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Network Journal 2007 Issue 4 July/Aug |
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Speaking up for disabled members
The first ever Usdaw delegation of disabled members went to the TUC Disability Conference in London, in May.
Angela Thomas, Swansea General moved the union's proposition on supporting members with learning difficulties. "I was delighted to attend such an important conference and to speak on a subject that affects many thousands of workers and their families."
Disabled people make up a fifth of the total population in the UK but are more than twice as likely to be unemployed. The situation is even worse if you have a learning difficulty - you are four times less likely to be in paid work than a person without a disability.
There is plenty of evidence to show that workers with learning difficulties are more likely to experience poverty, ill health and are prevented from making their own important life decisions than non-disabled workers.
"Activists in the trade union movement are uniquely placed to begin to challenge some of the stereotypes and myths that surround disability in the workplace. We can't assume that just because a person has a learning difficulty they can't be given demanding or challenging work. Many disabled workers and particularly workers with learning difficulties can feel isolated and overlooked in the workplace.
"We have an important job to do to support those workers, make sure they join the union and encourage them to become active."
www.usdaw.org.uk/equality
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