Inequalities and challenges experienced by disabled people in Scotland: evidence review

Executive Summary

Purpose and Context

This Evidence Review synthesises available evidence on the inequalities (where comparable data is available) and challenges experienced by disabled people in Scotland drawing on research from the period 2019-2025. It supports the Scottish Government’s Disability Equality Plan (2025), which envisions a fairer Scotland where disabled people of all ages can flourish, and fulfils Action 10 of the plan, which is to:

“Improve our approach to evidence-based policy making and align with the Equality Evidence Strategy 2023-2025 so we can measure improvements in disabled people’s lives. We will gather and publish new, robust, quantitative and qualitative evidence, that is both disability-specific and intersectional.”

This Evidence Review therefore aims to address this commitment by publishing a report gathering together evidence which focuses on existing disability-specific and intersectional evidence covering inequalities and challenges, on which future recommendations can be made for improving the lives of disabled people in Scotland. This report will be used to support ongoing discussions with Disabled People’s Organisations.

Methodology

Scoping for relevant evidence about disabled people included publications from 2019 to August 2025, focusing existing inequalities (where comparable data exists) and challenges for disabled people in Scotland, with some UK-wide sources included where Scottish data was limited. Sources include academic research, third sector reports, and official statistics such as Scotland’s Census 2022, Scottish Household Survey, and School Education Statistics. Evidence has been thematically grouped into key policy areas such as Education, Housing and Health.

There are limitations to consider in relation to the data outlined in this report, specifically that the data presented here focuses on ‘disability’ and ‘disabled people’s experiences’, rather than closely examining all individual disabilities or conditions not named as disabilities within research. For this reason, the evidence presented in this review may not reflect all disabled people’s experiences. The terminology used in this report matches the terminology used in the research being referenced.

The focus for this report is on the inequalities and challenges faced by disabled people to support conversations about policy improvement. As such, it is not reflective of any positive outcomes for disabled people, nor does it seek to illustrate areas where disabled people’s experiences or views are similar to those of non-disabled people.

Key Findings:

The majority of evidence presented below are based on publications that provide breakdowns for Scotland, however a small proportion are based on conclusions at a UK level.

Defining and Measuring Disability

• Disability is complex and there are many differing definitions and ways of measuring it. The datasets and research referenced in this report largely understand and define disability through the medical or social model.
• The current disability measurement standards used by Scottish Government are under review by the Office of National Statistics (ONS). The aim of this review is to better align with the social model and measure societal barriers faced by disabled people.

Demographics

• Capturing demographic population statistics is important to understand where to build a baseline understanding of the population. At the time of writing this report, Scotland’s Census 2022 data is the most up to date information on Scotland’s disability population.
• Scotland’s Census 2022 found that 24.1% of Scotland’s population reported a long-term limiting health condition or disability. This is an increase from the 2011 Census figures, 20%.
• The most common reported health problem or disability was ‘a long-term illness, disease of condition’, reported by 21.4% of disabled people. The second most common was mental health, reported by 11.3% of disabled people.
• When considering intersectional characteristics, there are notably high disability rates among trans individuals at 43.6%, and Gypsy/Traveller communities at 39.6%.

Labour Market

• Disabled people face significant employment barriers, with a 2024 employment rate of 51.4% and an employment gap of 31.5 percentage points between workers with a disability and those without. A UK figure reported that on average disabled people earned 17.2% less than non-disabled people in 2023-2024.
• In relation to pay gaps, UK figures report disabled women earned £4.05 less than non-disabled men in 2023-2024.
• Existing research indicates that further action is needed to support disabled people in employment. This is due to the increased number of disabled people in work in Scotland, the need to improve access for specific groups, and evidence that disabled employees may experience workplace discrimination.

Poverty, Benefits and Housing

• Disabled people can apply for and receive benefits to meet the additional costs incurred by having a disability, but they face challenges accessing and navigating these systems.
• In 2021-2024, the Scottish Government reported that poverty rates were higher among disabled people at 23%, than for those without disabilities, at 17%.
• Research reports that there are higher living costs for disabled people. When accounting for additional living costs incurred by a disability (to allow for a more balanced comparison), the poverty rate was 26% for people living with a disabled household member and 16% for those without in the same 2021-2024 period as above.
• Scottish Government data reports that in main applicants in households facing homelessness, 30% reported a mental health problem, 7% reported a physical disability, and 12% had a medical condition.
• Research reports that disabled people experience barriers to suitable housing, including lack of accessible homes and challenges in securing adaptations, and that specific disabilities require tailored solutions.

Health

• This Review viewed health through two case studies to highlight the importance of context and type of disability when exploring disabled people’s experiences:
  • Evidence demonstrates that contexts, such as COVID-19, can have a negative impact on the mental health and wellbeing of disabled people.
  • This Evidence Review found that type of disability, such as intellectual conditions, can lead to specific challenges and negative health outcomes.

