Learning Disability, Autism and Neurodiversity Bill - Lived Experience Advisory Panel: recruitment information

Who can apply?

We welcome applications from anyone who identifies as being learning disabled, autistic, and/or people with ADHD, dyslexia, and other neurodivergent people. You do not need a formal diagnosis to apply.

You will be representing yourself on the panel as an individual expert by experience, rather than representing the views of a specific organisation.

If you are an office-bearer (paid or unpaid) or paid staff member of an interest group that has a publicly-stated stance on the Bill or Commissioner, then you will not be able to apply for a role on this panel. Instead, we would ask that you contribute to the Bill's development via your organisation.

An office-bearer is anyone who plays a leadership role in running an organisation, such as a President, CEO, Secretary, Team Leader, etc.

If you are an unpaid volunteer or member of such an organisation who does not contribute to its day-to-day functions, you will still be free to apply to participate in this panel. This is in recognition of the fact that such persons do not usually play a key role in setting organisational direction or policy.

We have adopted this approach because we want to ensure that a diversity of voices is involved in the process of developing the Bill. As office-bearers of interest groups are already involved in our work as spokespersons of their organisations, and will continue to be so, we want to open this opportunity to more people across Scotland who we may not otherwise hear and learn from. We also want to complement the expert views offered on behalf of organisations by office-bearers with those expressed by experts, who may or may not have some involvement in those organisations, but who are not ultimately speaking on behalf of the organisation, but rather as individuals.