Support for Disabled Young People

Overview

The Disabled Children and Young People (Transitions to Adulthood) (Scotland) Bill is a Member’s Bill introduced by Johann Lamont MSP on 30 September 2020. A Member’s Bill is introduced by an individual MSP, not the Scottish Government. You can read the Bill and accompanying documents here.

The Bill aims to improve opportunities for disabled children and young people as they grow up.

The Bill would require:

• the Scottish Government to have a National Transitions Strategy explaining how they are going to improve opportunities for disabled children and young people
• a Scottish Government minister to be in charge of improving opportunities for disabled children and young people moving into adulthood
• local councils to have plans for each disabled child and young person as they move into adulthood
• Scottish ministers to review and submit a report to the Parliament every year to update on how the National Transitions Strategy and transition plans are working
• people and organisations named in the Bill (including Scottish ministers, local councils, health boards, and integration joint boards) to follow the aims of the National Transitions Strategy

The Bill also enables Scottish ministers to give:

• guidance to local councils about transition plans
• directions about transition plans to local councils, health boards, integration joint boards and others named in the Bill

Why your views matter

The Policy Memorandum for the Bill estimates there are up to 4,000 disabled school leavers each year. The Policy Memorandum gives the following definition of transition:

“Transition is an ongoing process of psychological, social and educational adaptation over time due to changes in context, interpersonal relationships and identity. Young people experience multiple transitions at the same time which they can be both excited and worried about, and require ongoing support from significant others. Further, their multiple transitions trigger transitions for significant others and vice versa, making their transition experiences dynamic and complex”. Transition in this context encompasses the move from school into the adult world of work, and/or further or higher education.

According to the Scottish Transitions Forum, “the legislative and policy environment for transitions is complex”, and “is not only supported by clear duties but also underpinned by rights”.

We want to hear what you think about the Bill. You can answer as many of the questions as you want. Please give reasons for your answers where possible.

Between now and the Scottish Parliament election in the spring, the Committee and the Parliament expect to have a very full work schedule. Any Bills need very careful consideration and there are a number of stages any Bill must go through before it becomes law. It’s possible that the Bill will not complete all the stages before the election and would therefore not become law. We will consider carefully all your views on the Bill and decide on next steps after the Call for Views has closed.

Covid-19 has had a big impact on every area of life, including transitions for disabled children and young people. You may want to tell us about the current situation when you send us your views. However, we are also looking ahead to when the virus is hopefully contained.

We want to know if the Bill will be good in the long term.