Commenting on the passing of Motion 13 at NEU Annual Conference in Brighton, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
"A successful education system needs a diverse workforce including disabled staff as role models and advocates. Cuts to Personal Independent Payments (PIP) and Access to Work support will force disabled staff out of education, with the loss of expertise and skills. These cuts and a lack of investment in making workplaces fit for disabled workers will also prevent young people, including those classed as NEETS with SEND, from getting a foot on the ladder of employment.
"The government should be investing in the independence of disabled workers and do more to help employers make workplaces accessible. Using a medicalised approach which focusses too heavily on what people cannot do must be avoided, because disabled staff have a valuable contribution to make and teachers experience different health conditions at different stages of their careers."