In his last blog of 2021, columnist Michael McEwan reflects on a testing 12 months for people with disabilities and their carers.

In my last blog of the year I'm reflecting on another year in the ongoing pandemic.

For me it's shone a light on a number of different issues. Some might say there are more questions than answers.

One issue is social care budget cuts, in a time where more support is crucial to unpaid carers and a burning national issue long before the pandemic.

Carers Trust Scotland, the largest provider of comprehensive carers support services in Scotland, recently reported that there are estimated 690,000 carers in Scotland, including 29,000 young carers under the age of 18.

Three out of five people may become carers at any stage in their lives and 1 in 10 are already fulfilling some of these caring roles today.

Carers often don't identify as such, in relationships as a family member, friend or a partner, and in these situations little consideration is given to who supports the unpaid carer.

Often carers are considered invincible, but whether 8 or 80, they're only human. As we look ahead to next year we need to continue to break down the barriers and raise awareness on disability and social care.

I'd like to see more people with a disability in employment. Prospective employers need to start looking at the person, beyond the disability, to the skills that candidate can bring to the job.

It's been particularly difficult for those with underlying health conditions, who were in isolation for many months, with a loss of confidence and routine affecting mental health, and often with limited or no access to daily support networks.

Many disability organisations have stepped up in their local areas to provide delivery of meals and online zoom communities to ensure no-one feels "locked in" or "left out".

We continue to advocate to a fair society for everyone, by raising awareness of disability issues, whilst championing achievements and building confidence in the next generation.

This year's theme for International Day of People with Disabilities on 3^rd December was "fighting for rights in the post covid era". Since March 2020 the world has been impacted by sudden change, no more so than those with a disability. On a local and national level, the support infrastructure for people with, or supporting, a disability is broken, and only with agencies and organisations working together can it start to rebuild.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, here's to a window of change and hope in 2022. See you in my next blog on the other side of this year.