Disability Equality Plan Equality Impact Assessment Executive Summary

Chapter 3: Assessing the Impacts and Identifying Opportunities to Promote Equality

Having reviewed the available data and evidence, this chapter assesses the potential impact of the actions in the Disability Equality Plan on people with protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010. A holistic approach is taken by evaluating each thematic area of the Plan as a package of actions and associated policies.

This EQIA considers the cumulative impact of the Plan as a whole. However, many individual actions will require further detailed EQIAs as they are developed and implemented. Ongoing and meaningful engagement with Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs) will be essential throughout the design, implementation, and monitoring phases to maximise positive outcomes.

The analysis groups protected characteristics under each theme where shared or intersecting impacts exist. The assessment aligns with Section 149 of the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED), which requires public authorities to give due regard to the need to:

1. Eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation, and other prohibited conduct;
2. Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not; and
3. Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.

In line with Regulation 5 of the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) (Scotland) Regulations 2012, listed authorities must assess the impact of proposed new or revised policies or practices against these three elements.

A collaborative, people led approach

Disability, race, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief.

Impact: positive

Rationale: Evidence presented in Chapter 2 highlights significant inequalities experienced by disabled people—particularly those with multiple protected characteristics—in areas such as emergency planning, climate adaptation, public health, and service access in rural and island communities.

Actions under this theme focus on the meaningful involvement of DPOs in resilience and emergency planning, and in shaping the Just Transition Framework. Embedding DPO participation ensures that the diverse needs of disabled people are considered in the development of inclusive, responsive policies.

The commitment to Fairer Funding aims to strengthen the capacity of DPOs, enabling them to represent and support a wider range of disabled individuals, including those facing multiple and intersecting barriers to participation in civic life.

Marriage and Civil Partnership, Pregnancy and Maternity

Impact: neutral

Rationale: We have not identified any particular impacts on disabled people in relation to these protected characteristics at this stage. This will be kept under consideration as the actions within the Plan develop and this EQIA updated as required.

Disability Competence

Disability, race, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief

Impact: positive

Rationale:

There is an identified lack of understanding across Scottish Government of the barriers faced by disabled people, particularly those with additional protected characteristics. Developing a government-wide disability competence programme in collaboration with DPOs will build greater awareness and understanding among policymakers.

This initiative will enable more inclusive policy design, ensuring that services reflect the diverse lived experiences of disabled people. It will also provide a foundation for extending disability competence work across the wider public sector in the next phase of the Plan. A separate EQIA may be undertaken as this programme evolves

Marriage and Civil Partnership, Pregnancy and Maternity

Impact: neutral

Rationale: We have not identified any particular impacts on disabled people in relation to these protected characteristics at this stage. This will be kept under consideration as the actions within the Plan develop and this EQIA updated as required.

Leadership and accountability

Disability, race, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief

Impact: positive

Rationale: Leadership and accountability actions provide mechanisms for disabled people, including those with additional protected characteristics, to shape government policy. The annual Cabinet Takeover will offer a direct forum for disabled people to raise key issues with Ministers.

An accountability framework has been established to support effective delivery of the Plan and track progress. A mid-phase survey (2026–2027) will assess lived experiences and help evaluate the impact of actions, with a specific focus on the perspectives of disabled people with intersecting identities.

Marriage and Civil Partnership, Pregnancy and Maternity

Impact: neutral

Rationale: We have not identified any particular impacts on disabled people in relation to these protected characteristics at this stage. This will be kept under consideration as the actions within the Plan develop and this EQIA updated as required.

Financial support for disabled households

Disability, race, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief

Impact: positive

Rationale: Actions under this theme are designed to improve access to support and services for disabled people, particularly those who are further marginalised.

Investment in the plan will support initiatives benefiting groups such as LGBTI disabled people, those shielding from Covid-19, and people from ethnic minority backgrounds.

The co-design of a social tariff mechanism—together with energy suppliers, consumer organisations and DPOs—offers opportunities to tailor support to the specific needs of marginalised disabled people. Improvements in the accessibility of Scotland’s social security system and the evaluation of the Independent Advocacy Service will help remove barriers to benefits uptake, particularly for people who face discrimination or lack of information.

Marriage and Civil Partnership, Pregnancy and Maternity, Religion or Belief

Impact: neutral

Rationale: We have not identified any particular impacts on disabled people in relation to these protected characteristics at this stage. This will be kept under consideration as the actions within the Plan develop and this EQIA updated as required.

Mental health

Although this will likely have a positive impact on Disability, race, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment and no/a neutral impact on Marriage and Civil Partnership, Pregnancy and Maternity, Religion or Belief, across all the tests of an EQIA, more details on impacts can be found at Mental health and wellbeing delivery plan: equality impact assessment - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Independent Living and human rights

Disability, race, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief

Impact: positive

Rationale: Actions to improve access to the Independent Living Fund, especially for people facing the most significant barriers, will support up to 1,000 disabled individuals. Choice and control over personal support is especially empowering for disabled people who may experience discrimination in other aspects of their lives. For instance, LGBT+ disabled people may use self-directed support to hire personal assistants who respect their identities.

Planned engagement on Scotland’s future Human Rights Bill will ensure that intersectional experiences of disabled people are reflected. DPOs will be central in ensuring these protections address the realities of multiple disadvantage.

Marriage and Civil Partnership, Pregnancy and Maternity

Impact: neutral

Rationale: We have not identified any particular impacts on disabled people in relation to these protected characteristics at this stage. This will be kept under consideration as the actions within the Plan develop and this EQIA updated as required.