Under the supervision of Professors Nicole Busby and Jacqueline Kinghan, six students conducted research in order to better understand the experiences of those with non-visible disabilities when trying to access justice in Scotland. The report is based on an extensive review of relevant literature as well as analysis of 62 survey responses to a survey designed and distributed by LSA.

The research finds that those with non-visible disabilities, including neurodivergent conditions, face multiple access to justice barriers in obtaining legal advice and navigating the justice process. It makes detailed recommendations related to a number of key themes, for example, the importance of empowerment and agency, client communication, geographic location and the accessibility of support services.

Recommendations include the need for greater clarity, including awareness raising and training, around the definition of non-visible disability for legal professionals and across the justice system; addressing the lack of empirical evidence on the experiences of those with non-visible disabilities, particularly when it comes to their ability to access to legal services and experiences in court; and embedding clear processes for identifying non-visible disabilities at different stages of the justice process.

University of Glasgow students Annika Kapp, Callum Laing, Eilidh McPhail, Anna Rigg, Josh Stapley and Iris Tsui worked on the Non-Visible Disability Project in an extra-curricular capacity during their studies.

Ms Rigg said: “By participating in this project, I have seen how vital the role of public legal education is in empowering marginalised groups, including those whose disabilities are not immediately visible, by bridging the gap between legal protections and lived realities. I feel that this experience has been invaluable to the development of my legal education.”

Mr Laing commented: “Working on the Non-Visible Disability Project has been a great honour and a formative experience as it has enabled me to raise awareness of such an important and unresolved problem besetting the legal system. Through this report it is my hope that disparities will be reduced and that greater awareness will continue to be raised around the legal system’s lack of accessibility for those with non-visible disabilities.”

CEO of LSA, Aaliya Seyal, added: “We want to sincerely thank everyone who took the time to share their valuable experiences as part of this research. We’re also grateful to Professors Busby and Kinghan at the University of Glasgow’s GO Justice Centre and the team of students for their support in helping us publish this report.

“We are committed to sharing these findings with stakeholders and using them to help inform better practice and policy for people with non-visible disabilities across Scotland’s justice system.”

Professors Nicole Busby and Jacqueline Kinghan said: “It has been a privilege supervising such a dedicated and enthusiastic team of students on this important piece of work. We look forward to continued partnership working with LSA to tackle access to justice barriers faced by those with non-visible disabilities.”