Glasgow Disability Alliance

28/11/2025

If you are 16-25 and interested in marine advocacy, check out this great opportunity through Young Sea Changers Scotland!

Interested in the ocean but don't know where to start?

🌊Turning the Tide is our flagship training and skill development programme, designed for young people interested in kick starting their journey in marine advocacy 🌊

Join our online intro session for a whistlestop tour of Scotland's seas and how to get involved. The session will cover:
🦀 Scotland's marine habitats and how they're faring
🐟 An intro to marine policy and advocacy
💙 An overview of Turning the Tide including from this years participants
💭 A chance to ask the YSCS team questions about the application, course or anything else!

Sign up to join the session via Eventbrite at: bit.ly/ttt26-intro and read more about Turning the Tide at: youthforseas.org/turning-the-tide.

28/11/2025

Are you struggling to keep on top of your energy bills and keep cosy at home?

If so, you could be eligible for support from Warmer Homes Scotland, the Scottish Government funded programme to help make your home warmer and cheaper to heat.

Call Home Energy Scotland today on 0808 808 2282 or visit their website at homeenergyscotland.org/warmer-home

20/11/2025

20th November is the start of Disability History Month!

17/11/2025

What has GDA been up to over the last few weeks? DJ-ing, screen printing, photography, climate workshops, and more! There are many more free, fun, and accessible learning sessions to come before the holidays. Give us a call to register! 🙂

17/11/2025

Winter Heating Payment scams are on the rise. Always use caution and do not give out personal or bank information over text message.

If you would like some coaching to improve your digital skills and confidence online, reach out to us at connect@gdaonline.co.uk or call 0141 556 7103.

15/11/2025

13/11/2025

November 13th is World Kindness Day!

Reach out to GDA by phone 0141 556 7103 text 07958 299 496 or by email at wellbeing@gdaonline.co.uk if you would like to come along to our next wellbeing session.

If you would like more information about Kindness by Post, or would like to participate, you can register at https://www.kindnessbypost.org/

13/11/2025

GDA was invited to display our member's creative writing and photography exhibition titled "Doors Open- But Can I Get In?" at the civic reception at the Glasgow City Chambers on Tuesday evening.

Congratulations to all of our members involved for winning the Outstanding Engagement Award for their work! The exhibition will be posted at the Calton Heritage Centre later this year for those interested in viewing it- stay tuned!

06/11/2025

In Memory of Etienne D’Aboville

We are deeply saddened to share the news that our former Board Director, Etienne D’Aboville, passed away peacefully at home on 28th October 2025.

Etienne was a towering figure in the Independent Living Movement in Scotland. He spent over 25 years as Chief Executive of the Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living (GCIL), where he championed the rights of disabled people with passion, dignity, and humour. His leadership helped to shape inclusive services, promote co-production, and advance the use of direct payments and personal assistance.

Etienne was a man of warmth and wisdom, and his contribution to social justice and independent living was profound. He will be missed terribly by the Movement, by his colleagues and friends, and by all of us who had the genuine privilege to know him.

All of us at ILF Scotland send our love and thoughts to his family.
https://ilf.scot/go/etienne

06/11/2025

We are so grateful to Etienne for all he did for GDA, GCIL, and the disabled people's movement in Glasgow, Scotland, the UK and beyond. He was a wonderful man who brought humour, kindness and strength to all he did. His legacy is enormous and we miss him terribly.

It is with deep sadness that we share news of the passing of Etienne d’Aboville, a pioneering figure in Scotland’s Independent Living Movement and GCIL’s first Chief Executive.

Etienne joined the newly established Centre for Independent Living in Glasgow in 1996 and became GCIL’s first CEO in 2004, leading the organisation until his retirement in 2021. Under his leadership, GCIL grew from a small grassroots initiative into Scotland’s largest Centre for Inclusive Living.

His influence reached far beyond GCIL — from helping to establish organisations such as Glasgow Disability Alliance, to championing the reopening of the Independent Living Fund in Scotland. Etienne’s voice was one of clarity, conviction, and compassion.

He will be remembered as a leader, mentor, and friend. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his wife Susie, their family, and all who knew him.

Read our full tribute here: https://gcil.org.uk/in-memory-of-etienne-daboville-former-ceo-of-gcil-glasgow-centre-for-inclusive-living/

[Image description: Etienne d'Aboville, former CEO of GCIL, is sat smiling in his powerchair in front of two GCIL blue roller banners at the stairs of Scottish Governments Holyrood. He is wearing a striped top, with a grey jumper tied around his shoulders. He has dark hair, glasses on and a grey bag sitting at his waist.]

05/11/2025

We are devastated to share the very sad news that Etienne d’Aboville, former CEO of Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living died last week, following a period of illness.
Etienne was instrumental in the development and establishment of the Independent Living Movement in Scotland, becoming the CEO of Glasgow CIL in 1996, when the centre first opened, until he retired in 2021.

Etienne was well-respected by local and national government officials. He was a champion of disabled people’s rights, a softly spoken but dynamic speaker and tenacious in challenging injustice.

Etienne was a role model to many of us and a pioneer, driving forward the key messages of the social model of disability and independent living. He created the conditions necessary for the setting up of GDA, supporting his staff and board to get involved in meetings and planning, and encouraging and supporting Tressa and Marianne to lead on taking these plans forward to set up an organisation that was, and remains a 'sister’ organisation to GCIL.

We are devasted to lose a dear friend, colleague and pillar of our Movement, and we send our love and deepest condolences to Etienne’s family and friends.

04/11/2025

Out and about in town today? Come find us! GDA is at Buchanan Galleries in front of John Lewis all day. Come chat about our new Empower and Ahead projects, upcoming learning sessions, and more!