@Lewis_GDA

Policy and Participation Officer at Glasgow Disability Alliance

 Glasgow
Joined January 2024
  • Tweets64
  • Following27
  • Followers7
2Media
Everyone in Scotland, including disabled people, should be able to make ends meet. That’s why the social security system matters. Disabled people are twice as likely to face poverty, so we need a system that supports us all, especially when we need it most. #CPW26
Glasgow Disability Alliance@GDA__onlineOct 13
“It’s a common misconception that #DisabilityBenefits like ADP & PIP should be used to pay for social care, but that’s not true.[They] were set up to cover the extra costs... higher energy bills for heating & charging vital equipment like hoists ventilators & powered wheelchairs”
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We all want to stay connected to the people and places that matter to us. Disability Benefits like ADP help make it possible for many disabled people to stay well, maintain relationships and remain active in their communities. #CPW2026 #DisabilityBenefits #ADP
Glasgow Disability Alliance@GDA__onlineOct 12
“When disability benefits meet the true costs that disabled people face, those costs don’t become barriers to living an ordinary life, in my case it’s just trying [to cover the cost of the train fares] to get to the physio” #GoingPlaces #CPW2026 #DisabilityBenefits #ADP
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“Adult Disability Payment is there to help people like myself with the extra costs that we do incur. Social Care Charges come along and they take most of that away so we’re being given help in one hand, and then on the other it’s being taken off us,” says GDA member Kim #CPW2026
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Having enough income to meet the extra costs of disability helps people to enjoy the same opportunities many of us take for granted. GDA Ross talks about #DisabilityBenefits helping him with getting places and keeping connected to friends, family, and wider community #CPW2026
Glasgow Disability Alliance@GDA__onlineOct 8
"I actually feel guilty for leaving the house because I know how much it costs just to get from A to B. Having enough income to meet the extra costs of disability means I get to enjoy the same stuff other people take for granted" says @GDA__online Ross. #ADP #GoingPlaces #CPW2026
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We all benefit when people have the financial security to participate in work, family life & their communities. @GDA__online Kirsty describes positive impact #DisabilityBenefits #Motability on keeping her connected to the people and things that matter to her #CPW2026 #GoingPlaces
Glasgow Disability Alliance@GDA__onlineOct 7
"Because I’m on the Motability Scheme, it means I can keep doing things that give my life meaning. The Motability Scheme means we can continue volunteering, working and contributing to our communities, ” says @GDA__online Kirsty #DisabilityBenefits #GoingPlaces #CPW2026
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GDA CEO @tressaburke gives evidence to Social Justice & Local Government Committee clarifying purpose of Disability Benefits that must cover extra costs of being disabled & the barriers/financial hardship that comes with it. She points to misconceptions of social care charges.
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We are appalled by this disorder, violence & the fear created. GDA stands in solidarity with people of colour incl. our members. Whether you made your homes in Scotland decades ago or are newly arrived, we support & respect you. Everyone has the right to be safe. You belong here.
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In current context of the racist disorder, violence & threats, GDA has been contacted by members who are afraid for themselves, their children & their neighbours. Some have told us they are scared to let their children travel to school on their own or on public transport.
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Are you aged 16 to 30 and have lived experience of disability? @ILF are looking for 8 young disabled people to join a team exploring experiences of the Transition Fund. Email [email protected] by 5pm, Mon 8th June to express your interest.
ILF Scotland@ILFScotlandJun 1
Are you aged 16 to 30 and have lived experience of disability? Join us as a Peer Researcher! We're looking for 8 young disabled people to join a team exploring experiences of the Transition Fund. Email [email protected] by 5pm, Mon 8th June to express your interest.
Poster with a green band at the top and bottom. ILF Scotland and Social Value Lab logos. Text reads Recruiting Peer Researchers with a graphic of a megaphone. Then reads We’re looking for 8 young, disabled people aged between 16 and 40, to join a peer research team exploring experiences of the Transition Fund. Help shape questions, speak to other young people about their experiences and help make sense of the data collected. No previous experience needed. Full training provided. Fully supported. Seven days in total. £180 per day plus other expenses. A purple circle has £180 per day inside. Along the bottom, in the green banner, it reads To express interest email anna@socialvaluelab.org.uk explaining a little about yourself and why you’re interested.

ALT Poster with a green band at the top and bottom. ILF Scotland and Social Value Lab logos. Text reads Recruiting Peer Researchers with a graphic of a megaphone. Then reads We’re looking for 8 young, disabled people aged between 16 and 40, to join a peer research team exploring experiences of the Transition Fund. Help shape questions, speak to other young people about their experiences and help make sense of the data collected. No previous experience needed. Full training provided. Fully supported. Seven days in total. £180 per day plus other expenses. A purple circle has £180 per day inside. Along the bottom, in the green banner, it reads To express interest email [email protected] explaining a little about yourself and why you’re interested.

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Come work with us! GDA is looking for an Admin Coordinator, a Welfare Rights Officer and a Policy, Participation and Research Officer. See all the details and how to apply here: gda.scot/jobs/

Job Opportunities • Glasgow Disability Alliance

gda.scot
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Listen to a special episode of Lawmanity podcast with GDA CEO @tressaburke, @HeatherFisken CEO of Inclusion Scotland & human rights lawyer Louise Whitfield on disability justice, the gap between rights in law & the reality disabled people face in the UK. open.spotify.com/episode/3cs…
Title graphic reads "Disability Justice" and shows photos of Louise Whitfield, Heather Fisken and Tressa Burke.

