A Scottish Labour MSP is lodging a members bill in the Scottish parliament to create a statutory right for every young person with a disability to be supported through their transition from childhood to adulthood.

Pam Duncan-Glancy’s proposed legislation seeks to address significantly worse outcomes for young people with impairment-related additional support needs (ASNs) compared with others their own age.

The transition to adult services would be the responsibility of a government minister and the legislation would create a statutory requirement for local authorities to work with every disabled child to create a plan to help them address the challenges of moving on from school and child-centred services.

Proposals for similar legislation were originally brought to parliament by former Scottish Labour MSP Johann Lamont. A consultation at the time suggested widespread support but the proposals ran out of parliamentary time.

Pam Duncan-Glancy, who is her party’s spokesperson for social justice and social security, says young people with ASN are currently at a huge disadvantage at this stage in their lives:

“For too long, young disabled people have been let down. Their outcomes from school are far poorer than anyone else’s and that is not a situation we should allow to continue.

“The talent and potential of every disabled young person is being undervalued and underused. That lets them down, and society down – we need to harness the potential in all of us if we’re to create a society where all children can grow up and have a fighting chance at realising their ambitions.

“This bill will help do that and I am proud to lodge it today. By assigning a minister to oversee transitions, requiring, by law, a strategy and plan for every child’s transition from school to adulthood, we can be sure that no one falls through the cracks.”

In 2015, Scottish government tracking research showed that, six months after leaving school, young people with a disability were twice as likely to not be in education, employment or training as their nondisabled counterparts – by 19, they were three times as likely.

“Until now,” says Ms Duncan-Glancy, “countless plans and efforts have not delivered the change we need – the disability employment gap is still 35.5 percentage points, and they are still less likely to get into and stay in further or higher education.

“The measures that this bill outlines are vital to changing this, and to addressing the challenges that young disabled people too often face when making their transition from school. They’ve been let down for far too long. It is time to take the steps they need to see to make a tangible, long lasting difference to their lives.

“That’s why we need the bill and why I’ve brought it back to Parliament. I look forward to seeking support from right across the parliament to deliver the changes that disabled children and young people – and society – so desperately need.”

Read More: Pam Duncan Glancy: where’s the care restart? Insight: Human Rights Town – the App; Learning disability support cuts leave families adrift; Campaign seeks the right to stay up late;

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