Scotland has more disabled MSPs than ever but challenges remain

Scotland has more disabled MSPs than ever before, but campaigners say it still does not fully reflect the population it serves.

In the country's most recent Census in 2022, 1.3 million people said they had a long-term health problem or disability that limited their day-to-day activities.

This represents 24% of the population, while only about 7% of MSPs identify as disabled - despite an increase from the election.

Disabled politicians say support aimed at removing barriers is helping more people enter public life, but more could be done to help disabled people when they join Holyrood - especially people with hidden disabilities like dyslexia or neurodiversity.

Some accessibility improvements have made a real difference for the new cohort.

When Kayleigh Kinross-O'Neill arrived at Holyrood as a newly elected MSP, moving around the building as a wheelchair user was one of her main concerns.

She says her accessibility requirements were considered before she even came into parliament for the first time.

Parliamentary staff asked what support she needed rather than making assumptions, and adjustments were in place when she started work.

"There is an evacuation plan in place which is great," said the new Scottish Greens MSP.

"And there are also accommodations for me if I need to vote remotely."

Automatic doors leading to her office are a relatively fundamental adjustment, "but it makes such a difference," she says.

She is among nine MSPs in Scotland's new parliament who have identified as disabled, up from six in the previous session.

For Kinross-O'Neill, the challenge now is ensuring disabled people not only enter politics, but remain there.

Equalities Minister Simita Kumar said the Scottish government remained committed to improving access to politics.

"I agree, we have to do more in this space," she said.

Scotland was the first country in the world to enshrine in law a fund to support election candidates who have a disability - the Access to Elected Office Fund.

This is something Kumar is keen to build on in the future.

"We don't have a monopoly on good ideas," she said.

"But I think it's really important that across all of our governments [in the UK], we have people who are truly representing our population and what that looks like."

But not every barrier is visible.

SNP MSP Katie Hagmann, who has dyslexia, says parliament's accessibility efforts must also recognise hidden disabilities.

She received support through the Access to Elected Office Fund and uses adaptive software to help with the large volume of reading required in politics.

Twenty-two people received support through the fund during the recent election cycle, with five going on to be elected as MSPs.

It can be used for additional transport, interpreters, support workers, guides and other assistance that candidates with disabilities may need during a campaign.

"It's not a 'nice to have', it's not an added bonus - it actually allows me to function and to do my job," she said.

"My dyslexia means it does take me an awful lot longer to read papers and also just to respond to emails."

Alan Durward, head of facilities management, said accessibility improvements at Holyrood have continued to evolve.

Alongside physical adaptations such as automatic doors and step-free access, he says greater attention is now being paid to lighting, acoustics and the experience of people with neurodiverse conditions.

Heather Fisken, chief executive of Inclusion Scotland, says the access fund was created to remove disability-related costs that can prevent people from standing for election.

She says other nations have since looked at introducing a similar scheme.

"Disabled people have a right to barrier-free participation in politics and democracy," she said.

She welcomed the increase in disabled MSPs, but said disabled people remained underrepresented in parliament compared to their share of Scotland's population.

"It's a bit of an improvement, but we've still got a long way to go," she added.