The Scottish Government

« Previous | Contents | Next »

Listen

DISABILITY EQUALITY ACTION PLAN

Name of Directorate or Agency

EUROPE, EXTERNAL AFFAIRS AND CULTURE DIRECTORATE

Directorate or Agency Responsibilities.

To work with Ministers, our delivery partners and other stakeholders to promote Scotland, Scotland's interests and Scotland's identity both at home and abroad, in order to improve the quality of life of Scotland's people.

Statement of Directorate/Agency Commitment to the Promotion of Disability Equality and how this helps to deliver Government's national purpose and outcomes.

The Scottish Government's stated purpose is to focus the Government and public services on creating a more successful country, with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish, through increasing sustainable economic growth.

This purpose is supported by 5 strategic objectives - a Wealthier and Fairer Scotland; a Healthier Scotland; a Safer and Stronger Scotland; a Smarter Scotland and a Greener Scotland. These objectives drive the Europe, External Affairs and Culture Directorate's policy work. Wherever possible this work takes account of the Directorate's commitment to the promotion of disability equality.

The Directorate is committed to attracting talented people to live, learn and work in Scotland as part of the Scottish Government's commitment to matching average EU 15 population growth. We do this through the Fresh Talent agenda, through the provision of advice on relocating to Scotland, and through the general promotion of Scotland to key markets and groups, and through promotion of diversity in the workforce. . The Scotlandistheplace website contains information for disabled individuals on their rights in the workplace and where to find support either for themselves or for disabled members of their families.

The Directorate is committed to helping achieve sustainable economic growth by supporting the domestic and overseas work of Ministers and the Government in activities that establish Scotland as a credible, fully inclusive and responsible nation in the world which provides support to developing countries in the global fight against poverty.

The Directorate is committed to enhancing the quality of life for Scotland's people, including those who are disabled, by maximising access to high quality cultural events and opportunities. In the last two Spending Reviews, targets were set for Scotland's cultural Non-Departmental Public Bodies and National Collections to seek to increase participation by under-represented groups, including people with disabilities. The targets set for these agencies are detailed in the Spending Review 2004 technical notes (available publicly on the Scottish Government website)

Scotland's five National Performing Companies are also required by the terms of their funding agreements with the Scottish Government to provide leadership for their respective sectors and demonstrate compliance with relevant legislation including employment law. This includes the Disability Discrimination Act ( DDA) 2005, and a recognition of their role in identifying and addressing barriers to participation in the arts.

What is known about the experiences of, and issues for, people with disabilities within the Directorate/Agency Responsibilities

There is patchy evidence about the socio-economic characteristics of Scotland's migrant worker population, and very little evidence about disability equality issues for migrant workers. However we do strive to provide an accessible service, both through our Relocation Advisory Service and through our web-based communication with potential migrants.

We run events and produce general promotional materials designed to improve Scotland's reputation, and we take steps to ensure that such events are accessible to people with disabilities.

The Scottish Government's International Development Fund has included the experiences of Scottish people, including deaf participants, through the involvement of 'Deaf Action Scotland' in addressing the issues of deaf people in Malawi and Swaziland. The Scottish Partners in this project are working with deaf people in both countries to develop and deliver a course curriculum to train, assess and register sign language interpreters/interpreter trainers to enable increased participation and effective contributions to be made by deaf people in education, health and civil society development

Widening access to culture for all communities and individuals across Scotland is a primary objective for Culture and Gaelic Division, within EEAC. Our cultural NDPBs, National Performing Companies and National Collections recognise their duty to ensure that their resources and services are accessible to people with disabilities, and have taken appropriate action as follows:

Scottish Screen, as the national screen agency for Scotland, has responsibility for the development of all aspects of screen culture and industry across the country. It has now published its first Disability Equality Scheme which sets out some of the work it has already conducted in the area of disability, but more importantly, sets out the plans and actions it will be taking to ensure that it continually improves what it does in relation to the general and specific duties it has.

