National Transitions to Adulthood Strategy for young disabled people: equality impact assessment

Summary of impacts for each protected characteristic:

The potential impact of the actions in the Strategy with protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010 have been thoroughly assessed and a summary of this assessment is below.

Age

Impact: Positive / Neutral

Rationale: According to the 2022 Census, approximately 14.1% of Scotland’s population is aged 14-25. As the Strategy is designed to positively impact all disabled young people within this age group, its reach is significant.

The Strategy aims to address the recurring challenges identified during engagement, including:

• Stress and uncertainty
• Abrupt changes in service eligibility
• Poor coordination between child and adult services
• Inadequate planning and lack of clear information

By focusing on ages 14 to 25, the Strategy promotes continuity of support, as evidenced by lived experience feedback. However, the fixed age range may exclude individuals who require ongoing support beyond their 26th birthday. Additionally, inconsistencies in how services define adulthood (e.g. UNCRC vs. Children’s Hearings Scotland) may create barriers to accessing appropriate support. These issues could result in indirect discrimination if not mitigated through flexible service design and clear communication.

Despite these risks, the Strategy is likely to benefit a wider population by improving coordination across services and enhancing communication with young disabled people and their families. It promotes positive outcomes through early intervention, consistent support, and empowerment, recognising that transitions affect not only the young person but also their families and carers.

Disability

Impact: Positive

Rationale: From the 2022 census data approximately 21.4% of the Scottish population reported having a long-term illness, disease or condition that qualifies as a disability under the Equality Act 2010 and trends suggest this is increasing. Additionally, the 2016 Scottish Household Survey found that 42% of households include at least one disabled person, and in April 2025 89,400 children (approximately 10.9% of the Scottish child population) received Child Disability Payment and 476,295 people (8.8% of the Scottish population) received Adult Disability Payment. These statistics highlight the broader societal impact and the importance of inclusive, family-centred approaches in transitions planning.

The Strategy utilises the Equality Act 2010 definition of disability to ensure legal clarity, inclusivity, and consistency across public services, and it advocates for the social model of disability; viewing barriers in society as the causes of exclusion.

By adopting a pan-impairment approach, the Strategy avoids reliance on formal diagnoses and instead focuses on the functional impact of impairments, reflecting the social model of disability. This ensures broader access to support, particularly for those with fluctuating, hidden, or undiagnosed conditions, and reflects a commitment to inclusive, person-centred planning.

The Strategy’s promotion of ARC’s principles of good transitions will have positive impacts on disabled people and support person-centred decision making for their care. Positive impacts are expected through improved coordination, early planning, and empowerment of young disabled people in shaping their own transitions.

However, risks remain if services continue to rely on formal diagnoses or inconsistent eligibility criteria, which could exclude individuals with fluctuating or less visible conditions. Without clear guidance and consistent implementation, there is a risk of indirect discrimination or unequal access to support. The Strategy’s emphasis on inclusive planning and national standards seeks to mitigate these risks and promote equitable outcomes for all young disabled people.

Sex

Impact: Positive / Neutral

Rationale: While the Strategy is not intentionally gender-specific, it is expected to have positive or neutral impacts across sexes due to its inclusive, person-centred approach. It applies to all young disabled people aged 14–25 and aims to improve outcomes through early planning, coordinated support, and empowerment.

Evidence shows that lone parent households (92% of which are led by women) make up 25% of all families in Scotland. Around 11% of families include a disabled child, and 6% include both a disabled adult and child. As such, improvements in transitions for young disabled people may have a disproportionately positive impact on women, particularly those in lone parent households by improving access to support.

Young women are more likely to be economically inactive due to caring responsibilities, including teenage pregnancy or providing unpaid care for over 20 hours per week. Conversely, young men face higher unemployment rates and are more likely to be identified with additional support needs (ASN). These disparities highlight the importance of a Strategy that supports all young disabled people, regardless of sex, while recognising that the consequences of poor transitions may manifest differently. The Strategy’s commitment to co-production, inclusive communication, and reasonable adjustments supports the Public Sector Equality Duty by advancing equality of opportunity and eliminating discrimination.

