The organisation was founded in 1952 by a group of parents and social workers who wanted to ensure that their disabled children had the right to a decent education.

[1] Scope was founded as the National Spastics Society on 9 October 1951[2] by Ian Dawson-Shepherd, Eric Hodgson, Alex Moira and a social worker, Jean Garwood, with the aim of improving and expanding services for people with cerebral palsy.

The Society provided residential units and schools, as well as opening a chain of charity shops.

[citation needed] In 2017, Scope launched its new strategy – Everyday equality – which set out how the charity would campaign to support disabled people.

The strategy sets out an ambition to offer information, support and advice to two million disabled people and their families every year.

[10] In 2014 Scope ran a campaign called End The Awkward fronted by comedian Alex Brooker.