1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Between May 2008 and February 2009 Lucy Johnston Research and Quarriers undertook a two-stage research project to map the disability sector in Scotland. The project involved the collation of existing materials and databases and qualitative research to explore the capacity of disability organisations to engage with public authorities.
1.2 This report is one of a series of three produced as a result of research into disability organisations across Scotland and their capacity to influence public bodies. The other two reports are on the capacity of disability organisations to engage with public authorities ( The capacity of disability organisations to engage with public authorities, December 2009) and a guide to the resources available to support and enhance engagement ( Engagement standards, guidance and tool kits: A guide to resources, December 2009).
1.3 These three reports contribute to a clearer understanding of disability organisations in Scotland and to a heightening appreciation of how they can individually and collectively engage with public bodies.
Objectives
1.4 The objectives for the part of the project reported here, on Mapping Scotland's Disability Sector were to:
- assess the extent of representation available to disabled people, i.e. the extent to which organisations exist in different areas and for different impairments, and identify geographic and other gaps
- identify current networks linking groups at both local and national levels
- explore how organisations collect and disseminate information both locally and nationally
- explore how best to share good practice, knowledge and experience amongst groups, as well as with service providers and policy makers.
1.5 In order to map the disability sector in Scotland, with a focus upon the extent to which representation is available to disabled people the project concentrated upon:
- number and size of organisations
- location
- type of organisation
- impairment focus
- activities/services
- using and receiving information
- networks and being connected.