At the last SWD Committee meeting we passed an amendment to change the name of the SWD Campaign to the disabled students campaign- this blog will tell you why we have done this and show you the amendment that we have passed.

This has been a debate that has been running for a while now but I will say this. I am proud that we have submitted this amendment because I believe it is about time that we change our name and make this political statement.

For a few years now NUS has subscribed to the Social Model of Disability, which maintains that society and attitudes are the problem, and that the problem does not lie with the disabled. A high priority for NUS is the campaign to ensure that the Social Model is universally accepted. Yet whilst we have subscribed to the social model of disability we have still continued to call ourselves the students with disabilities campaign, whilst most of the disability movement has moved to the term disabled student. Surely the fact that we call ourselves SWD demonstrates that we do not completely subscribe to the social model and to the fact that we are a political movement campaigning to get rid of disablism, for equality and for liberation.

When I started in the NUS SWD Campaign we were not as political as we are now, and I think when I first got elected a few people were put off by the fact that I stated that I was going to bring politics into the SWD campaign, as if politics were a bad thing. My arguments were and still are when disabled people are not equal in this society, when we still face disablism, when things like the incapacity benefit reform, the creation of the commission for equality and human rights, the disability equality duty and the mental health bill are alive then we need to be out there, lobbying, campaigning and yes being political to ensure that we, disabled people, stand up for our rights and ensure that we leading the campaign for our equality and liberation. We no longer can be just a ‘support group’, we need to be campaigning, we need to be political and we need to make political statements like being called the Disabled Students campaign. This is not just about the social model of disability but a political statement saying that we have some disability pride and that we are disabled proud ( to find out more about disability pride go here )

That is why I am happy to see the below motions and amendments but also would ask that people consider these arguments before they come to swd conference in February. The committee and I believe it is time for us to change our name, to actually adhere to the social model of disability but for us also to be proud that we are a political movement.

Here are the motions that have been submitted about this and below that is the amendment that the swd committee has submitted. You still have time to submit amendments from your Union as they have to be in by January 27th at 1pm. To find out more go here

Heading: Reform
Submitted by: NUS SWD Committee

Conference believes:

1. That NUS Reform has been high on the agenda.
2. That the NUS SWD Campaign needs to ensure that it is reforming itself and making sure it is a campaign at ALL SWD feel is accessible and that they are represented within it.
3. That the NUS SWD Campaign needs to be a campaign for the 21st century.
4. That the Students with Disabilities campaign have policy to conform to the social model of disability.
5. That the social model of disability was created in 1976 by UPIAS (a disabled service user organization) as an empowering concept for disabled people by disabled people.
6. That the social model of disability says that people are discriminated against because of their impairments and it is this discrimination that makes them disabled, not their impairments.

1. At the current time not all groups of students are represented on the committee.
2. That the NUS SWD Campaign could reform itself to be a truly campaign body that represents all SWD in the 21st century.
3. That the vast majority of disability legislation in now created with the social model of disability in mind.
4. That all disabled charities and serviced user groups conform to the social model of disability.
5. That whilst differences of opinion amongst disabled people are healthy and vital for a liberated movement, there should be no disagreement that the social model of disability is the best way forward.
6. That reform is needed to ensure that the campaign adheres to the social model of disability.
7. That the wider reform throughout NUS has been necessary to respond to the challenges of postmodernism and budgetary restrictions.

1. To debate changes to our campaign to bring it more focused and in line with the social model of disability.
2. To respect differences of opinion and celebrate the diversity that exists within our movement.
3. To get the NUS SWD Campaign t reform itself and its representational structures.
4. For the NUS SWD Campaign to call for Students’ Unions to call for a 1-day emergency SWD Conference before the end of academic year 2005/06 so that the reforms can be ratified and implemented.

Heading: The Use of Certain Terminology in the Organisation
Submitted by: Leeds University

Conference believes

1. That NUS SWD Campaign uses the term “Students with Disabilities”, when referring to Disabled Students.
2. That this term can affect the way Disabled Students are treated.

1. That this individual model terminology can take responsibility of adaptation/removing barriers and changing environment from the society to individual Disabled Students and blame them for their “inadequacies”.
2. This attitude can further exclude Disabled Students from the process of decision making about disability issues related to their everyday life in their universities and colleges.

1. The NUS SWD Campaign should change its name to NUS DS Campaign in accordance with the social model of disability, therefore becoming the “National Union of Students Disabled Students Campaign”.
2. For the NUS DS Campaign to raise awareness and organise training about different disability models and their related language.
3. That the NUS DS Campaign continues the good work that the NUS SWD Campaign has achieved but with its focus being on the social model

Furthering Reform Amendment

Conference Believes:

1. The NUS SWD Campaign is an important part of NUS, but without NUS the SWD Campaign would not exist.
2. We must have strong, vibrant NUS that is relevant to students.
3. The committee cut SWD Conference from 3 days to 2 days to aid the NUS financial situation.
4. We must align ourselves to the social model of disability.
5. The NUS SWD campaign must make changes that will make it a vibrant campaign, which is accessible, to all.

1. The NUS SWD Campaign must support NUS reforms.
2. Some of the practices of the NUS SWD campaign are out of date & do not able students to feel that they can involved or stand for election.

1. To change the campaign name to NUS Disabled Students Campaign.
2. To change the motion process so it is akin to annual conference so that motions are submitted in 4 zones, which will be welfare & student rights, education, strong and active unions and citizenship.
3. To allow motions & amendments to be submitted electronically.
4. To allow motions & amendments to be submitted by 20 students who self define.
5. To keep SWD Conference at 2 days until the financial situation of NUS stabilizes where it will be reinstated back to a 3-day conference.
6. To make all committee places for a term of 1 year only.

Word Count: 238

What is the Social model of Disability?

The social model of disability starts from a different perspective. It ignores how “bad” a person’s impairment is. Instead it establishes that everyone is equal and demonstrates that it is society which erects barriers that prevent disabled people participating and restricts their opportunities.

The Medical Model Says:
You are the problem.
Your disability needs curing.
You can't make decisions about your life.
You need professionals to look after you.
You can never be as equal as a non-disabled person.

The Social Model Says:
"Disability" is not an individual problem.
We can't compete on equal terms because there are too many barriers.
We need to recognise that "society" (through government and its agencies) has a duty to remove these barriers.
Disabled people have the same RIGHT to full equality as do all other citizens.

The social model of disability enables disabled people to look at themselves in a more positive way which increases their self-esteem and independence.

Heavy doors and inaccessible public transport are just two examples of what makes traveling such a hassle - not the fact that someone is disabled. Every disabled person can make their own list of the barriers that limit their participation. When these barriers and other people’s negative attitudes are considered, it is easy to see how disabled people’s opportunities are limited by a multitude of barriers.

The social model of disability states that the solution is to rid society of these barriers, rather than relying on curing all the people who have impairments.

This social model approach to disability that sees the problem as society’s barriers, rather than the person’s condition, allows disabled people to lift the blame from their shoulders and place it squarely onto society’s. The social model of disability empowers disabled people to challenge society to remove those barriers.

The 'medical model' of disability sees the disabled person as the problem. We are to be adapted to fit into the world as it is. If this is not possible, then we are shut away in some specialised institution or isolated at home, where only our most basic needs are met. The emphasis is on dependence, backed up by the stereotypes of disability that call forth pity, fear and patronising attitudes.

Usually the focus is on the impairment rather than the needs of the person. The power to change us seems to lie within the medical and associated professions, with their talk of cures, normalisation and science. Often our lives are handed over to them.

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