We have launched our Manifesto for a Fairer Scotland for Disabled People. In the run up to the Holyrood Election we'll be sharing short videos of GDA members talking us through the asks. Today we share Ask 1. Make ends meet for disabled people.

You can read the full GDA manifesto here: gda.scot/.../gda-manife…

Hear GDA members share more about our manifesto: Ask 2. Ensure all disabled people who want to work can do so. We face barriers to work & the Disability Employment Gap remains at 31.5%. Change is needed to make work possible & sustainable for disabled people who want to work.

You can read more from our Manifesto for a Fairer Scotland for Disabled People here: gda.scot/2026/03/23/gda…

With just a day to go til our hustings, GDA members tell us more key points from our manifesto. Ask 3. Invest in public services which uphold disabled people’s freedom and opportunities. #Holyrood2026 #GDAManifesto

GDA’s #Holyrood2026 Hustings is underway! Bringing over 150 disabled people together in person and more online to put the issues that matter to them to Patrick Harvie, David Linden, Vonnie Sandlan, Kim Schmulian, Grant Toghill 🔶 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 & Brian Whittle OLY, chaired by the fabulous Pennie Taylor.

You can see the themes likely to come up in #GDAManifesto for a Fairer Scotland for Disabled People. gda.scot/2026/03/23/gda…

GDA’s Purple Poncho Players use songs & drama to bring to life disabled people’s reality to the #Holyrood2026 hustings candidates. The impact of poor social care, inadequate income, being shut out of decision-making over polices & services that affect us are powerfully laid bare.

GDA’s CEO Tressa Burke tells #Holyrood2026 Hustings the #GDAManifesto shows our strong & collective resolve to make disabled people’s lives better & to make a Fairer Scotland for us. Tressa cites stark evidence from our Member Survey to show why this is so vital.

Disabled people frequently experience stigma, including from services, healthcare and even their own family. This can result in mental health issues, social isolation, and challenges in self-identity.

But political attacks on disabled people could backfire. UK Gov proposed cuts to disability benefits were VERY unpopular. More than 2/3 of the public were opposed if people lost support rising to ¾ opposed if people who need help to feed, wash or go to the toilet lost support.

.Tressa Burke delivers GDA’s call to action for #Holyrood2026: Disabled people deserve to have the same freedom and opportunities as everyone else. Ordinary things that others take for granted need to become reality for disabled people – not out of reach, impossible dreams.

Freedom to lead our own lives and contribute to families, workplaces, learning environments, communities and wider society including civic and political participation. To #Participate, be #Visible and #Represented alongside others.

GDA members reading out #GDAManifesto Asks. These are asks our members came up with during multiple, highly participative sessions where they told us their demands of the political parties and candidates for #Holyrood2026 #Participation #PeerSuport #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs ✊

And now it’s over to the candidates at the GDA #Holyrood2026 Hustings: Patrick Harvie (Greens); David Linden (SNP); Vonnie Sandlan for Glasgow Central 🌹 (Labour); Kim Schmulian (Reform); Grant Toghill 🔶 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 (Lib Dems); and Brian Whittle OLY (Tories). Why SHOULD disabled people vote for them?

Today GDA members share Manifesto Ask 4: Make it Possible for disabled people to participate & to be represented in society. 75% of disabled people we surveyed in 2025 said they were rarely able to socialise outside home due to costs, lack of access & sometimes hostile attitudes

GDA members on manifesto Ask 5 today: Strengthen & uphold disabled people’s rights. For Disabled People in Scotland equality & human rights are key concerns. The Scottish Gov shelving its proposed Human Rights Bill has furthered a sense of disabled people being deprioritised.

See more from our manifesto here: gda.scot/2026/03/23/gda…

More from our Manifesto For a Fairer Scotland for Disabled People Ask 1: Make ends meet for disabled people by; establishing schemes for affordable utilities; maintaining momentum in the disability equality plan; piloting a Minimum Income Guarantee; making our tax system fairer

GDA Wellbeing Manager Angela tells us why mental health & wellbeing services need budgets to be responsive, accessible & flexible to meet disabled people’s needs. We need coordinated solutions to support disabled people's freedom & opportunity.