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

5. Island Communities Impact Assessment

The actions within the Strategy seek to further embed the broad principles of good transitions to help guide, inform and smooth transitions processes in all areas of a young disabled person’s life, rather than focussing on specific destinations, sectors or services.

Specific provisions which have been incorporated to mitigate any unintended consequences on Island communities which include:

• Statement of Intent consultation carried out through online questionnaire, therefore open to everyone with an interest in improving transitions across Scotland
• Strategic Group meetings held online
• Engagement events held online
• Using Dialogue, an online resource for professionals and practitioners to help ensure as many stakeholders as possible are able to help shape the strategy

These mitigations will be considered as the Strategy moves into an implementation phase. Whilst there may be some different experiences for young disabled people on island communities (for example, access to transport may be more limited), these are not significantly different when compared to mainland or between island groups. Some areas on the mainland also experience some of the challenges highlighted. The Strategy will not be able to within its remit be able to change or add services. The conclusion is therefore that a full Islands Community Impact Assessment is NOT required for the National Transitions to Adulthood Strategy.

5.1 A full Islands Community Impact Assessment is NOT required

In preparing the ICIA, the team has formed an opinion that the Strategy is NOT likely to have an effect on an island community which is significantly different from its effect on other communities (including other island communities).

Rationale

Whilst there may be some different experiences for young disabled people on island communities (e.g. access to transport may be more limited), these are not significantly different when compared to mainland or between island groups. Some areas on the mainland also experience some of the challenges highlighted. The Strategy will not be able to, within its remit, change or add services. The conclusion is therefore that a full Islands Community Impact Assessment is not required for the National Transitions to Adulthood Strategy for Young Disabled People.

The actions within the Strategy seek to further embed the broad principles of good transitions to help guide, inform and smooth transitions processes in all areas of a young disabled person’s life, rather than focussing on specific destinations, sectors or services. This should therefore support improvement of experience of transitions across Scotland.

By continuing to engage with communities across Scotland, the implementation of actions agreed within the Strategy can be developed to improve or mitigate, for island communities, the outcomes resulting from it.