Charity No. SC 031619
Inclusion Scotland (IS) is an innovative consortium of disabled peoples' organisations and individual disabled people. Through a process of structured development, we aim to draw attention to the physical, social, economic, cultural and attitudinal barriers that affect our everyday lives as disabled people in Scotland. We aim to encourage a wide understanding of those issues throughout mainstream thought in Scotland. In short, we want to reverse the current social exclusion experienced by disabled people through civil dialogue, partnerships, capacity building, education, persuasion, training and advocacy.
For many years, disabled people have been trying to make representations to all sectors of society to prove that they are capable of speaking for themselves and organising appropriate facilities, which reflect their needs.
Whilst there are disability-led organisations operating independently throughout Scotland, there has been a positive desire and demand by disabled people and their organisations, since the mid-1980s, that there should be a national disability-led organisation in Scotland. Disabled people and their organisations have been consistently clear that existing and former structures had little relevance to them or their aims and objectives.
Attempts were made throughout those years to bring about change in the voluntary sector to make it more relevant. representative and responsive to the needs and aspirations of disabled people in Scotland.
With devolution and a new Parliament there is now a call from the grassroots of the disability movement to start afresh with a new National movement based on the twin concepts of adhering to the Social Model of Disability and leadership by disabled people themselves.
Our aims are:
- The formation and development of a democratic organisation whose core values subscribe to the social model of disability, the concept of user leadership which encourages openness, transparency and inclusion.
- Consultancy, advocacy, training and enablement of individuals to access information.
- To act as a conduit of the voice of disabled people in Scotland and encourage and support capacity building.
- To be a proactive rather than a reactive organisation.
We intend to use our life and managerial experience, which has been developed over many years, to bring about positive change in how disabled people are viewed in our society and to promote and achieve greater social inclusion for disabled people in Scotland. We will continue to identify the societal barriers, which face disabled people and offer practical advice on how to remove those barriers.
Our membership has wide-ranging skills relating to management of organisations at local and national level. We have an extensive knowledge of disability issues, legislation, societal and environmental barriers and the value of training in bringing about positive change.
In furtherance of our aims we will:
- Assist in developing local and national policies, which take account of the Social Model of disability.
- Create standards for disability equality trainers and, where there are gaps in provision, carry out disability equality training.
- Explore the establishment of approved training for trainers with colleges/universities.
- Support the setting up of Access Panels run by disabled people themselves and, where there are gaps in provision, carry out access audits.
- Develop a database of groups and individuals within local communities with an interest/knowledge in various fields to assist in policymaking at all levels.
To assist us in these challenges we need the support of the other stakeholders and social partners throughout Scotland. Therefore, we would ask your organisation to consider supporting Inclusion Scotland in two ways;
- By becoming members of IS, and
- Assist us to identify local groups of disabled people in your area who could join us.
At present we have some sixty groups, from all parts of Scotland, who have shown an interest in our work. We are sure that with your help and co-operation we can identify many more.
We sincerely hope that your organisation will give us your full support by becoming members of Inclusion Scotland (see *Join Us on this web site).
If you require any further information please contact us.
We look forward to hearing from you in the very near future.
Bill Campbell
Projects Development Manager
