Glasgow Disability Alliance

13/11/2025

November 13th is World Kindness Day!

Reach out to GDA by phone 0141 556 7103 text 07958 299 496 or by email at wellbeing@gdaonline.co.uk if you would like to come along to our next wellbeing session.

If you would like more information about Kindness by Post, or would like to participate, you can register at https://www.kindnessbypost.org/

13/11/2025

GDA was invited to display our member's creative writing and photography exhibition titled "Doors Open- But Can I Get In?" at the civic reception at the Glasgow City Chambers on Tuesday evening.

Congratulations to all of our members involved for winning the Outstanding Engagement Award for their work! The exhibition will be posted at the Calton Heritage Centre later this year for those interested in viewing it- stay tuned!

06/11/2025

In Memory of Etienne D’Aboville

We are deeply saddened to share the news that our former Board Director, Etienne D’Aboville, passed away peacefully at home on 28th October 2025.

Etienne was a towering figure in the Independent Living Movement in Scotland. He spent over 25 years as Chief Executive of the Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living (GCIL), where he championed the rights of disabled people with passion, dignity, and humour. His leadership helped to shape inclusive services, promote co-production, and advance the use of direct payments and personal assistance.

Etienne was a man of warmth and wisdom, and his contribution to social justice and independent living was profound. He will be missed terribly by the Movement, by his colleagues and friends, and by all of us who had the genuine privilege to know him.

All of us at ILF Scotland send our love and thoughts to his family.
https://ilf.scot/go/etienne

06/11/2025

We are so grateful to Etienne for all he did for GDA, GCIL, and the disabled people's movement in Glasgow, Scotland, the UK and beyond. He was a wonderful man who brought humour, kindness and strength to all he did. His legacy is enormous and we miss him terribly.

It is with deep sadness that we share news of the passing of Etienne d’Aboville, a pioneering figure in Scotland’s Independent Living Movement and GCIL’s first Chief Executive.

Etienne joined the newly established Centre for Independent Living in Glasgow in 1996 and became GCIL’s first CEO in 2004, leading the organisation until his retirement in 2021. Under his leadership, GCIL grew from a small grassroots initiative into Scotland’s largest Centre for Inclusive Living.

His influence reached far beyond GCIL — from helping to establish organisations such as Glasgow Disability Alliance, to championing the reopening of the Independent Living Fund in Scotland. Etienne’s voice was one of clarity, conviction, and compassion.

He will be remembered as a leader, mentor, and friend. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his wife Susie, their family, and all who knew him.

Read our full tribute here: https://gcil.org.uk/in-memory-of-etienne-daboville-former-ceo-of-gcil-glasgow-centre-for-inclusive-living/

[Image description: Etienne d'Aboville, former CEO of GCIL, is sat smiling in his powerchair in front of two GCIL blue roller banners at the stairs of Scottish Governments Holyrood. He is wearing a striped top, with a grey jumper tied around his shoulders. He has dark hair, glasses on and a grey bag sitting at his waist.]

05/11/2025

We are devastated to share the very sad news that Etienne d’Aboville, former CEO of Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living died last week, following a period of illness.
Etienne was instrumental in the development and establishment of the Independent Living Movement in Scotland, becoming the CEO of Glasgow CIL in 1996, when the centre first opened, until he retired in 2021.

Etienne was well-respected by local and national government officials. He was a champion of disabled people’s rights, a softly spoken but dynamic speaker and tenacious in challenging injustice.

Etienne was a role model to many of us and a pioneer, driving forward the key messages of the social model of disability and independent living. He created the conditions necessary for the setting up of GDA, supporting his staff and board to get involved in meetings and planning, and encouraging and supporting Tressa and Marianne to lead on taking these plans forward to set up an organisation that was, and remains a 'sister’ organisation to GCIL.

We are devasted to lose a dear friend, colleague and pillar of our Movement, and we send our love and deepest condolences to Etienne’s family and friends.

04/11/2025

Out and about in town today? Come find us! GDA is at Buchanan Galleries in front of John Lewis all day. Come chat about our new Empower and Ahead projects, upcoming learning sessions, and more!

04/11/2025

November 3-7 is ! This is the time of year when we celebrate the amazing contribution made by trustees for their charities and recognise the difference they make. Thank you to the GDA Board for the time, commitment, wisdom, experience and effort you bring. We are grateful to have you steer our work and for your ongoing support. Thank you!

30/10/2025

Social security in Scotland still fails to meet the true additional costs of being Disabled. Here, GDA member Harley talks about why they back the campaign demand for the UK Government to reverse the cuts to disabled people's benefits and for the Scottish Government to invest in a social security system that meets disabled people's needs.

29/10/2025

Our pals at GCIL are hosting an information event about their new project. Contact them directly for more information. Details in their original post.

We will be hosting an information event on Tuesday 4th November to share more about our newest project, Voices at Work.

Details:
Date: Tuesday 4th November
Time: 1pm - 2pm
Address: 117-127 Brook Street Glasgow G40 3AP

Voices at Work is a disabled person led project that aims to better understand disabled peoples experience of employment; what helps - and what makes it harder- to stay in work. Together we will co-design new ideas and solutions that will aim to make work fairer, inclusive and more sustainable for everyone.

Come along if you would like to know more about the project, how you can get involved or would like to ask questions.

If you require any adjustments or additional support to join, please get in touch at Stacey.Highfield@gcil.org.uk or call us on 0141-550-4455 .

We can't to meet you all!

We are recruiting disabled people to take part in the project. To get involved:

You must
-Live within the Glasgow City council tax boundary

And:
-Be in paid work, or
-Have been working within the last 5 years but are not currently working

And, have one of the following:
-Visual and/or hearing impairment
-Epilepsy
-Multiple Sclerosis

If this is you, then we would love to hear from you on the contact details above.

[Image description- Left side of image has a woman in a wheelchair at a desk with a computer and paperwork. Someone is handing her paper. On the right hand side, it has a yellow background for one fourth with a blue box overlay. This reads GCIL Voices at Work Information Event Tuesday 4th October 1pm-2pm GCIL 117-127 Brook Street Glasgow G40 3A]

28/10/2025

Flu hits hard, and for some, it hits harder. It can mean time off work, passing flu to your family, friends or colleagues, and it can make some people seriously unwell.

You can get the free NHS flu vaccine if you:

-are aged 65 or over
-have certain long-term health conditions
-are pregnant
-live in a care home
-are the main carer for an older or disabled person, or receive a carer's allowance
-live with someone who has a weakened immune system

Frontline health and social care workers can also get a flu vaccine through their employer.

For more information and to book your appointment, visit nhsinform.scot/flu.

25/10/2025

Some views from the rally at the Meadows. Lots of organisations represented, lots of families and lots of fabulous banners. We are joining together to have our voices heard! The Poverty Alliance

25/10/2025

Some fab pics from march this afternoon. Great to see such a great turnout. Wonderful to join so many friends and allies! GDA members + staff representing our 6000 disabled members