Scottish cash will help make independent living a reality

By Sunil Peck

Disability campaigners have welcomed new funding of £600,000 from the Scottish government that will support moves towards an independent living strategy.

Last week, campaigners said the government was making good progress in implementing the recommendations of a report by the Scottish Parliament's equal opportunities committee on achieving greater equality.

But the committee expressed concerns that the government had failed to make a promised announcement on independent living.

Announcing the new money this week, the Scottish government said the funding would support the work of a group of government representatives, public bodies and disabled people’s organisations who will be discussing ways of removing barriers to greater equality for disabled people in housing, transport, education and employment.

Communities minister Stewart Maxwell said: “We recognise that independent living, in its fullest sense, is still out of reach for some.

“Working in partnership with disabled people and other public bodies, the approach I am setting out today will help us to determine what we need to do to deliver long-term change for disabled people across Scotland."

Morag Alexander, Scotland commissioner for the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said it could take years to make independent living a reality.

But she added: “The government’s announcement today is an encouraging statement of purpose towards increasing disabled people’s autonomy."

Bill Campbell, project manager at Inclusion Scotland, said he looked forward to independent living being the cornerstone of social policy.

He said: "We very much appreciate the work done over the last year by all the different sections and departments of the Scottish government who worked together to make this announcement possible."

Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living chief executive Etienne d’Aboville added: "This initiative presents an unprecedented opportunity to address the barriers to independent living and to finally make it a reality for disabled people in Scotland."