International Day of Disabled People: Celebrating Our Members and Why Your Travel Experiences Matter!
On 3 December 2025, the world marks the United Nations International Day of Disabled People. This is a day to recognise the rights of disabled people, highlight barriers to equality, and encourage action to remove those barriers. This year’s theme is about creating communities where disabled people can fully take part and society becomes fairer.
At Disability Equality Scotland (DES), we are especially grateful to our members and to all disabled people who share their experiences with us. Engaging with our members helps ensure we can influence discussions at local, regional, and national levels and advocate effectively for the rights of disabled people.
One Project That Shows Why We Value Your Views
One project that demonstrates the importance of disabled people’s input is the Accessible Travel Framework (ATF). Originally published in 2016, the ATF was developed through consultation with disabled people, Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs), transport providers, and Transport Scotland. Its aim is to remove barriers to travel, improve access, and ensure disabled people are fully involved in shaping transport policy.
In December 2023, Transport Scotland published an independent impact evaluation of the ATF, carried out by DES. The report highlighted areas for improvement and made recommendations to make travel more accessible. Building on this, Transport Scotland has asked DES to help gather the views of disabled people across Scotland to inform the development of a successor framework.
How You Can Share Your Views
We want to hear from as many disabled people as possible. Your experiences matter and can help shape the future of accessible travel. You can share your views through:
- National Consultation Group – A group of disabled people from across Scotland with different impairments meet to share their experiences and perspectives on travel.
- By taking part in our Transport Survey Series:
It may be some years before a similar consultation takes place, so this is a valuable opportunity to have your voice heard.
Celebrating Our Members
As we celebrate the United Nations International Day of Disabled People, we want to thank our members and supporters. Your engagement is at the heart of all we do, and it ensures that disabled people’s voices are heard in local, regional, and national discussions.
If you are not already a member, joining Disability Equality Scotland as a member is a powerful way to help drive positive change for disabled people across Scotland. Membership is open to both individuals and organisations who want to champion disability equality and support our work.
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