Race

Impact: Neutral / Negative

Rationale: We know from the 2022 census that 12.9% of Scotland's population identified as belonging to a minority ethnic group, marking an increase from 8.2% in 2011. It is expected that disabled people from minority ethnic backgrounds may face compounded disadvantage, particularly in relation to employment, access to services, and cultural barriers.

Evidence shows that minority ethnic adults in Scotland experience higher unemployment and lower participation in education and training compared to white peers. However, the Strategy does not include race-specific actions or disaggregated data, limiting its ability to address these disparities directly.

While the Strategy’s pan-impairment and person-centred approach is inclusive by design, the lack of targeted engagement or analysis by race and ethnicity means the impact on this protected characteristic is currently neutral, with potential for negative outcomes if intersectional barriers are not addressed in implementation. These limitations will be explored further in the following section alongside recommendations improved data collection, culturally competent service delivery, and monitoring to ensure equitable outcomes across all racial and ethnic groups.

Gender Reassignment, Religion, Sexual Orientation

Impact Neutral / Negative

Rationale: While the Strategy is inclusive through its pan-impairment and person-centred approach, it does not include targeted actions or analysis specific to gender reassignment, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. The Strategy adopts a pan-impairment and person-centred approach and is intended to be inclusive for the benefit of all young disabled people, including those with protected characteristics such as gender reassignment, religion or belief, sexual orientation, and pregnancy and maternity. However, there is limited disaggregated data and no targeted engagement or actions specific to these groups.

• In reference to gender reassignment and sexual orientation; there are likely additional barriers for young disabled people including discrimination from professionals lacking intersectional awareness, and a lack of coordinated support for complex needs.
• In reference to religion or belief; no specific barriers were identified in the data analysis or engagements however the Strategy assumes, rather than ensures, cultural competency in service delivery.
• Regarding pregnancy and maternity, the EQIA states that while the Strategy is not focused specifically on this characteristic, it may still benefit young people who are pregnant or affected by maternity. However, this characteristic was not assessed in full, and no specific feedback or targeted actions were identified.

There is limited disaggregated data available on the experiences of young disabled people within these groups, and no evidence of tailored engagement or mitigations to address potential intersectional barriers. This lack of data and targeted consideration limits the ability to assess or address specific inequalities, particularly where individuals may face compounded discrimination.

As a result, the impact across these characteristics is assessed as neutral, with potential for negative outcomes if intersectional needs are not addressed during implementation. The following section discusses limitations and recommends improvements including around data collection, inclusive service design, and ongoing monitoring, to ensure equitable outcomes for all protected groups.

Intersectional and human rights impacts

Young disabled people may face compounded inequalities due to multiple protected characteristics such as race, gender, or socio-economic status. It recommended that transition planning must be sensitive to these intersecting factors. For example, disabled women from ethnic minorities face greater barriers in employment and education. Young people with learning disabilities often experience exclusion from mainstream planning processes.

The Strategy aligns with:

• UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC): Emphasising the right of children including, but not limited to, expression of views and participating in decisions which affect them. A Children’s rights and Wellbeing impact assessment has also been undertaken for the Strategy.
• UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD): Promoting autonomy, inclusion, and non-discrimination for disabled people.

The Strategy was co-produced with young disabled people, families, and professionals, embedding lived experience into its design. This collaborative approach supports Scotland’s broader commitments to equality, inclusion, and human dignity.

These adjustments are critical to fulfilling the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED), particularly the need to advance equality of opportunity and eliminate discrimination. These rights-based approaches support the promotion of good transitions as a person-centred journey, aligned with Scotland’s broader commitments to equality, inclusion, and human dignity.