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Chamber and committees

Definition of Deafblindness

  • Submitted by: Rona Mackay, Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party.
  • Date lodged: Thursday, 21 December 2023
  • Motion reference: S6M-11700
  • Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, 07 February 2024

That the Parliament notes the process towards formal recognition in Scotland of deafblindness as a distinct disability; commends the work of the Cross-Party Group (CPG) on Deafness, whose members have been working tirelessly towards the definition of deafblindness becoming adopted in Scotland, which, it understands, is already the case elsewhere in the UK and within the European Parliament; notes the view that this is a crucial step towards identifying, diagnosing and supporting people with dual sensory loss who live in Scotland, including in the Strathkelvin and Bearsden constituency, and enabling the unique challenges that they face to be addressed; further notes what it sees as the valuable recommendations of Deafblind Scotland, having worked with partners in the CPG to develop a Declaration on Deafblindness; notes the calls from the group for the Scottish Parliament to recognise this low-incidence but high-impact disability in Scotland, and the formal adoption of the Nordic definition of deafblindness; understands that the World Health Organization (WHO) is one of several organisations that has already adopted the definition of deafblindness, and applauds Deafblind Scotland, in Lenzie, and its members, staff and volunteers, for working to ensure that lived experience plays an integral part in informing policy, including the formal recognition of the term deafblindness and its definition.


Supported by: Karen Adam, Jeremy Balfour, Colin Beattie, Miles Briggs, Alexander Burnett, Stephanie Callaghan, Donald Cameron, Bob Doris, Jackie Dunbar, Pam Duncan-Glancy, Annabelle Ewing, Kenneth Gibson, Dr Pam Gosal MBE, Christine Grahame, Mark Griffin, Emma Harper, Clare Haughey, Bill Kidd, Ben Macpherson, John Mason, Roz McCall, Stuart McMillan, Marie McNair, Edward Mountain, Audrey Nicoll, Paul O'Kane, Colin Smyth, Kaukab Stewart, Kevin Stewart, Paul Sweeney, Michelle Thomson, David Torrance, Evelyn Tweed, Sue Webber, Tess White, Brian Whittle