Sunday
And so it was that it was the start of NUS SWD Conference, I can’t believe that it has been a year since I was elected and have to admit it’s all a bit scary. Last year I was on the committee but this year I am the lead officer on the event and I just hope that it all goes well and everything really enjoys. Have to say am really chuffed because numbers are up on last year so here is hoping that it’s going to be an awesome conference. Now off to the first of many committee meetings where we discuss who is going to chair different sessions of the conference, which is going to speak on certain motions and the general running of conference. And then? Well I think going to have to write my election speech and my opening speech to conference- which oh my god I still haven’t done- last year I had to be locked in my room to write it- hopefully people won’t have to resort to that again this year!!!

Monday
Well I just have finished my informal hustings speech. It’s all a bit odd standing up against RON (re-open nominations) and that’s it. I hopefully made people still believe though that I am the best candidate for the job- mind you that RON is better looking- hoho ho- maybe I could become a comedian once my time on the NEC is done- NOT!!!!. Basically my hustings speech was all about the fact that many people don’t thin that the nus swd campaign should be political. I believe that this is totally c**p considering how much legalisation is going through parliament and also how can we not be politically when we still do not have equal rights and access? This was the basis of my election speech- that we need to be out there campaigning and changing things and I truly believe that is true- we need to be an active campaign and continue being out there changing society and getting rid of disablism.

But hey my speech wasn’t the most important thing about today. Today was all about the conference and I think it’s going ok at the moment. We are storming through the motions and people are having a good discussion which is awesome- there don’t seem too be any problems..yet!!!! Anyhow I am gonna have to pop off cause gotta write my speech for tomorrow.

Tuesday
Yahoo I have been elected. I got 42 votes and RON got 1 but I am dead chuffed- yay yay yay- am really loving the role at the moment and am really glad that people wanted me to stay on to do it for another year. As you can see am all a bit happy, especially cause today as been an awesome day al round (and no not just because I won my election). We had a deaf student chair this afternoon’s conference motion session which I thought was good. We also had some really good debate. Do you know that is the one thing that I am really enjoying about this conference- the debate- we have been talking about some serious stuff like assisted dying, sex lives and cannabis but people have been willing to get up and speak about what they feel be it for or against- in each debate we have had a range of views and lots of different people happily getting up and expressing what they think- from all different colleges. Have to say the debate has definitely been the most awesome thing about conference this year. You can go to the resolutions bit of officeronline to see what we talked about and voted on. Also we had some really good workshops on Scope, Time To Get Equal, English federation of disability sport, deaf students and the disability discrimination act. Hope people found the workshops useful. But anyhow I am going to have to run off now because there is the swd conference dinner and disco and a woman has to get herself ready.

Wednesday
Well that’s it conference is over for another year and have to say I am exhausted but one happy bunny. Everyone seemed to really enjoy the conference and hopefully people got lots out of it. Only one hiccup happened today when the guest speaker had to turn up late because of the snow- luckily some delegates were so keen to hear him speak they started on which was great. He was a fab speaker too- talked all about how there is a need for the students with disabilities to be a really pro active and vibrant campaigning movement and have to say I believe him- we need to be out there challenging stigma and ensuring our equality. I have loved the last 3 days, met lots of great people and am really inspired for the next year. A huge congrats to everyone who got elected onto the committee- you will be able to find out more about them very soon on the swd campaign web pages and hope everyone got home safe. Right I’m off to have a big sleep.

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