Disabled People’s Organisation across Scotland have written to the First Minister to urge him to use the next parliamentary session to tackle the ‘human and social catastrophe’ faced by disabled people.

Humza Yousaf will today unveil his government’s priorities for the 2023/24 as MSPs return to the chamber after their summer break.

In a letter written by the Glasgow Disability Alliance (GDA), and co-signed by leading DPOs across Scotland, the group call for Mr Yousaf to use this as an opportunity to show his commitment to prioritising disabled people in his policies.

They are asking the First Minister to drive forward an immediate priorities plan to tackle poverty and inequalities it says are ‘blighting lives and eroding rights’ and even leading to premature deaths.

The letters says there has in Scotland been a gap in political leadership when it comes to disabled people who have ‘fallen through the cracks’ and been left feeling dehumanised and deprioritised.

Disabled people in Scotland are said by the Scottish Human Rights Commission to be experiencing ‘unrelenting attacks on their human rights’, with worsening poverty rates, spiralling cost of living and cuts to social care worsening the situation for many.

Almost half of all people in poverty are thought to be living in a household with at least one disabled member.

Last month, the Commission came in front of the United Nations (UN) to call for immediate improvements in Scotland so disabled people can access employment, independent living and an adequate standard of living.

Disabled People’s Organisations are now asking to be involved directly in the planning and design of policies, which it says currently lack disability competence and work to widen the inequalities.

The letter also says that the initial high hopes of DPOs of the new National Care Service transforming delivery and standards have been damaged with the Verity House agreement, which will see local authorities retain their role in social care.

DPOs says the needs of people who use social care have been diluted and in some cases missing in these negotiations and decision making.

The group is today urging the First Minister to empower and enable his government to take real action on inequalities faced by disabled people by fully resourcing an immediate priorities plan, with a commitment to do so included in today’s Programme for government.

 

Full list of DPOs backing the letter:

Disability Equality Scotland

Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living

Glasgow Disability Alliance

Inclusion Scotland

Lothian Centre for Inclusive Living

People First Scotland

Self-Directed Support Scotland

 

Read more: UN told rights of disabled people in ‘crisis’; Voices of disabled key to policy development; Cost-of-living ‘catastrophic' for disabled people; New Disabled Children and Young People Transition Bill; Scotland prioritises neuro-inclusion, says government

 

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