A Fairer Scotland for Disabled People: summary

Foreword by Dr Jim Elder-Woodward OBE

The great Mahatma Gandhi once said:
'The future depends on what we do in the present.'

It is the case, for example, that the bright, rosy future depicted by the good intentions behind many pieces of domestic legislation and international conventions quite often play out very dimly in the day-to-day lives of many disabled people.

Whether or not the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities ( UNCRPD) will be any different will depend upon what we do today. And by 'we,' I mean everyone involved in the lives and futures of disabled people, of all ages; be they politicians, civil servants, professionals, local government officers, carers (both formal and informal) and of course, we, disabled people, ourselves.

The Scottish Government has made a sterling start in preparing this Disability Delivery Plan. They have involved disabled people and their organisations in its development.

I am honoured to have been asked to write this Foreword and wish to thank everyone who has contributed to it for their hard work and commitment. But, to everyone charged to take this Delivery Plan forward, I urge you to remember Mahatma Gandhi, and turn it into a Plan which will deliver; for what good we do today, will transform the lives of disabled people tomorrow.

Dr Jim Elder-Woodward OBE
Independent Chair
Scottish Independent Living Coalition

'It is vital that action to make disabled people's human rights a reality is led by us, disabled people ourselves. Only we know first-hand what needs to be done.'

Dr Sally Witcher OBE
Chief Executive, Inclusion Scotland