Glasgow Disability Alliance

Glasgow Disability Alliance GDA builds the confidence, connections & contributions of disabled people, and works to influence pol SC034247
(1)

Introducing GDA

Glasgow Disability Alliance (GDA) is an organisation led by disabled people and has a membership of over 5000. GDA has, by far, the biggest groundswell of disabled members in Scotland, if not the UK. Glasgow Disability Alliance was established in 2001 and began with a small group of disabled people who were fed up of being ignored by policy makers and feeling excluded from social, civil and political participation in the city. a city-wide organisation was set up to challenge such exclusion and discrimination. Over the last 11 years GDA has grown into a robust, representative and richly diverse disabled people's organisation (DPO). It is by far, the biggest groundswell of disabled members in Scotland. GDA was delighted to receive The Equalities Award at The Herald Society Awards 2010 and 2011 and was a proud runner up in 2012 and 2013. GDA believes in the social model of disability and believes that disabled people are disabled by barriers in society which has not planned for their inclusion. Disability is not about impairments or medical conditions - it is a complex social problem which requires joined up working across a range of agencies and the whole of society to remove barriers. In this way, disability shifts from being a private trouble and is identified as a public, social issue - a problem that has to do with the way society is organised rather than with individual deficit. GDA are delighted to have funding from The Big Lottery Fund for 'Pathways for Change'which supports disabled people of all ages. Full details can be found on the Pathways for Change page of our website. Our current funders include: The Big Lottery Fund, Glasgow Community Planning Partnership, and The Scottish Government. We are based in:

Suite 301
The White Studios
Templeton Business Centre
Templeton Court
Glasgow
G40 1DA

Telephone: 0141 556 7103
Fax: 0141 550 4973

Email: info@gdaonline.co.uk

Scottish Charity No.

30/03/2026
30/03/2026

Your guide to voting in the Scottish Parliament election

On Thursday 7 May 2026, Scotland will elect its next Scottish Parliament.

A household voting guide complied by the Electoral Commission UK is now being delivered, and you can also download it online in a range of accessible formats and languages, including:

◾BSL video, audio, Easy Read and large print
◾Arabic, Gaelic, Polish and Ukrainian

Visit 👉 https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/resources/democratic-engagement-resources/download-your-may-2026-voting-guide

Remember the deadline to register to vote in this election is 5pm, 20 April 2026.

27/03/2026

Scottish Trans report highlights structural inequalities & intersectional barriers facing trans & non-binary disabled people.

The findings are unsurprising but is much needed research strengthening evidence of the harsh reality of disabled peoples lives.

Thanks Scottish Trans for asking for our contributions and working with Disabled People's Organisations to support actions so that disabled trans people have the same freedom & opportunities to live full, independent lives and fulfil their potential.

Read the full report here:

Round up! This is a bit of what GDA members been up to recently! Songwriting, Photography, Mindful Art, and our Confiden...
26/03/2026

Round up! This is a bit of what GDA members been up to recently! Songwriting, Photography, Mindful Art, and our Confidence Booster Workshop!

Stay tuned for our new learning bulletin which will arrive in the post in April. The learning team has lots of exciting new things in the works for you!

25/03/2026

Today matters 💜 FND Awareness Day UK is here!

Today is about being seen, being heard, and raising awareness of Functional Neurological Disorder.

Across the UK, people are sharing their stories, their voices, and their experiences to help others understand what FND really is.

If you’re taking part today, we see you. 💜
If you’re learning, thank you for being here.

Have you added your pin yet? 👇
https://www.fndaction.org.uk/fnd-awareness-day-uk/
-
-

The Scottish Parliament Elections are happening on May 7, 2026. You must be registered to vote by midnight on April 20t...
25/03/2026

The Scottish Parliament Elections are happening on May 7, 2026.

You must be registered to vote by midnight on April 20th 2026. You only need to register to vote once, not for every election, but you will need to register again if you have changed your name, address, or nationality.

You can register to vote online here: https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

There are three ways to vote:
-In person at your neighbourhood polling centre
-Postal vote
-Proxy vote (having someone you trust vote for you)

You do NOT need ID to vote in this election. To check your electoral registration office is accessible check online here: https://www.gov.uk/contact-electoral-registration-office

Easy Read information about registering to vote can be found here:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6890bc1cdc6688ed508783df/Register_to_Vote_-_Easy_to_Read_form_-_Scotland.pdf

If you need support registering to vote, please contact connect@gdaonline.co.uk and we may be able to support you.

