Conference,

I wanted to do this speech in a dignified manner as possible but you know something I am just so angry at the moment. I have just been dealing with a disabled student who has been crying her eyes out because of conference. You see she was the student that was asleep earlier today- the student who was pointed out on conference floor and the disabled student who people have been laughing at. A disabled student who forgot to take her medication which therefore made her fall asleep. Conference I thought that for the last 2 years we had worked hard to get rid of disablism. But that disabled student is now walking through Blackpool getting pointed at and laughed at by students and all because of the way that her disability impacts. I am saddened and angry. Racism isn’t accepted in our movement, homophobia isn’t accepted but it seems that disablism still is. Anyhow I just wanted to get that off my chest and now I am going to actually calm down and get on with my NUS leaving speech.

The NUS DISABLED Students Campaign has transformed over the last 2 years- becoming the active, political campaign it should be. Involving students, campaigning for students and winning for students. No longer will the campaign be perceived as the 4th liberation campaign, no longer will it be perceived as a fluffy campaign and no longer will it be seen as just a support group. When disabled students are being denied access to education, when disabled students are facing harassment and abuse, even in our own National Union, and when disabled students are not able to participate in all areas of student life then we can not be just a support group. We have to be an active political campaigning force.

Conference,

We changed the perception of disabled students, we changed the way this movement regards us- we are not weak poor students that need to be pitied or to be called brave. We are leaders, we are campaigners and we have the right to engage. We should be disabled and proud.

To all those students, disabled and non disabled who have joined in the fight for equality, access to All and the rights for disabled students I say thank you and continue the fight, as the fight for equality has to continue. We have not won and we will not give up until we have.

To Alex Kemp and the new disabled students committee I wish you all the luck in the world and never ever let the campaign go back to what it was.

Conference,

I am also proud to stand here to stand as a liberation officer who has been an active NEC member- whilst I am here representing disabled students I am also a proud member of our NEC- campaigning on FE, on free education, feminism and student activities. To the new liberation officers I say get involved in all areas of NUS because that is how I have challenged many perceptions and raised awareness.

To all those in the room who have believed in me and believed in what I stood for. THANK YOU. Thank you for your support, help and belief.

To the NEC I say thank you- we may not have agreed, we have debated but you have taught me so much and challenged me even more.

To the staff- all I can say is that it has been hard without a dedicated member of staff but there are those who have supported me and believe in accessibility as much as I do- thank you- my time in NUS would not have been the same without you.

Conference,

The last 3 days have been sooo long and it does seem like there might not be life outside of the winter gardens. But you know something this isn’t just NUS. This is just one conference. In fact things that have happened over the last 7 days that truly demonstrate what we are and what we can do. 7 days ago the mental health bill was defeated- and the mental health alliance thanked NUS for all its campaigning and lobbying on this issue, we were at the forefront of this campaign- organizing lobbies, meeting MPS and getting students involved.

At the end of last week students came together to defeat their university’s outrageous proposals to undermine their Unions’ democracy- something that could have had a huge impact on the whole movement. And just on Monday the government give us a white paper that has the potentional to change FE and give us a true active represented student voice. It is students in this room we campaigned for this and won. The last 7 days have showed us the power we have as students, what we can do together- never forget this. You in this room can change the world.

My thanks go to James Knight, Natasha Hirst and Pete Norris who 3 years ago talked me into standing for SWD Committee- the 3 of you are true disabled activists- thank you. To Kathy Wylde- the Queen of steering and someone I am proud to call my friend and my final thanks are to Kat. Who would’ve thought that we would’ve ended up such good friends. 2 years ago we really did not like each other- just goes to show that you shouldn’t listen to what others tell you, to what the NUS rumours are and actually find things out for yourself. I’m glad I did and found a friend like you. And hey at least we can now actually afford to put the heating on in our house. If anyone would like to come round on July 1st and help Kat and I are find out what you do with a life there is would be most appreciated.

My final thanks go to you. Thank you for allowing me to serve you and represent you. You have made me the person I am today. Disabled and proud. Thank you.

The Blogs on this site represent the individual views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the policies or practices of the National Union of Students.

All links in blogs will open in a new browser window.

The permanent URL for this specific blog entry is: http://www.officeronline.co.uk/blogs/siandavies/272430.aspx