Record numbers for disabled teachers' conference

NASUWT members have taken part in the most successful Disabled Teachers’ Conference ever with a record number of attendees.

The Unions annual conference in Bromsgrove heard from disabled members from across the UK who shared their experiences of living and teaching with a disability.

In a rousing speech the General Secretary of the NASUWT, Chris Keates briefed members on the impact of the Coalition Government’s cuts while highlighting some of the key issues faced by teachers with disabilities.

And she also addressed head on what she said was the “systematic under-reporting” of disability by teachers to their employers.

She said: “There is a deep fear in many cases of teachers with a disability to report this to their managers and employers…this of course then gets into a viscious spiral of those people being even more vulnerable in the workplace.”

This was also a barrier that had to be overcome within the union as well, Ms Keates added.

She went on to attack the “savage cuts” by the Coalition Government to publicly funded programmes, including to the Ability v Ability programme developed by the Union and Paralympics GB.

Ms Keates said: “There was no other resource of its kind that was widely available to teachers.
“We are continuing to work on that resource and we are continuing to develop it.
“But it says a lot about this Coalition Government that was one of the first programmes they actually axed.”

Ms Keates also briefed delegates on the current situation regarding the pensions dispute, telling them: “Our strategy on pensions has proved extremely popular…the
NASUWT is absolutely committed, to if necessary, defending public service pensions by industrial action, but actually if we can exhaust the negotiations first that is the best way and that is what we should be trying to do.”

The conference also heard disturbing evidence from some teachers that attempts were being made to force them out of their jobs because of their disability.

Some felt academy head teachers in particular were bullying staff and adjustments were not being made to cater for their disabilities.

Delegates debated the implications of the Equality Act and heard from Richard Reiser, a leading disabled international equality trainer. He advised how the new legislation could be used if teachers felt they were being discriminated against.

Mr Reiser said: “We are different but we are also equal. To try and pretend that you are not disabled is the first mistake.”

He told delegates: “Disability is an equalities issue. This is a transition we all have to make, particularly those who acquire their impairments along the way, you have to get out of the tragedy model and see this is an issue of human rights.
“You have every right to be treated equally.”

A series of workshops formed the bulk of the conference with expert advice on assertiveness and confidence building, wellbeing and managing finances.

Delegates also took part in ‘Loud and Clear’, a vocal coaching energiser session with voice coach Jackie Roxborough.

Further information about the NASUWT’s support for teachers with disabilities can be found at www.nasuwt.org.uk/DisabledMembers