Inclusion Scotland is run by disabled people ourselves. This is important because disabled people know best about the barriers that prevent our full inclusion into Scottish society. We experience them every day. But we cannot remove them by ourselves. We need allies and supporters. We need those in power to hear disabled people’s voices and work with us to remove these barriers.
We believe that people are not disabled because of a medical condition, but by barriers like:
None of these barriers are inevitable – so neither are disabled people’s inequality and exclusion. Find out more about the social model of disability.
We work to promote Independent living. This means all disabled people having the same freedom, choice, dignity and control as other citizens at home, at work and in the community. It does not necessarily mean living by yourself or fending for yourself. It means rights to practical assistance and support to participate in society and live an ordinary life.
We inform disabled people about their human rights and take action to embed them into policy, practice and everything we do.
We promote co-production. Co-production means working with other groups with an interest in the subject, including whoever has the power to act. It means working as equal partners, from the start, before decisions are taken, in order to achieve an agreed outcome.
Inclusion Scotland works to make sure that decisions affecting disabled people’s daily lives are informed by their views and lived experience. Together, with our members and supporters, we work for the removal of the barriers to disabled people’s economic, social and civic inclusion, and to promote their rights, choices and voices, as full and equal citizens.
We regret we do not have the resources to give advice to individual disabled people about problems with benefits or services.
