Ei-iE

Against a backdrop of increasing cuts and attacks to vital support for disabled people, NASUWT is continuing to be part of the fight back to ensure disabled teachers can live and work with dignity.

We have been working with sister unions and campaigners against the Government’s planned cuts to Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and delays in the Access to Work scheme, which is designed to support people with disabilities in the workplace.

The impact of both was highlighted at our recent Disabled Teachers’ Consultation Conference, with Kat Downs and Lara Morris, members of our Disabled Members’ Advisory Committee, sharing estimates that around three million people may be affected by planned reforms to PIP.

Members described their fears, with one commenting “I am concerned I am going to lose access to PIP- if I lose that I am going to lose my independence and I may not be able to work full time.”

Matt Wrack, our Acting General Secretary, addressed the cuts in his speech to the conference, arguing disabled people are being targeted. He said: “We see an attack on disabled people by successive governments. I am always a bit cynical when governments say there is no money for welfare payments, but we know there is always money to be found for some things, such as the bailout of the banks in 2008, for example.”

Speaking on the same day as the anniversary of the Grenfell Tower disaster, Mr Wrack pointed out that 41% of those who lived in the tower with disabilities died. He suggested this was emblematic of the continued discrimination and inequality facing disabled people and pointed out that the successive governments have refused to take forward recommendations from the Grenfell inquiry on Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans which set out how people with assistance needs can be evacuated from buildings in the event of an emergency.

Members attending the event in Birmingham shared the continuing challenges they face in obtaining reasonable adjustments in their workplaces, along with the assumptions and negative attitudes they face from colleagues, pupils and parents. The event focused on offering members solidarity, practical advice and help to overcome these barriers. Members were able to access help from our Legal team as well as take part in practical workshops exploring their rights at work.

Gilroy Brown, led a session on challenging the barriers to leadership for disabled teachers, where members were encouraged to think about strategies, considering how their school could ensure disabled teachers have the same opportunities as non-disabled colleagues through the provision of action such as mentoring schemes, training and access to accessible continuous professional development.

There was agreement that school leaders need to be made aware that there is a benefit to schools in making accessibility adjustments, as it will help recruitment and retention of staff.

As Mr Brown put it: “If your school doesn’t see your value, it may be time to leave the school and find one that does. A key part of your power is your choice. Because there are schools that are better. We either stand and fight or we continue to let the world define us.”