MINISTERIAL FOREWORD
I am delighted to introduce the Scottish Government's disability equality scheme 2008-11.
Scotland should be a place where all of its people are treated fairly and have the opportunity to fulfil their potential in all aspects of their lives. We know for many disabled people in Scotland that this vision is not yet a reality.
Too often disabled people face barriers and discrimination that deny them equal access to information, education, health services, work and the opportunity and choice to live independently. The Scottish Government is committed to creating a more successful country, with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish. However, if we are to achieve this objective we need to ensure that the frameworks and the policies which we develop take account of disabled people's needs and experiences and address the barriers that prevent equality.
I believe the duty to promote disability equality helps us and the wider public sector to deliver the changes that are needed to make real improvements to disabled people's lives. The duty is an instrument to drive both institutional and cultural change. It ensures that public organisations systematically consider the impact of all their policies and services on disabled people and are active in finding ways to remove disadvantage and discrimination.
This revised Scheme sets out how, as an organisation, we intend to meet our disability equality duty over the next three years. It outlines the actions we intend to take to ensure that our policies, practices and services take into account the needs of disabled people. Our scheme also highlights the important role that disabled people have in shaping our policy development so that real improvements can be made to their lives.
We know that achieving equality for disabled people will not be easy, but we are committed to continuing to take forward this challenge and creating an inclusive, fairer and just Scotland that we can rightfully be proud to live in.
NICOLA STURGEON, MSP
CABINET SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELLBEING
MAY 2008