Inclusion Scotland

Inclusion Scotland (IS) is a consortium of organisations of disabled people and disabled individuals. 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 work to promote Independent living. This means all disabled people having the same freedom, choice, dignity and control as other citizens at home, at work and in the community. It does not necessarily mean living by yourself or fending for yourself. It means rights to practical assistance and support to participate in society and live an ordinary life.

 We believe that people are not disabled because of a medical condition, but by barriers like:

• Other people’s negative attitudes and lack of awareness;
• Inaccessible buildings, transport and communication methods;
• Poverty arising from cuts to benefits, social care charges, extra costs, and discrimination by employers;
• Services that should support us to live as full and equal citizens instead taking away our freedom, choice and control; and
• Lack of information and power to make our voices heard;

None of these barriers are inevitable 

We inform disabled people about their human rights and take action to embed them into policy, practice and everything we do.

We promote co-production. Co-production means working with other groups with an interest in the subject, including whoever has the power to act. It means working as equal partners, from the start, before decisions are taken, in order to achieve an agreed outcome.