Our Vision

Scottish Disability Equality Forum (SDEF) continues to work towards the removal of barriers to independent living for disabled people. As part of our 3 year strategy, we are looking to improve our outreach across Scotland, building new relationships between partner organisations, public bodies, access panels and members to improve disabled people’s right to choice, dignity and control over how they live their lives. Amongst many other activities, we are focusing on the following outcomes to achieve that aim.

Increase awareness of the Independent Living Movement

We will raise awareness of the principles of Independent Living in our newsletters, on our website, and through training and events held in conjunction with other organisations and projects. The principles of independent living underpin everything which SDEF aims to achieve.

Increase awareness and prevention of Hate Crime in Scotland

SDEF will be working with Policy Diversity and Equality Groups, Procurator Fiscal Services and Equality Officers to improve engagement with disabled people across Scotland. We will also raise awareness of what Hate Crime is, how to report it, and who to report it to. The more who act on hate crime, the more we can do to prevent it.

Working to Redesign Public Services - together

Redesigning public services only makes sense if the people it’s designed for are ‘at the table’ from the start. Together with partner organisations, we will support members to engage productively with Local Authorities, NHS, planning groups, and with other public bodies to ensure that disabled people’s rights and wishes are acted upon at a local and national level.

Working Towards Removing Barriers to Equality in Employment

We will work with employability groups and organisations to improve understanding of the barriers which disabled people experience when looking for a job. We will also work towards educating tomorrow’s employers - young enterprisers and new businesses - to move towards a more positive view of disability within the private sector. Access Panels will be supported to signpost local disabled people effectively.

Increase awareness of Disability Equality and Public Sector Equality Duty

SDEF is working with other equality organisations to broaden the understanding of Disability Equality and to take a more holistic view of the protected characteristics. For example, a person may have a disability and be discriminated against on account of their gender. We are working with several organisations to do this.

Encourage Engagement of Disabled People at Local, Regional and National Levels

The more disabled people who engage, the louder the voice of disabled people will be. We will work with other organisations to promote membership, improve availability of information and access to inclusive formats. We are also working with Community Outreach contacts and other parliamentary bodies to encourage greater engagement at a grassroots level.

Work to improve the sustainability of Access Panels across Scotland

SDEF will also be working very closely with the Access Panels to help them to grow and develop, and to provide a wider range of support to disabled people within their local communities.

You can read more about this project under ‘Access Panels’.

Provide Ongoing Support in Access and Design

Our Access Team will also continue with their core work of providing guidance on good practice in access and design, with personal, email and telephone support. Keith, our Disability Access Officer is always on hand to ensure that members have the best advice when it comes to planning and accessible design.

So now that you have a brief overview of what SDEF are doing, we hope that you will join us in our continued work towards a more positive and inclusive future for disabled people in Scotland.