Disabled Children and Young People (Transitions to Adulthood) (Scotland) Bill

# Disabled Children and Young People (Transitions to Adulthood) (Scotland) Bill Young disabled people in Scotland often face significant challenges when transitioning from children's services to adult services, with gaps in support, unclear responsibilities between agencies, and insufficient planning for this critical life stage. The transition period—typically between ages 14 and 25—is a time when disabled young people should be preparing for independent living, education, employment, or appropriate care arrangements, yet current provision is fragmented across health, social work, and education services. This Member's Bill seeks to establish a clearer, more coordinated legal framework to ensure that disabled children and young people receive consistent support and have genuine input into planning their transition to adulthood. The Bill introduces statutory duties for local authorities and NHS boards to jointly plan and deliver transition services, with a requirement to involve the young person and their family in decision-making. Key provisions include establishing transition plans from age 14 onwards, ensuring multi-agency coordination between education, health, and social care, setting out clear timescales and responsibilities, and creating mechanisms for dispute resolution if services are not adequately provided. The legislation aims to place transition planning on a legal footing rather than leaving it to local discretion, thereby promoting consistency across Scotland and reducing the postcode lottery in the quality and availability of transition support for disabled young people moving into adulthood.

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