Older and Disabled People (Access to Services)

– in the Scottish Parliament at on 30 January 2020.

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Photo of Alexander Burnett Alexander Burnett Conservative

4. To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to ensure that older and disabled people can easily access local services. (S5O-04072)

Photo of Christina McKelvie Christina McKelvie Scottish National Party

The Equality Act 2010 provides a legal framework to protect the rights of individuals and advance equality of opportunity. The Scottish Government is working to promote equality across Scotland through the strategies in “A Fairer Scotland for Disabled People” and “A Fairer Scotland for Older People”, with work being taken forward locally. Equality law recognises that bringing about equality may mean that local services make changes, such as removing physical barriers or providing extra support. That relates to the duty to make reasonable adjustments. Reasonable adjustments seek to ensure that older or disabled people have, as far as is reasonable, equal access—that is, the same access as everyone else.

Photo of Alexander Burnett Alexander Burnett Conservative

Obviously, much of the information about local services is on the internet, which some people may have difficulty accessing. Will the Scottish Government join me in recognising the work of AbilityNet, a charity that provides technology support for people of all ages who live with any disability or impairment? Is there anything that the Scottish Government can do to support AbilityNet’s aim of helping to build a more accessible digital world?

Photo of Christina McKelvie Christina McKelvie Scottish National Party

I absolutely agree with the member’s point. I have not come across AbilityNet, so I ask Alexander Burnett to send on any information that he has on the organisation. I reassure him that digital connectivity and the ability to access digital information are very high on the agenda in our fairer Scotland strategies for disabled people and older people. I include in that the use of assistive digital technology as a means by which older and disabled people can get on in their everyday lives and maintain their independence. I am absolutely committed to that. If Alexander Burnett has any other ideas about how we can improve in this area, I will be happy to hear them.