ALT Title graphic reads "Disability Justice" and shows photos of Louise Whitfield, Heather Fisken and Tressa Burke.

Graphic shows a quote from Tressa Burke, GDA CEO: "My members say regularly to me that they have to work hard on not giving up because we tell them about all the treaties and conventions... all the different pieces of legislation - and yet they still don't have rights. They are saying, quite rightly: what is the point of having these rights if we can never have them realised or challenge them in any meaningful way?"

ALT Graphic shows a quote from Tressa Burke, GDA CEO: "My members say regularly to me that they have to work hard on not giving up because we tell them about all the treaties and conventions... all the different pieces of legislation - and yet they still don't have rights. They are saying, quite rightly: what is the point of having these rights if we can never have them realised or challenge them in any meaningful way?"

Graphic features a quote from Inclusion Scotland CEO Heather Fisken: "From when you wake up in the morning until when you go to bed, and everything you do in between - whether that's employment, learning, being a family member, trying to access services, socialise, use transport, use general services like shops - there's discrimination in all of that. Which bit do you challenge? It's exhausting."

ALT Graphic features a quote from Inclusion Scotland CEO Heather Fisken: "From when you wake up in the morning until when you go to bed, and everything you do in between - whether that's employment, learning, being a family member, trying to access services, socialise, use transport, use general services like shops - there's discrimination in all of that. Which bit do you challenge? It's exhausting."

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Our latest bulletin reflects the impacts of climate action on disabled people for Glasgow Climate Week. We face extra barriers taking part in climate conversations & actions including lack of investment in social care, lack of representation & eco-ableism gda.scot/2026/05/19/impacts-…

Impacts of Climate Action on Disabled People: Looking Back on Glasgow Climate Week • Glasgow...

Climate change impacts us all, but we are not all affected equally, and often the people least responsible for the damage caused are the ones…

gda.scot
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GDA Wellbeing Manager Angela tells us why mental health & wellbeing services need budgets to be responsive, accessible & flexible to meet disabled people’s needs. We need coordinated solutions to support disabled people's freedom & opportunity.
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GDA members on manifesto Ask 5 today: Strengthen & uphold disabled people’s rights. For Disabled People in Scotland equality & human rights are key concerns. The Scottish Gov shelving its proposed Human Rights Bill has furthered a sense of disabled people being deprioritised.
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A reminder that opponents of assisted suicide are not: pro suffering evil or the devil or cruel selfish or indifferent lacking experience in pain, illness or death without compassion inevitably religious uninformed As a disabled woman, here's why I oppose bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001z8w…

BBC One - Better Off Dead?

Documentary on assisted suicide, authored by actor Liz Carr.

bbc.co.uk
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It was great to be alongside @GDA members and staff on Friday for our hustings event. Always good to put the candidates through their paces on the key issues facing disabled people ahead of #Holyrood2026 elections.
Glasgow Disability Alliance@GDA__onlineApr 24
And now it’s over to the candidates at the GDA #Holyrood2026 Hustings: Patrick Harvie (Greens); @DavidLinden (SNP); @VonnSand (Labour); Kim Schmulian (Reform); @granttoghill (Lib Dems); and @BrianWhittle (Tories). Why SHOULD disabled people vote for them?
Photograph of the candidates on the hustings panel. From left to right, Brian Whittle, Grant Toghill, Kim Schmulian, Vonnie Sandlan, David Linden and Patrick Harvie. They are seated in a line behind a table which is covered in a black tablecloth. They have name cards in front of them.

ALT Photograph of the candidates on the hustings panel. From left to right, Brian Whittle, Grant Toghill, Kim Schmulian, Vonnie Sandlan, David Linden and Patrick Harvie. They are seated in a line behind a table which is covered in a black tablecloth. They have name cards in front of them.

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GDA’s CEO @tressaburke tells #Holyrood2026 Hustings the #GDAManifesto shows our strong & collective resolve to make disabled people’s lives better & to make a Fairer Scotland for us. Tressa cites stark evidence from our Member Survey to show why this is so vital.
Photograph of GDA CEO, Tressa Burke. She is speaking into a microphone, standing behind a lectern.

ALT Photograph of GDA CEO, Tressa Burke. She is speaking into a microphone, standing behind a lectern.

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Freedom to lead our own lives and contribute to families, workplaces, learning environments, communities and wider society including civic and political participation. To #Participate, be #Visible and #Represented alongside others.
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Disabled people frequently experience stigma, including from services, healthcare and even their own family. This can result in mental health issues, social isolation, and challenges in self-identity.
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GDA’s #Holyrood2026 Hustings is underway! Bringing over 150 disabled people together in person and more online to put the issues that matter to them to Patrick Harvie, @DavidLinden, @VonnSand, Kim Schmulian, @granttoghill & @BrianWhittle, chaired by the fabulous @ptupdate.
Photograph of GDA Depute CEO, Marianne Scobie. She is speaking form behind a lectern. Behind her is a large screen welcoming people to the GDA Hustings.

ALT Photograph of GDA Depute CEO, Marianne Scobie. She is speaking form behind a lectern. Behind her is a large screen welcoming people to the GDA Hustings.

Photograph of Pennie Taylor, the journalist and broadcaster who is hosting the GDA hustings. Behind her is a large screen of her image.

ALT Photograph of Pennie Taylor, the journalist and broadcaster who is hosting the GDA hustings. Behind her is a large screen of her image.

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