Happy International Women’s Day 2026: Women, Community and Access Panels

Happy International Women’s Day! As a disabled woman I love International Women’s Day for the space it creates to celebrate the contribution of women to our world.

This year’s theme is Give to Gain, and when I was asked to write this blog, I found myself thinking about Access Panels. That might be because I had just come from the Access Panel conference, but more likely it is because, for me, they capture exactly what Give to Gain means in practice.

Disabled people, many of whom are disabled women, give their time to help make their local communities more accessible and inclusive. Listening to Access Panels speak at the conference, I was struck by the passion and enthusiasm people bring to this work. There was a real sense of shared purpose in the room and a determination to make Scotland a place where disabled people can participate fully in everyday life.

The conference also reminded me how important Access Panels are in creating a sense of community and belonging. Being given the space, resources and opportunity to make a positive difference really matters. It was encouraging to hear about the many successes Access Panels have achieved over the past year. Some were big changes and some were small improvements, but all of them made a difference.

I am also struck by how accessibility, like a lot of women’s work, can be invisible. When accessibility is there, we rarely stop to think about who made it happen or how much effort went into it. But when accessibility is missing, we notice immediately.

So this International Women’s Day I want to thank all of the Access Panels working to make our communities more accessible. I would particularly like to recognise the women who have contributed so much of their time, energy and commitment to this work.

Perhaps this is also a moment to celebrate the wins, share the successes and recognise the work that often goes unseen. By doing that we help make visible the contribution people are making to build a more accessible Scotland for everyone.

At the Access Panel conference, I saw the hope, inspiration and motivation that comes from sharing experiences and learning from each other. As Convenor of Disability Equality Scotland I am proud that we are able to provide that space for recognition, connection and support.

Zara Todd
Convenor, Disability Equality Scotland