Policy
Scottish Disability Equality Forum
Shaping and Leading Disability Equality in Scotland
SDEF Response
Consultation
Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA)
Scottish Local Government’s Delivery Plan 2015-2018
Scottish Disability Equality Forum (SDEF) works for social inclusion in
Scotland through the removal of barriers to equality and the promotion of
independent living for people affected by disability.
We are a membership organisation, representing individuals affected by
disability, and organisations and groups who share our values. Our aim
is to ensure that the voices of people affected by disability are heard and
heeded within their own communities and at a national and political
level.
About this call for written evidence
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities (UNCRPD) is an international human rights agreement
written by and for disabled people.
COSLA is working with the Scottish Government to support the rights of
disabled people.
We have agreed that the ‘Scottish Local Government’s Delivery Plan’
works with the ‘National Delivery Plan’ from Scottish Government.
Scottish Disability Equality Forum
Office 1/7, The e-Centre, Cooperage Way, Alloa FK10 3LP
TL 01259 272064 [email protected]
Policy
The Local Government Delivery Plan is in seven sections and explains
COSLA’s commitment to:
1. Encourage disabled people to take part in local democracy
2. Work more to support Disabled People Organisations
3. Develop new plans to support disabled people into employment
with the local authority
4. Put human rights impact assessments in our policies
5. Use the Curriculum for Excellence to make sure that young people
leave education with a full understanding of the challenges faced
by disabled people
6. Produce information about councils’ policies and services in
accessible formats
7. Continue to support disabled people to take away the impact of
welfare reform
Response
SDEF supports the principal purpose of COSLA’s plan in cultivating
debate, with a view to implementing workable strategies in conjunction
with the proposed Scottish Government Delivery Plan.
12./13 SDEF welcomes COSLA’s commitment to identify and address
the needs of those who share a protected characteristic and who, as a
result of inadequate facilitation or support, are less able to participate in
public life.
Within this commitment, we would hope for dialogue around the chronic
exclusion of disabled people who are unable to engage in local groups,
activities and events due to a lack of funding for support needs, leading
to isolation and a lack of peer, medical and social support.
Scottish Disability Equality Forum
Office 1/7, The e-Centre, Cooperage Way, Alloa FK10 3LP
TL 01259 272064 [email protected]
Policy
14. Fostering good relations
Fostering good relations between persons who share relevant protected
characteristics and those who do not is vital to creating positive, tolerant
and mutually supportive communities. However, SDEF feels that this
commitment would benefit from recognition of the slow-moving nature
inherent within such a fundamental paradigm shift and the need to
commit to a holistic approach across the work of Local Authorities,
health and other public bodies under the Scottish Government’s Equality
Outcomes.
24. Local Authorities as an Employer :
It is clear that current employment initiatives such as Disability
Confident, internship programmes and employment schemes are pivotal
to encouraging employers to explore and improve their understanding of
disability equality. However, innovative approaches are needed to
achieve a higher prevalence of disability employment across Third,
Public and Private Sector employers. SDEF agrees that Local
Authorities can play a pivotal role in promoting disability equality to all
sectors through highlighting case studies, good practice and evidencing
the benefits of employing disabled people over the longer term. We also
agree strongly that DPO involvement is required from the outset to
ensure a fully inclusive process in practice, from recruitment to retention
and ultimately, retirement.
Accountability of Local Authorities to the Local Electorate
SDEF agrees with the concept of transparency through HRIAs, but
raises the concern that the level of assessment and engagement with
relevant organisations, methodologies employed, evaluation and
reporting, must be properly assessed beforehand to carry this out in a
meaningful and sustainable way. However, we strongly support any
move towards clarifying and improving local electorate understanding of
LA accountability. The same is felt in the delivery of health and social
care services; improved understanding of the impact of charging policies
and gaps in provision of care at a grass roots level will, in theory allow
for more considered and fairer outcomes for disabled
people.
