Disability Commissioner Bill Lodged

The Member’s Bill to establish a Disability Commissioner for Scotland has been introduced in the Scottish Parliament yesterday.

This is a milestone mark in the journey to have a dedicated champion of disability rights in our country. The Disability Commissioner is envisioned to have a wide-ranging role including to: 

1. Promote awareness and understanding of the rights of disabled people
2. Review law, policy and practice relating to the rights of disabled people
3. Involve disabled people and disabled people organisations in the work of the Commissioner.
4. Advocate for disabled people at a national level
5. Promote best practices by service providers
6. Promote, undertake, commission and publish research on matters relating to disabled people
7. Power to undertake investigations into issues that relate to disabled people
8. Be independent of the Scottish Government and report to the Scottish Parliament
9. Have regard to the importance of communicating in an inclusive way

Now that this Bill has been introduced to the Scottish Parliament, it will follow the same procedure as a Government Bill. The Committee involved will call for views as part of this process, so keep an eye on our website and social media to see how you can get involved.