The next Scottish election will take place on May 7th 2026. Our manifesto sets out what we're asking political parties and candidates to commit to if they're elected to the Scottish Parliament.
This manifesto has been developed with people affected by visual impairment across Scotland, ensuring the priorities we're presenting reflect lived experience and needs.
The number of people in Scotland with a visual impairment is growing. By 2035, it is estimated over 230,000 people in Scotland will be living with sight loss – a 27% increase from today. As we approach the elections, we're asking for your support in calling on candidates and parties to commit to making Scotland an inclusive country where people of all visual abilities have the opportunities and rights they deserve.
Our five key priorities:
- Fair rail travel – We want the pilot of free rail travel for companions of blind and severely sight impaired people made permanent, to make travelling by train more accessible.
- Support after sight loss – Vision rehabilitation after sight loss is provided as part of social care by Scottish local authorities. It gives people the skills to adjust to visual impairment and live independently, but access to vision rehabilitation varies hugely across Scotland. We're calling for minimum quality standards for vision rehabilitation and investment in training more vision rehabilitation specialists.
- Accessible venues – Scotland's cultural life should be accessible for everyone. We want standardised booking systems for accessible seats and mandatory accessibility standards for all publicly funded venues.
- NHS eye health infrastructure – We're calling for urgent action to repair Scotland's crumbling eye health infrastructure, including delivering on cross-party promises to build a replacement Eye Hospital in Edinburgh.
- Vision impairment education – With numbers of learners with vision impairment doubling but specialist teacher numbers falling, we need national workforce planning to train more Qualified Teachers of Children and Young People with Visual Impairment.
Our full manifesto includes further asks on health, housing, social security, transport and equalities – because visual impairment touches every area of life.
These aren't just policy asks – they're about dignity, opportunity and inclusion. Every day visually impaired people navigate education, employment, transport and daily life whilst managing their sight loss. They know what needs to change, and that these changes are both necessary and deliverable.
Over the coming week leading up to May 7th, we'll be inviting visually impaired people, their friends, families and allies to get involved in campaigns on these issues. Whether that's signing a petition, writing to your local candidate, or sharing your own experiences, your voice matters.
Together, we can make sure the next Scottish Parliament focuses on visual impairment.
Download accessible versions of our election manifesto below
Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans 2026 Manifesto Shorter Version PDF
Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans 2026 Manifesto Shorter Version PDF
Sight Scotland Election Manifesto 2026 - Full Version Accessible Word Document
Sight Scotland Election Manifesto 2026 Full Version
Sight Scotland Election Manifesto 2026 - Shorter Version Accessible Word Document
Sight Scotland Election Manifesto 2026 Shorter Version
Help with voting in the Scottish Parliament election
You can find important information about voting in the Scottish Parliament election in our blog, which includes details of how to register, how and where to vote, and useful accessibility information