National Museums Scotland puts visitors at the heart of its operations and aims to appeal to all audiences. This is reflected in its strategic aims. NMS has a proven track record in audience engagement and this informs the exhibitions, galleries and the learning programmes it offers across all its museums, as well as the facilities and services that it provides. Furthermore, its commitment to equality is reflected in its work on meeting our Equality Duties. The NMS Disability Equality Scheme and Action Plan for 2007-10 were published in December 2006.

The National Galleries of Scotland monitors attendance of both ethnic minority and disabled groups as a matter of course. Of its 1.5m visitors in the financial year 2006-07, 3% were disabled and 7% were from culturally diverse communities. It is planned to develop the Portrait Gallery over the next few years. Physical access to the building will be greatly improved. An audience development plan has also been created with a view to facilitating improvements in visitor numbers and to broaden the appeal of the collection. NGS Disability Equality Scheme was published 12/06/2007.

The National Library of Scotland has collected data about disability amongst registered readers since late 2003. The NLS Disability Equality Scheme, produced in December 2006, noted that this figure is lower than we might expect, and contained a range of measures to promote the use of the Library by people with disabilities. Web accessibility is to a high standard, and this has been acknowledged by the RNIB in a 2006 audit describing the website access as "very good".

The Scottish Arts Council published its Disability Equality Scheme and Action Plan in December 2006. All work supported by the Scottish Arts Council is required to include access for people with disabilities. In addition, both the Drama and the Dance Departments have initiatives planned directly relating to disability. The Dance Department is to develop a strategic approach to dance and disability and the Drama Department is to develop a specific initiative to promote theatre by and for people with disabilities.

The SAC is aware of the numbers of people with disabilities within Scotland, and the impact that numerous barriers and negative attitudes have on many of those people with disabilities. Since the SAC adopted the Social Model of Disability it is focusing on identifying and addressing barriers to participation in the arts through our own activities and those of the organisations it funds.

During the European Year of People with disabilities ( EYDP) in 2003, the SAC conducted extensive research and training, and held a series of seminars, culminating in a major conference on arts and disability.

To take this work forward the SAC formed several important partnerships, including one with the Scottish Government's Equalities Unit. In 2005, it worked with the Scottish Government's National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Well-being on an important initiative, called ArtFull, and established a full-time arts and mental health team here at the Scottish Arts Council. The SAC has also been working with the RNIB to ensure that our website complies with worldwide accessibility guidelines.

The SAC's consultations have identified the following areas as vitally important in developing the arts and disability sector:

• increased funding and strengthening of the sector

• more professional training and more opportunities for disabled practitioners
• promotion of inclusive access (physical and intellectual) in all aspects of an arts organisation's activities
• development of inclusive audiences through inclusive programming and other practical measures, such as more accessible information
• a more positive portrayal of arts and disability across all artforms
• provision of disability equality training for the arts sector.

Creative Scotland: As part of the legislative process in establishing the new public body, Creative Scotland, an Equality Impact Assessment pro forma has been completed and published on the Scottish Government's website:

http://vq73eda/systems/EqualityUnit/Assessment/view.asp?ID=164.

This assessment lists the ways in which Creative Scotland will continue the work of the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen in being compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act ( DDA) 2005. The Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen will cease to exist on the establishment of the new national cultural development body, Creative Scotland. Creative Scotland will be established in April 2009.

The National Performing Companies are all aware of their responsibilities in the arts and disability sector and are required by the terms of their funding agreements to develop a broad and diverse audience base and comply with relevant legislation. All of the companies provide outreach community involvement programmes of an high standard, designed to give people across Scotland in all age and socio-economic groups the opportunity to experience, and where possible to participate in respective art forms.

Disability Equality Action Plan

Key actions which are designed to address disability issues identified from evidence and involvement.

Key actions within the Directorate/Agency areas of responsibility where disability equality is being mainstreamed.

« Previous | Contents | Next »