Read Glasgow Disability Alliance's 2026 Manifesto here: https://gda.scot/2026/03/23/gda-manifesto-2026-manifesto-for-a-f...
24/03/2026

Read Glasgow Disability Alliance's 2026 Manifesto here: https://gda.scot/2026/03/23/gda-manifesto-2026-manifesto-for-a-fairer-scotland-for-disabled-people/

Our Manifesto for a Fairer Scotland for Disabled People shows what needs done to:
-Make ends meet for disabled people
-Ensure all disabled people who want to work can do so
-Invest in public services which uphold disabled people's freedom and opportunities
-Make it possible for disabled people to participate in society
-Strengthen and uphold disabled people's rights

21st March is World Down Syndrome Day! The theme this year is Together Against Loneliness. Social isolation and loneline...
21/03/2026

21st March is World Down Syndrome Day! The theme this year is Together Against Loneliness.

Social isolation and loneliness can affect anyone, but individuals with Down syndrome or other intellectual disabilities can experience it more frequently and intensely.

To help people feel connected and valued, we need to advocate for real inclusion, create welcoming spaces, and make sure everyone has the opportunity to form meaningful relationships.

17/03/2026

PAs, prospective PAs, Employers and Employer family members can join our local authority groups. You do not have to be a PANS Member.

How-to get connected:
✅Select your closest local authority via the links below
✅Join Group
✅Answer the two joining questions – we ask everyone to complete this to ensure the group stays relevant and to prevent spam.
✅You will be accepted shortly by one of our moderators

Ayrshire https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Bhrtt2rX3/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Moray https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CCvcumJaa/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Glasgow https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1GuBFY6YW9/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Edinburgh (New) https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1FYgJqNjPp/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Dundee + Angus https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BqmVzcqj7/?mibextid=wwXIfr

South Lanarkshire https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1GLfezCkzz/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Shetland https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Aba6YW9dj/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Forth Valley https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1C7BADCCtV/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Mull + Iona https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CEhGFH8M1/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Aberdeenshire https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1QAYJ9kQ1i/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Highlands https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Fogx2UHHc/?mibextid=wwXIfr

East Dunbartonshire https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Hr9g5e88M/?mibextid=wwXIfr

West Dunbartonshire https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CB6SNfAcd/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Fife https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1D9QLuDP3q/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Lochaber https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1DbJdNtzKD/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Many GDA members tell us that they don’t feel they have a life of dignity, choice & control due to poverty, a lack of ad...
17/03/2026

Many GDA members tell us that they don’t feel they have a life of dignity, choice & control due to poverty, a lack of adequate social care & access to services
& supports which enable this. We must first assist disabled people to live, before we legislate for

GDA recognises that many people hold differing views on the principle of . Regardless of people’s views on the principl...
17/03/2026

GDA recognises that many people hold differing views on the principle of . Regardless of people’s views on the principle of Assisted Dying, it is widely accepted by multiple professional bodies that this Bill is unsafe. This is why we’re urging MSP’s to VOTE NO.

Address

Templeton Business Centre Suite 301
Glasgow
G401DA

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+441415567103

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Glasgow Disability Alliance posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram

Our Story

Introducing GDA Glasgow Disability Alliance (GDA) is an organisation led by disabled people and has a membership of over 5000. GDA has, by far, the biggest groundswell of disabled members in Scotland, if not the UK. Glasgow Disability Alliance was established in 2001 and began with a small group of disabled people who were fed up of being ignored by policy makers and feeling excluded from social, civil and political participation in the city. a city-wide organisation was set up to challenge such exclusion and discrimination. Since then, GDA has grown into a robust, representative and richly diverse disabled people's organisation (DPO). GDA believes in the social model of disability and believes that disabled people are disabled by barriers in society which has not planned for their inclusion. Disability is not about impairments or medical conditions - it is a complex social problem which requires joined up working across a range of agencies and the whole of society to remove barriers. In this way, disability shifts from being a private trouble and is identified as a public, social issue - a problem that has to do with the way society is organised rather than with individual deficit. Our current funders include: The Big Lottery Fund, Glasgow Community Planning Partnership, and The Scottish Government.

Find out more at www.gda.scot

Image description: GDA Leaving no-one behind poster. 6 GDA Resilience Response services: Wellbeing: support on phone & online; Lifeline: deliveries of food, meds & essentials; Connects: IT equipment & coaching to get online; Learning: online & phone free, fun learning; Rights Now: welfare rights advice & support; Voices: sharing lived experience so Govt & decision makers respect our rights. Call: 0800 432 0422; text 07958299496; info@gdaonline.co.uk; or ContactScotlandBSL for support. We are based in: Suite 301 - 303 The White Studios Templeton Business Centre Templeton Court Glasgow G40 1DA Telephone: 0141 556 7103 Email: info@gdaonline.co.uk