Disabled People and Democracy: Barriers, Rights, and Representation
Democracy depends on the ability of people to participate equally in political and public life. For many disabled people in Scotland, that equality remains out of reach. As the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections approach, it is vital to examine the barriers disabled people face, the rights that should protect participation, and the importance of representation in building a fairer democracy.
Disabled people experience multiple and overlapping barriers to democratic participation. These barriers begin long before polling day. Political information is often inaccessible, campaign events may not meet basic access requirements, and opportunities to engage directly with candidates can be limited or exclusionary. For disabled people who face additional barriers related to poverty, health or caring responsibilities, participation can feel impossible.
Standing for election presents even greater challenges. Disabled people who want to become MSPs often face financial barriers, inaccessible party processes and a lack of practical support. These obstacles are not about individual capability, but about systems that fail to recognise and accommodate disabled people’s access needs. The result is a Scottish Parliament that does not reflect the diversity of the population it serves.
These barriers exist despite clear rights frameworks. Disabled people have the right to participate in political and public life on an equal basis with others. This is recognised in international human rights law and reflected in Scotland’s commitments to equality and inclusion. Participation is not a privilege. It is a right that places responsibilities on institutions, political parties and governments to remove barriers and provide support.
Representation matters because lived experience shapes decision-making. When disabled people are missing from political spaces, policies affecting disabled people are more likely to be ineffective or harmful. Decisions about social care, independent living, transport, housing and access to services are strongest when they are informed by those with direct experience of the systems involved. This is why Inclusion Scotland is pleased to host the Scottish Government’s Access to Elected Office Fund Scotland to help disabled candidates to fund access and adjustments.
The 2026 Scottish Parliament elections are a crucial moment to challenge exclusion and demand change. Creating inclusive democratic spaces means more than encouraging disabled people to vote. It means ensuring disabled people can question candidates, influence policy priorities and hold decision-makers to account.
Inclusion Scotland’s Disabled People’s Question Time is a practical example of this in practice. The event creates an accessible, disabled-led space where candidates standing for the Scottish Parliament are questioned on issues drawn directly from Inclusion Scotland’s manifesto asks. By centering disabled people’s priorities, the event helps rebalance power and strengthen democratic accountability.
Disabled People’s Question Time also sends a clear message about representation. Disabled people are not passive recipients of policy. They are experts in their own lives and have the right to shape the decisions that affect them. When disabled people are visible in political debate, it challenges stereotypes and helps build a more inclusive political culture.
Democracy in Scotland will only be as strong as its commitment to inclusion. Removing barriers, upholding rights, and improving representation are not optional extras. They are essential to a functioning democratic system.
Take part in Inclusion Scotland’s Disabled People’s Question Time and help challenge the barriers disabled people face in Scottish democracy. Attend in person or online, submit a question and be part of ensuring disabled people’s rights and voices are central to the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections.
