Disabled People’s Cabinet Forum

Scotland’s First Disabled People’s Cabinet Forum: Report Reveals What Disabled People Told Ministers

The Scottish Government has published its report on the first Disabled People’s Cabinet Forum, a “first-of-its-kind” event that brought disabled people, Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs) and Cabinet Ministers together for direct dialogue on 3 February 2026. Six months on, the post-event report (external link will open in a new browser tab or window) sets out what disabled people told Ministers, what was committed to, and where they say faster progress is still needed.

The two-hour session was co-produced with a Disabled People’s Organisations Short Life Working Group, with Inclusion Scotland, Glasgow Disability Alliance and Disability Equality Scotland shaping its purpose, structure and content alongside wider members of the Scottish Independent Living Coalition (SILC). Representatives from nine SILC member organisations took part, alongside the First Minister, Deputy First Minister, Cabinet Secretaries and the Minister for Equalities.

 

Part of Scotland’s Disability Equality Plan

The Forum sits within Scotland’s Disability Equality Plan, published in June 2025, which commits to putting disabled people’s lived experience at the centre of policy design and delivery. Grounded in the principle “nothing about us, without us” and aligned with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Plan’s first phase focuses on three priorities: financial support for disabled households, inclusion and independent living, and improving mental health.

The report describes the Cabinet Forum as a “key mechanism” for building disability competence and Ministerial-level accountability within government, giving disabled people a direct route to influence ministerial thinking beyond traditional engagement models.

 

Mental health: “a problem to fix”

Participants said uncertainty, long waits and poor coordination between mental health and social care were intensifying anxiety and distress, sometimes to the point of crisis. Many described feeling treated as “a problem to fix” and spoke of the exhausting toll of repeatedly advocating for basic support. Several called for ring-fenced funding for Disabled People’s Organisations, potentially through a model similar to the Independent Living Fund.

The Cabinet Secretary for Health outlined ongoing work to improve coordination, data-sharing and service accessibility, including mobility pilots designed to simplify end-to-end journeys, and committed to continuing to challenge harmful public narratives about disability.

 

Social care and the disability poverty gap

Delegates described a gap between national ambitions for social care and the reality of delivery at local level, with charges repeatedly named as a driver of disability poverty. Some referenced external recommendations, such as disregarding at least 50% of ADP in charging assessments, as a potential step towards ending social care charges altogether. Participants reminded Ministers that social care exists to support human rights, wellbeing and participation, not as an end in itself. The First Minister acknowledged the interconnected nature of these challenges and the need for further improvement in both mental health and social care.

 

Accessible transport: “more than getting from A to B”

Transport was described as a major barrier to independent living, particularly in remote and rural areas. Issues raised included irregular bus services with no return journeys, vehicle design, the affordability and availability of accessible taxis, and inconsistent boarding support at train stations even in cities. Participants also pointed to unintended consequences of well-meaning infrastructure changes, such as EV charging points encroaching on disabled parking bays.

The Cabinet Secretary for Transport outlined work under way to improve accessibility, including smart mobility pilots and Scotland’s approach to Passenger Assistance and booking services at train stations, and highlighted the role of the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS) in shaping the successor to the Accessible Travel Framework.

 

Social security: dignity, but fear of cuts

The transition from Personal Independence Payment (PIP) to Adult Disability Payment (ADP) was viewed positively by participants as reflecting greater dignity and respect. However, harmful narratives at a UK level were said to be creating fear and uncertainty about potential cuts and increased scrutiny. Disabled people called for increases to devolved, non-means-tested disability benefits, expanded eligibility, and progress on a Minimum Income Guarantee.

The Deputy First Minister reaffirmed that safeguarding social security funding is a clear priority, noting that Cabinet has not discussed cuts to disability benefits, while acknowledging that several aspects of the system remain reserved to the UK Government and cannot be changed unilaterally.

 

Employment and navigating complex systems

Participants linked persistent poverty to barriers in gaining and sustaining work, describing recruitment processes as often intrusive in requiring disclosure of personal information to secure basic adjustments. The limitations of the UK’s reserved Access to Work scheme were highlighted, alongside a welcome for the Deputy First Minister’s commitment to expanding Specialist Employability Support.

Across every breakout discussion, participants reported difficulty navigating fragmented systems involving multiple agencies. A clear and recurring message was the need for independent advocacy and brokerage support, with Disabled People’s Organisations seen as having a vital role. One breakout group’s closing reflection captured the spirit of the day: “More co-working required — let’s do better together.”

 

In their own words

Inclusion Scotland said:

“There was a genuine sense of connection, being listened to, and potential for change.”

Glasgow Disability Alliance said:

“The event demonstrated ‘Nothing About Us Without Us’ — disabled people were in the lead from planning to delivery.”

Disability Equality Scotland said:

“Our organisations are advocating for disabled people, and the Scottish Government is listening — now follow-up needs to occur.”

 

What happens next

The report sets out commitments to apply the Forum’s insights to ongoing work on social care (including the Independent Living Fund), mental health, transport, digital inclusion and financial security, and to embed disability competence and lived-experience evidence across policy teams through training and cross-government learning. The Scottish Government says it will use its Executive Team Forum to agree ownership of follow-up actions and will circulate the report to relevant policy teams, requiring them to reflect the issues raised in their workplans.

The Cabinet Forum is expected to reconvene periodically, with future events informed by evaluation and ongoing engagement with DPOs. The Scottish Government acknowledged some logistical and operational challenges from the first event — including pacing and time pressures in breakout sessions — and says future Forums will build in longer breakout sessions and more flexible planning, alongside early site visits and technical run-throughs.

Local authorities and COSLA did not take part in this first Forum, and the report notes that ongoing engagement with delivery partners will be essential to explore variation in local service delivery and support practical solutions.

 

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Further reading and resources

Adult Disability Payment: advice and eligibility
Scottish disability payments explained
Carer and disability benefits advice
ADP transfer complete
The Timms Review: reforming PIP in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Full coverage: the Casey Commission and adult social care reform

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