Visibility Scotland’s Manifesto 2026

Why we exist

Across Scotland, approximately 193,000 people live with vision impairment or blindness.

Behind every statistic is a person trying to navigate education, work, travel, and community life. Too often, people with vision impairment and blindness are expected to adapt to the world, rather than the world adapting to them.

Visibility Scotland exists to change that.

Our purpose is simple but powerful: to equip people affected by vision impairment and blindness with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to pursue their goals and participate fully in society.

Why action is needed now

An estimated 193,000 people in Scotland live with low or no vision. This figure is set to double in the next decade.

Every year, around 11,000 people in Scotland experience a stroke, and approximately 150,000 are living with the effects of a stroke. More than half will have experienced changes to their vision.

These numbers will grow as our population ages, and our health needs become more complex. Yet the systems meant to support people with sight loss remain inconsistent, under-recognised, under-resourced, and often difficult to access.

No one should be excluded from everyday life because society failed to plan for inclusion. The next Scottish election on 7 May 2026 is an opportunity to change that.

We are calling on political parties and candidates to commit to four priorities to help build a Scotland based on fairness, opportunity, and recognising the potential in every individual.

Our four priorities

1. The right support at the right time

People with vision impairment and blindness must be able to access timely vision rehabilitation and habilitation services that support them to build independence and confidence and improve their welbeing.

These specialist professions should be formally recognised within the Allied Health Professional network, supported through regulation, national standards, and sustained investment.

Vision rehabilitation and habilitation specialists should also be embedded within multidisciplinary teams, ensuring people receive coordinated support that leads to the best possible outcomes.

Vision rehabilitation and habilitation provide early intervention and prevention.

2. The right to feel safe in public spaces

Everyone deserves to feel safe, confident, and welcome. Loneliness and isolation are among the most significant and commonly reported consequences of vision impairment, often affecting a person’s independence, confidence, and ability to engage socially.

Public spaces should be accessible, inclusive, and consistent, enabling vision-impaired and blind people to access communities independently. Investment in accessible infrastructure reduces isolation and loneliness while strengthening social connections.

Accessibility and heritage are not competing goals. Inclusive spaces create strong, connected communities.

3. Information everyone can access

Access to information is essential for independence. Therefore, public services – starting with the health and education – must ensure that information is available in accessible and alternative formats so vision-impaired and blind people can engage with services confidently and independently.

4. Inclusive employment

Too many people with vision impairment and blindness are excluded from employment despite having valuable skills, knowledge and experience. Employment should not be limited by accessibility barriers.

It should be mandatory that businesses access effective disability awareness training that leads to real behaviour change and builds inclusive, accessible workplaces. Employers will benefit from stronger teams, broader perspectives, and a truly representative workforce, whilst growing their customer base.