Disabled Teachers - Identify and Organise!

Around 14% of working-age people in the UK are estimated to be disabled, but fewer than 1% of NUT Section members have told us that they identify as disabled.

Disability has a much wider meaning in law than is often recognised. The Equality Act 2010 requires employers to recognise disability in staff when they are informed and make reasonable adjustments if required.

Examples of forms of disability that people do not always realise are protected under the Equality Act include:

• long-term and chronic illness
• autism
• dyslexia
• colour-blindness
• mental health problems

At the moment some people dislike or fear the label of 'disabled' and are reluctant to come forward. The solution to this is organisation by disabled members to promote the role and contribution of disabled workers in the workforce and tackle discrimination and stigma associated with disability.

The union organises Disabled Teachers Conference every year and there is a Disabled Teachers Facebook group you can join to find out more and help get organised: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1633734646939936/

We would like to support disabled members in getting involved in the life of the union in the city. All our meetings are accessible, so come to the next meetings and help us live up to the slogan 'nothing about us without us!'