A Scots dad campaigning for a wheelchair-accessible house for his daughter is taking his fight to the Scottish capital.
Tony Pearson’s three-year-old daughter Grayce lives with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a rare genetic condition which causes muscle wasting.
Mr Pearson, who lives in Milton, says he was told to raise his concerns about the lack of accessible homes to John Swinney — so that is what he is doing.
On Thursday, Mr Pearson is going to protest outside Holyrood from noon until 2 pm prior to First Minister’s Questions.
He has invited others struggling to find an accessible home to join him.
“Grayce has SMA, which causes problems with breathing and scoliosis,” he told The Herald.
Tony Pearson and his wife Carrie with daughter Grayce. (Image: Supplied)
“We asked Glasgow City Council originally to help us put money towards a ramp, but they said no.
“The reason they said no was because our outside exterior stairs were 10 centimetres out of the building regulations.”
A Go Fund Me launched on Grayce’s behalf raised more than £7,000, allowing the family to install a ramp.
However, Mr Pearson said that the ramp is only a temporary solution.
“Eventually we started looking for a wheelchair-accessible home,” he explained. “Every housing association was saying it was an 8 to 10 year waiting list.
“We can't wait that long, so we kept applying and applying and applying, but didn't hear anything back. I emailed every single MSP in Holyrood.
“The only one that replied was Thomas Kerr, who has been fantastic.”
Mr Pearson even rented a billboard with Grayce’s face on it, directly appealing to then-council leader Susan Aitken, a stunt he repeated after new council leader Ricky Bell was elected last month.
Speaking of his meeting with Councillor Bell, Mr Pearson said: “He said he was going to start chasing it up, but I am concerned it is going to go slow again.
"When we eventually met Ricky Bell, I told him the situation of why there's not enough wheelchair-accessible homes being built, and asked why millions and millions of pounds are being spent on George Square and the Avenues projects, but not enough money put towards accessible homes.
“His answer was that I need to put that to John Swinney. So that's why I'm protesting.”
However, Mr Pearson said that the protest is about more than Grayce.
“Why is nothing getting done quick enough?” he asked. “Housing is a basic need, not a luxury.
Mr Pearson will hold a banner outside Holyrood for several hours on Thursday. (Image: Supplied)
“Nobody should have to fight for years to find a home where they can safely live and move around with dignity.
“You cannae live lives on a waiting list. Disabled children are growing up, families are getting older and people's needs are changing while they wait.
“My message to MSPs is surely there should be a plan in place to implement this.
“They've known about the housing crisis for years.
“All the new builds in Glasgow are mostly two-bedroom homes or townhouses. There's not enough wheelchair-accessible homes in the plans.”
Mr Pearson said the lack of progress can be challenging to cope with at times.
“I’m not able to see my daughter grow up because I’m fighting for this,” he said.
“If you’re losing ground more than you're gaining, it can feel like you are failing them. And I don’t want that.
“How can I look my children in the eye and say ‘I’ve done enough for you,’ when it feels you are failing them.”
Approached for comment, Councillor Bell said: "I was pleased to meet the Pearson family and discuss their situation. Following our meeting, I agreed to contact a number of housing associations on their behalf, and I understand they are currently considering some potential options.
"More widely, the shortage of accessible housing is a real challenge for many families, and I welcome the Scottish Government’s consideration of how we can increase the supply of suitable housing across Glasgow."
Mr Pearson has also campaigned for the establishment of a national screening programme for SMA at birth.
Tony Pearson and daughter Grayce. (Image: Supplied)
In March 2026, Scotland became the first country in the UK to trial the screening, offering all parents the opportunity to test their baby for the condition at five days old.
“The campaign trail was intense, but this is going to save thousands of babies,” Mr Pearson told The Herald’s sister paper, the Glasgow Times, when the news was announced the previous October.
“Without the screening, babies take months or a couple of years to be diagnosed but now if they can treat SMA from birth, they’ll have literally no symptoms at all.”
A year later, he hopes his campaign for better housing will bear similar fruit, not only for Grayce, but also for other children and families across Scotland.
“The whole point of this protest is not just fighting for my own family,” he said.
“It's just trying to get people along with us who feel as if they’re too scared to stand out or raise awareness in the media or try and protest.
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“I'm trying to bring everyone together for one moment to show that they are not forgotten.
“This problem is not going to go away anytime soon. The housing crisis will continue,” Mr Pearson went on to say.
“If [people want to] join me for one hour, two hours, they don't have to speak out, they don't have to shout. They just need to know that we're all in this together and we can raise our voice as high as we can.
“If we do this, hopefully the powers that be will listen to everyone and implement funds that are available for more homes that can be built for them as well."