Disability Equality Plan Equality Impact Assessment Executive Summary

Chapter 1: Background and Scope

Introduction

This EQIA is structured into three chapters:

• Chapter 1 outlines the background and scope of the Disability Equality Plan.
• Chapter 2 provides data and evidence relating to disabled people in Scotland, including intersections with other protected characteristics.
• Chapter 3 assesses how the Plan’s actions may impact people with protected characteristics and identifies any measures needed to maximise benefits or mitigate negative outcomes.

Background

The Disability Equality Plan seeks to promote equality and improve the lives of disabled people across Scotland. It forms part of a wider government commitment—as outlined in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 Programmes for Government—to strengthen disability competence within policy and decision-making processes.

This is a short-term initiative covering the next 12–18 months. In its initial phase, the Plan will focus on creating the conditions for long-term change by establishing governance structures and improving accountability for disability equality within government.

During its development, the Scottish Government agreed with key DPOs to establish a Short-Life Working Group (SLWG) to inform and shape the Plan. This group, chaired by officials from the Equality and Inclusion Division, includes representatives from core-funded DPOs and was designed to ensure rapid and comprehensive engagement. Broader consultation was also carried out with the Scottish Independent Living Coalition—a wider network of DPOs.

The scope of the EQIA

As the Disability Equality Plan and its actions focus primarily on disabled people, the analysis in this EQIA is centred on their experiences. Other protected characteristics are considered through the lens of intersectionality—i.e. how being disabled may interact with other identities, such as being LGBT+, a person of colour, or of a particular faith. This EQIA outlines the policy development process, the rationale behind decisions, and the steps taken to address potential negative impacts or to maximise positive outcomes and advance equality.

A range of evidence sources has informed this assessment, including insights from the Short-Life Working Group (SLWG), which has played a key role in shaping the Plan.

In assessing the potential impacts of the Plan, the EQIA considers the following key questions:

• Does the policy eliminate discrimination for people with each of the nine protected characteristics? If not, is any resulting discrimination justifiable or capable of mitigation?
• Does the policy advance equality of opportunity for people with protected characteristics?
• Does the policy foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not?