Experiences of Services

• Research highlights that disabled people may report unfair treatment by public services. One study reported that 91% of disabled participants reported unfair treatment in public services and 89% avoid services due to fear of discrimination, with intersectional identities potentially facing even greater barriers.
• Funding cuts and limited access to health and social care services may mean disabled people face challenges accessing support, especially people with learning disabilities and those in low-income areas.

Children and Young People

• The Scotland’s Census 2022 showed that 11.8% of the disabled population are under 25 and 6.6% are under 18.
• Research suggests that disability is more difficult to define for children as it is can be challenging to distinguish between a disability, a developmental delay or the impact of trauma.
• Studies suggest that disabled children may face higher exclusion rates, lower expectations for advance achievement, and challenges in transitioning to adulthood, including accessing employment, housing, and mental health services.
• Research found that disabled children’s access to educational support is inconsistent and does not always meet their needs.

Discrimination

• Scottish Government statistics report that disabled people are twice as likely to experience discrimination compared to non-disabled people, 12% and 6% respectively. They are also more likely to experience harassment compared to non-disabled people (7% and 4% respectively).
• Disabled people report feeling less safe on public transport, with satisfaction and safety ratings declining between 2019 and 2023.

Crime and Justice

• According to the Scottish Crime and Justice survey 2023-24, disabled people were more likely to experience crime than non-disabled people (23.5% and 18.6% respectively).
• Disability-aggravated crimes now make up 18% of all hate crimes in 2024-25. This is the highest annual number for this type of crime since legislation on this aggravation came into force in 2010.
• Research suggests that the lower numbers for disability hate crime reported in earlier years may not be evidence of low levels of violence but rather likely under-reporting and the potential normalisation of violence against disabled people.

Conclusion

This Evidence Review found that disabled people experience inequalities in outcomes compared to people without disabilities and negative experiences across areas of Scottish society including employment, poverty, health, accessing services, education, and within their communities (discrimination and crime). The report makes the following recommendations regarding evidence of intersectionality and lived experiences of disabled people in Scotland:

• A deeper exploration of how the experiences discussed in this evidence review differ across different types of disability is required to understand where challenges are the most pressing and tailored approaches are required for policymaking.
• This report found limited evidence on intersecting characteristics. More evidence that takes an intersectional approach to disabled people’s experiences would be beneficial, particularly around ethnicity, age and gender. Equally, further exploration of how the policy areas discussed in this report may intersect is required.
• Finally, this report was able to find a large body of evidence to understand inequalities (where comparable) and challenges that disabled people face. Therefore, better use of existing data, and creation of new evidence where required, about disabled people should be used in future policymaking to progress towards the overall vision of the Disability Equality Plan.

This report provides an evidence base to inform future policy and collaborate with Disabled People’s Organisations in order to improve inequalities and challenges for disabled people in Scotland.

Scottish Government Action

We have taken significant steps in building Scotland into a place where all disabled people can live the lives they choose; with the support that they need to do so.

Our Disability Equality Plan was made in response to the challenges disabled people face. Our recent 2026/27 budget puts disabled people at the centre with £3.5 million of investment, and sets out a three-year funding settlement, all to support progress on increasing equality.

In line with our focus on financial support for disabled households, we have built a new social security system in Scotland based on dignity, fairness and respect and introduced additional benefits only available in Scotland, which we actively promote and support access to. This ensures we provide direct and targeted support to those who need it most.

Through the introduction of Child Disability Payment, Adult Disability Payment and Pension Age Disability Payment, the Scottish Government has transformed financial support for disabled people in Scotland. We are also working to support disabled people to be able to participate fully in their lives and communities.

We have implemented Specialist Employability Support through devolved employability services across all 32 Local Authorities to help more disabled people access support at the right time to enter and sustain fair work.

Through our £20.9 million Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) Adaptations Programme, a range of general and major adaptations have been delivered enabling disabled people to live safely, comfortably and independently. We have protected this budget, maintaining £20.9 million for 2026-27 to continue this vital support.

The introduction of both legislative and non-legislative measures through the National Care Service is an important step in improving the social care and community health landscape in Scotland, making it more person-centred and effective.

More widely, we have created a £1.5 million Improving Access Fund as part of our Disability Equality Plan to break down barriers and improve access to services and support.

We have also taken action to improve mental health support and services with record numbers of staff, providing more varied mental health support and services to a larger number of people than ever before. This includes investment of £84 million in our Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for adults since 2021. In addition, to help address the poorer health outcomes experienced by people with a learning disability, the Scottish Government is providing £2 million a year to NHS Boards to deliver Learning Disability Annual Health Checks which are unlocking vital further support.

While these interventions represent only some of the action we are taking to improve the lives of disabled people in Scotland, the Evidence Review leaves no doubt that we must continue to make significant strides in addressing inequality. This report provides an evidence base to inform future policy and collaborate with Disabled People’s Organisations in order to improve inequalities and challenges for disabled people in Scotland. This will be vital as we continue to deliver against our Disability Equality Plan and develop a longer-term strategy to address systemic barriers.