Action On Disability - Achievements
Over the last five years the Government has undertaken a variety of activities to help improve the lives of disabled people in Scotland including:
Access panels
Further education and training
Special Educational Needs and Disability Act is being phased in - duty not discriminate in Further Education (FE) and Higher Education (HE) since September 2002; to provide aids and adaptation since September 2003; and to make physical adjustments from September 2005. Colleges in Scotland have received toolkit and a training and development programme.
Continuing implementation of the Beattie Committee Recommendations to improve transitions to further education, training and employment for young people who need additional support including: funding and mainstreaming of Careers Scotland key worker services and continuation of inclusiveness funding to build capacity across the FE sector.
School Education
A key feature of the national priorities for education in Scotland is to promote equality and help every pupil benefit from education, with particular regard paid to pupils with disabilities and special educational needs.
Education (Disability Strategies and Pupils' Records) (Scotland) Act 2002 requires education providers to have in place accessibility strategies to improve access to education for children with disabilities.
Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 modernises legislation on assessing and recording of special educational needs.
Transport
Established a Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS) to advise Scottish Ministers on the transport needs of disabled people in Scotland.
Enhancement of existing concessionary fares schemes to allow for free local bus travel within existing scheme boundaries for pensioners and disabled people, outwith the morning peak, from 30 September 2002. National scheme planned from April 2006. Extension to include free ferry journeys from April 2006.
Health and Community Care
As part of 'Fair for All' (NHS Scotland's overarching equality and diversity strategy), a 'Fair for All Disabled People' initiative is being developed. This will address issues including access to health care services, disability awareness among NHS staff and issues of communication.
Funding of the Direct Payments Scotland project is helping to put in place the support systems that are needed locally to help people manage direct payments. From June 2003 new duties under the Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002 have required Local Authorities (LAs) to offer direct payments to eligible disabled people.
Implementation of the Sensory Impairment Action Plan - recommendations to improve access to community care services for sensory impaired people.
Housing
Introduced Supporting People - a policy and funding framework to support vulnerable people in different types of accommodation and tenure. It came into effect on 1 April 2003 when responsibility for the planning and funding of housing support services transferred to LAs. The project is helping the Scottish Executive to deliver its priorities on homelessness, anti social behaviour, poverty and disability. The main client groups to benefit from housing support services include older people, disabled people and homeless people.