Disability equality plan

6. Next Steps

We will publish a report in 2026 on the progress made on the actions set out here, working with the governance and accountability framework. That same year, we will update and refresh this plan, priorities, and actions, in collaboration with our DPO partners.

To deliver on our commitment to a fairer Scotland where we secure equal rights for everyone where all disabled people can be supported to live and work in a place and in a way they choose, there are several longer term issues we will need to progress alongside the shorter term actions set out in this document.

These include (but are not limited to):

• Reducing the disability price tag (the amount of money needed for a disabled household to have the same standard of living as a non-disabled household).
• Reforming social care as part of our vision for the National Care Service.
• Progressing towards our existing ambition to at least halve the disability employment gap by 2038.
• Progressing towards our long-term commitment to improve the mental health and wellbeing of everyone in Scotland, including disabled people.
• Continuing to take forward the development of Scotland’s first National Transitions to Adulthood Strategy for young disabled people. This will ensure there is a joined-up approach, so they can experience a supported and positive transition to adult life.
• Continue work on ensuring disabled people can travel with the same freedom, choice, dignity and opportunity as other citizens through the Accessible Travel Framework. Transport Scotland is working with DPOs to produce a new delivery plan which will run until the end of the Accessible Travel Framework in 2026.
• Taking forward a phased approached to improvement of the Public Sector Equality Duty regime in Scotland, which will include efforts to improve the Scottish specific regulations within the limits of devolved competence. This activity is intended to improve the lives of everyone in Scotland and particularly those of people with protected characteristics. We are aware that the public sector equality duty has the potential to improve the lives of disabled people, where it is used effectively.
• Continue to progress towards our commitment to tackle all forms of hate crime, including those targeted at disabled people. We commit to improve support for victims of hate crime, improve data and evidence on hate crime, and develop effective approaches to preventing hate crime.
• Our Social Isolation and Loneliness (SIAL) Advisory Group will continue to consider priority actions to tackle social isolation and loneliness for disabled people.

Work on these commitments is ongoing and will feed into the next phase of the plan which will look at actions to address longer term, systemic barriers faced by disabled people, alongside priorities identified in coproduction with DPOs.