Scottish Disability Equality Forum
Office 1/7, The e-Centre, Cooperage Way, Alloa FK10 3LP
TL 01259 272064 [email protected]
Policy
The Role of Local Government in Developing Communities.
There are numerous information structures which can serve to improve
engagement between local government and its local bodies, groups and
organisations. e.g. SDEF has created Local Engagement ‘Maps’ across
Scotland of local groups, Access Panels, TSIs, LA housing/planning
contacts, MSPs, Equality Officers, etc to facilitate a more joined up
approach to service and support within localities. The current mapping of
third sector organisations (MILO) is set to improve connectivity on a local
and national level. In short, Local Government has a wealth of
expertise, meaningful local knowledge and a willingness to participate
which must be used and developed more effectively.
Supporting Mobility and Independence
SDEF would strongly support a dialogue around the development of
independent Living Strategies in co-production with DPOs, bearing in
mind that this requires a full understanding of, and commitment to
addressing, the huge range of attitudinal, physical, communicative and
participatory barriers which exist. As per item 24, we would like to see
greater involvement from Local Government in championing good
practice in inclusive design, communication and engagement.
27. Digital Inclusion
SDEF supports any move towards more accessible information and has
itself, a strong online presence, combined with the provision of
accessible formats. With regard to digital participation, there continues to
be a great number of individuals who do not have access to, cannot or
choose not to use digital tools. These people cannot be reached by
tackling the digital exclusion from the ‘digital by default’ strategy and
alternatives must be available. We feel it is therefore vital to maintain
dialogue with - and funding for - support groups and advocacy
organisations who provide these alternatives, and work to close the gap
for those who experience digital exclusion.
Scottish Disability Equality Forum
Office 1/7, The e-Centre, Cooperage Way, Alloa FK10 3LP
TL 01259 272064 [email protected]
Policy
Transport
SDEF fully supports the work recently undertaken by Transport Scotland
to identify and address the huge range of issues which exist for disabled
people across Scotland and to galvanise their commitment to change
through a Joint Vision Statement. The approach being taken is that of a
long-term strategy which seeks to create a cultural shift in the way that
transport services are delivered to disabled people. Whilst it is clear that
there is a long way to go, a genuine commitment to co-production in the
development of strategies to implement change has been instrumental in
engaging disabled people and maintaining interest in the progress of this
work.
Enterprise - Self-employment
Due to the challenges often experienced by disabled people in gaining
employment, many choose to become self-employed. SDEF feels that
Local Authorities could benefit greatly from discovering more about the
challenges faced by disabled people starting up in their areas to provide
improved support and practical tools to succeed in and sustain their
businesses. Enterprise facilitation* comes in many guises and we would
hope to see a more diverse and innovative dialogue emerging around
self-employment for disabled people in Scotland.
Procurement
SDEF believes that changes to the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act
have both beneficial and detrimental elements with regard to meaningful
service delivery and the widening of the supported business criteria.
However, we support the recognition that Local Authorities must be able
to review contracts on a case by case basis and be able to make
decisions around labelling, community benefit clauses and other aspects
according to the needs of their communities. Ongoing dialogues
between Local Government, local disability organisations and other
groups are therefore vital to ensuring that procurement criteria are fair,
current and socially relevant.
Scottish Disability Equality Forum
Office 1/7, The e-Centre, Cooperage Way, Alloa FK10 3LP
TL 01259 272064 [email protected]
Policy
Lastly, SDEF fully supports the Scottish Government ‘spheres not tiers’
model which seeks to ensure that the right people are involved in
decision-making processes rather than relying on a ‘top down’ approach.
We would like to see this reflected in COSLA’s commitment to
engagement, increasing opportunity for co-production, timely and
relevant contribution and all round collaborative spirit in cultivating
meaningful debate.
*see http://sirolli.com
WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND TO THIS
CONSULTATION AND HOPE THAT OUR COMMENTS ARE OF
INTEREST.
Scottish Disability Equality Forum
Office 1/7, The e-Centre, Cooperage Way, Alloa FK10 3LP
TL 01259 272064 [email protected]