The social model and inclusion – leading by example
- kevinndaws
- Jul 7
- 3 min read
Approximately 10 days ago I posted an article called Have you heard of the Social Model of Disability?
I wrote that article to given an overview of what the Social Model of Disability is which would help to give some background to the debate that was held at the TUC Disabled Worker Conference at the beginning of June. The title of the motion and the debate was The social model and inclusion – leading by example.
I was delighted to be able to move this motion on behalf of the UCU and this is what I said.
Conference you will recall that at the start of this Conference we heard and adopted the Committee’s statement on social model language.
We would have been surprised, and indeed shocked, if that statement had been challenged or even rejected by delegates at this Conference.
Conference, it is fantastic that the TUC and its affiliated unions, do support the social model of disability.
The question that we are posing in this motion is how far do the TUC and the trade unions at this conference practice what we preach?
It is easy to say that we support the social model of disability but it can be a lot harder to put that into practice.
Let us remind ourselves that the social model of disability defines disability as a result of societal barriers, rather than individual impairments. It emphasizes that people with impairments are disabled by the way society is structured, such as inaccessible environments, negative attitudes, and discriminatory policies, which prevent their full participation and equality.
Conference, we can all learn from each other. In this motion we call upon the TUC and the TUC Disabled Workers Committee to lead by developing and modelling best practices that we can share with each other as well as promoting through our workplaces and by persuading employers to follow our lead.
Conference, I am proud that UCU has led by example. We started by holding our Disabled Members Conference on a hybrid basis. This year for the first time, the UCU Congress was successfully held on a hybrid basis.
We do believe that hybrid conferences and meetings are more inclusive and do encourage and enhance accessibility and participation.
Most of the union meetings I attend are either held online or on a hybrid basis whether that is Branch meetings, Regional meetings, Trades Union Council meetings or national meetings.
Conference, our motion is a call to action!!!
We are asking the TUC and the TUC disabled Workers Committee as well as all of the TUCs affiliated unions – we are asking everyone at this Conference to promote the Social Model of Disability not just through our words but through our actions and our deeds.
This is what we are asking you, your unions, your employers and the TUC to do:
Sharing and disseminating the experiences of unions holding hybrid conferences to enhance accessibility and participation;
campaigning and encouraging employers to include equality conferences and committee work in facilities time so that all reasonable adjustments, including support assistants, can be implemented for disabled delegates and funded by DWP or other agencies;
requiring that all motions and all publications conform to social model language;
developing guidance for organisations on committing fully to the social model in action, not just as a tick-box exercise;
promoting the social model through challenging discriminatory and ableist language and behaviour by developing a reference guide for appropriate definitions and guidelines for use.
Conference Actions Speak Louder than Words!!!
We all need to rise to the challenge of making the Social Model of Disability a living reality which will allow disabled workers and disabled people to be fully engaged and included in our unions and in wider society.
Conference, in the immortal words of Captain Jean Luc Picard ‘Make it so!’
Resources
Comments