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New proposals published for LDAN Bill

  • Area of Work: Policy and Research
  • Type: News Item
  • Published: 24th March 2026

Refined plans focus on practical measure to improve outcomes for people with learning disabilities, autism and neurodivergence.

The Scottish Government has published new proposals for a potential Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence (LDAN) Bill. 

The Bill is designed to improve rights, support and services for people with learning disabilities and neurodivergent people. These latest proposals reflect a refinement of earlier ideas, focusing on measures that are practical and achievable while avoiding unnneccessary complexity in the law. The paper brings together current thinking and potential measures, informed by the public consultation in 2023 – 2024 and further engagement with advisory panels in 2025. 

The ALLIANCE responded to this consultation in 2024, highlighting that the LDAN Bill has the potential to deliver meaningful change – if it is shaped by what people with learning disabilities, autistic and neurodivergent people genuinely want and need. We emphasised that there is strong evidence showing disabled people remain among the most excluded and discriminated against groups in Scottish society, indicating that existing legal protections are not working effectively. We therefore welcome the continued progress of this work. 

The revised proposals currently include: 

  • Clear defintions: Introducing a legal definition of “neurodivergence” in Scotland which describes the groups of people within the Bill’s reach 
  • Better planning: Introduce a duty to publish a national neurodivergence and learning disabilities strategy as well as local delivery plans 
  • Staff training: Requiring mandatory training for staff in key public services such as health, social care and justice 
  • Improved data: Steghtening how data is collected to help design better services 
  • Advocacy right: Expanding access to advocacy support 
  • Complex care: Place the existing local Dynamic Support Registers on a legal footing and introducing national oversight 
  • Justice support: Requiring justice services to identify and respond to communication support needs that may be the result of neurodivergence or a learning disability 

These proposals are not finalised and will depend on the next Scottish Government after the upcoming election. They do not commit any future government to specific policies, but are intended to support discussion, provide transparency, and help shape effective and practical future legislation. 

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