Tell your MSP and MS candidates: End the battle for families with disabled children

3 mins read

Thursday 9 April 2026

Tags: scotland, wales, Scottish Parliament elections, Senedd elections

This information is for families living in Scotland or Wales

With the Scottish Parliament and Senedd elections on 7 May approaching, Contact Scotland and Contact Cymru are calling on families, supporters and allies to take action.

Families with disabled children across Scotland and Wales are facing a constant battle to get the support they need. From delays in assessment, diagnosis and therapy, to challenges accessing the right support in education and schools, to the financial pressures of caring. This election is a key moment and a crucial opportunity to drive change.

Contact your local candidates and ask them: Will you commit to ending the battle for families with disabled children?

Families in Scotland and Wales deserve better

Despite progress, too many families still experience inconsistent support depending on where they live. Systems can be fragmented, under pressure and difficult to navigate, and families often feel unheard or left to fight for what they are entitled to.

But change is possible. This is not inevitable and it can be fixed.

We’re calling on all candidates to commit to three clear pledges:

  • End the fight for basic support
  • Tackle the financial penalty of caring and disability
  • Put families at the heart of decision-making

These are practical steps within the powers of the Scottish Parliament, Senedd and Welsh Government that would make a real difference.

Why this matters

Families with disabled children face significant additional costs, while many parent carers are forced to reduce or give up work. At the same time, delays in support mean needs escalate, increasing pressure on families and public services alike.

Without the right support, families are pushed to crisis point with long-term consequences for wellbeing and public services.

Investing in early, effective support is both the right thing to do and a cost-effective solution for families and the economy.

How Contact is helping

At Contact Scotland and Contact Cymru, we:

  • Help families navigate complex systems and access the support they are entitled to
  • Support families to maximise their income
  • Bring families together to reduce isolation and build confidence

We also provide vital early support and play a preventative role, reaching families early and helping avoid crisis.

Take action today!

Now is the time to act. We need your voice. Contact your local candidates and ask them:
Will you commit to ending the battle for families with disabled children? We’ve made it easy for you to do:

Together, we can build a system where every family feels valued, supported and heard, and able to make the decisions that are right for them.