National Transitions to Adulthood - strategy for young disabled people: supplementary report

Foreword

In June 2025 the Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) published the National Transitions to Adulthood Strategy for Young Disabled People 2025–2030. The ambitions of the Strategy are to ensure that every young disabled person in Scotland feels confident in their transition to adulthood and is empowered and supported to control their own path to success. Our shared aim is to make processes clearer, more coordinated, and responsive to individual needs. This means continuing to ensure early planning, good communication, person-led approaches and embedding the Principles of Good Transitions across all relevant policies and practices.

The Strategy recognises that transitions can be complex and that experiences vary greatly. It also acknowledges the variation in local contexts and the individuality of each young person’s journey. The Strategy is not about imposing uniform solutions; it is about creating frameworks that enable choice, dignity, and empowerment.

COSLA and Scottish Ministers remain committed to working together to deliver the ambitions of the National Transitions to Adulthood Strategy for Young Disabled People 2025–2030. We committed in the Strategy to publish this Supplementary Report to bring together, in a more strategic and coherent way, some of the existing policies, legislation, plans and activities, which contribute to improving transitions to adulthood for young disabled people.

This Supplementary Report speaks to the heart of the strategy: ensuring that transitions are not only well-coordinated but fundamentally person-led, responsive to individual aspirations, and inclusive of the diverse needs of all young disabled people. This Supplementary Report demonstrates where this is already happening and where there is more work to be done.

By working together we aim to ensure that every young disabled person in Scotland can move confidently into adulthood, supported by systems that listen, adapt, and deliver. We will keep listening to young disabled people, their families and carers, and practitioners, and work collaboratively to ensure that support is joined up and accessible. By doing so, we hope to make transitions a more positive and empowering experience for all young disabled people in Scotland.

Natalie Don-Innes MSP

Minister for Children, Young People and the Promise

Kaukab Stewart MSP

Minister for Equalities

Councillor Paul Kelly

COSLA Spokesperson for Health and Social Care