. These rights should be enforceable.

The success of the Bill and the National Care Service it seeks to create will be dependent on more detailed amendments that make specific commitments around the creation, implementation and delivery of the service on the ground by individuals, local care boards and accountability at a Scottish Ministerial level.

Fundamentally, we support a National Care Service and firmly believe that this must be done on a National basis. However, more legislative commitment is needed to create a human rights approach to social care as an investment in society.