News: Disability Equality Scotland’s Response to Programme for Government Announcement

Disability Equality Scotland welcomes the Scottish Government’s commitment to disabled people and disabled peoples’ organisations through the Programme for Government for 2023/2024.

The re-opening of the Independent Living Fund Scotland in 2024 is very welcomed.  This was a recommendation for the Independent Review of Adult Social Care, a long-standing commitment of our government and consistently requested by disabled people’s organisations across Scotland.

We also welcome the commitment of the Government to continue to work closely with disabled people’s organisations to enable the Immediate Priorities Plan to be finalised and action to take place.   Disability competence has been committed to be developed across all departments within Scottish Government.  We strongly ask that this is created with, and delivered by, disabled people themselves.  This will give more impact and understanding of the barriers that policy makers, grant funders and others create by not considering disabled people.

We still ask that Scottish Government commit and action their pledge to scrap all care charges and that disabled people’s voices are recognised, heard, and listened to always.  Working together, collectively, and alongside each other, change can occur.