‘Wonderfully welcoming’ disabled conference

By Lisa Freeman, primary teacher from Worcestershire

ON 19-21 May I attended the disabled members’ conference in Manchester. There were over 100 delegates in attendance from England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The conference began on Friday evening with a short welcome address and a buffet meal.

On Saturday morning, we had a panel discussion on invisible impairments. The afternoon keynote speakers were disabled activist and comedian Barbara Lisicki (from the film When Barbara Met Alan) and disabled journalist Rachel Charlton-Dailey. It was very interesting hearing about their lives and the challenges they’ve overcome.

Later there were several workshops for delegates to choose from. In the evening, there was a wonderful dinner and a fun quiz –our table didn’t win but we all enjoyed singing along to the music round…

On Sunday morning, after we were addressed by NEU president Louise Atkinson, there was a debate for everyone to vote on which disabled motion would be taken forward to NEU annual conference next year. A motion focusing on promoting disabled people’s rights was proposed by Colleen Johnson (our executive seat holder) and seconded by Pablo Phillips. This motion aims to promote the rights of disabled people as enshrined in the social model of disability, and was passed unanimously. n Visit neu.org.uk/disability

The disabled members’ conference was wonderfully welcoming and accessible to attend. If you ever get the chance to go to a future conference, give it a try.

EMERGENCY TUC protest to protect the right to strike, 22 May.

The TUC called a protest outside Parliament as the Government was passing a new law to further restrict the right to strike. The new law threatens public sector workers with the sack if they don’t provide a minimum service during strike action, causing the new law to be dubbed the ‘sack key workers’ bill. The TUC has threatened legal action against the law.