Consultation on Transitions Bill Launch

Johann Lamont MSP launched a public consultation on her proposed Member’s Bill, the Disabled Children and Young People (Transitions)(Scotland) Bill, at a well attended event in the Scottish Parliament on 9 October 2019.  Speakers at the event included Johann Lamont MSP, Kate Monahan from Camphill School Aberdeen, and a parent and young person from Inclusion Scotland.

The Bill

The Disabled Children and Young People (Transitions)(Scotland) Bill has been developed by Johann Lamont MSP with support from Camphill Scotland, Camphill School Aberdeen and Ochil Tower School and Inclusion Scotland.

The Disabled Children and Young People (Transitions)(Scotland) Bill would give a right to a Transitions Plan to every child or young person with an impairment or long term health condition. Support with transitions would then remain in place until no longer needed, or the young person’s 26th birthday.

The Bill would also require the Scottish Government to introduce a national transitions strategy to improve outcomes for children and young people with a disability in the transition to adulthood, and require the Scottish Government to appoint a Minister with special responsibility for transitions.

Support the Bill before 22 January

Camphill Scotland and Inclusion Scotland are calling on organisations and individuals to take the following actions in support of the Proposed Disabled Children and Young People (Transitions) (Scotland) Bill, which will improve outcomes for children and young people in the transition to adulthood:

1. Submit a response to the consultation (see page 24), and encourage those organisations or groups and individuals on whose behalf your organisation works to submit a response.  It would be particularly helpful if children and young people and their families could be encouraged to submit responses to the consultation
2. Circulate details of the consultation through your networks, including social media
3. Contact your local MSP, and any MSPs with whom you work closely, and encourage them to support the Bill
4. Email Johann Lamont MSP a public statement in support of her Proposed Disabled Children and Young People (Transitions) (Scotland) Bill

Further information

• Please email our Policy and Engagement Manager, Robert McGeachy, or call him on 07825-149005
• The public consultation on the Bill will run until 22 January 2020
• Proposed Bill and consultation document