This year I attended the 2015 NUS Disabled Students on behalf of our Disabled Students Officer Tori-Ilana Evans. The conference lasted three full days and this is a report to let you know what happened there!

Friday
The morning of the conference began with some basic delegate training for the procedures and policy of the conference, and was then followed by an opening address by current NUS Disabled Students Officer Maddy Kirkman.

After Lunch the conference continued with a short opening of business which included an announcement of opening and closing times for nominations to committee places. The conference was then presented with reports from the current Disabled Students Officer Maddie Kirkman, the NEC representative (insert here) and the open places of committee. All reports were accepted by the conference. Following these reports the representatives from each of the nations (Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) gave their reports, Unfortunately only the Scottish representative was present at this conference so the northern Ireland report was given by Maddy Kirkman, and the Welsh report as given by Ebbi Rose Ferguson (The Welsh NUS Deputy President). The women’s caucus for the conference immediately followed these reports.

Delegates voted on which section of motions would be debates first in the motion debate block of the conference. Education won the most delegate votes under an AV system of voting. Motions followed the theme of freeing education and to do more to further support disabled students of various identities in accessing education.

Following the motion block and break, the room was opened up to an informal hustings for the candidates for NUS Disabled Students Officer. Only one candidate stood for the position, the current Disabled Students Officer Maddy Kirkman.

The main issue heavily discussed was the conservative’s governments’ proposal to cut DSA (The disabled student’s allowance), this cut would directly harm disabled students access to education, requiring them to pay for their own equipment. The conference strongly condemned this move by the government, and the leadership for the disabled student’s campaign promised to do everything they can to lobby the government on this issue. One delegate noted that the rhetoric by the leadership risked alienating members of the movement that were supporters of the conservatives. Maddy Kirkman responded that the conservative’s values were directly antithetical to the values of the disabled student’s campaign, and stated that she could not represent delegates who supported direct cuts to disabled students access to education, welfare, housing and various other areas.

Another issue that was raised, was Maddy Kirkman’s decision to make a speech against the motion for a Trans student’s officer at national conference. Maddy Kirkman responded that she made the speech as others had been too intimidated by a culture of bullying prior to the conference. She iterated that she did not want to make the speech as she is supportive of Trans students, but decided to make the speech to prevent someone from hijacking the speech with anti-trans rhetoric. The argument that was given, is that the autonomy of the LGBT students campaign would be jeopardised as the motion had failed to reach 2/3 majority at the LGBT student conference. The argument was it was harmful to the autonomy of the LGBT student’s campaign for NUS to fundamentally overrule them. Trans delegates at the conference, however, noted that Trans students had overwhelmingly supported the creation of a Trans student’s officer in each of their caucuses at the LGBT conference. Delegates felt that Maddy Kirkman should not have made the speech, as it ignored the autonomy of Trans students to decide on this issue themselves.

Saturday
The morning opened with an hour of motion debates, followed by the various self-identifying group caucuses. I unfortunately overslept and missed the morning motion debates.

Following a break, the conference opened with a report on what is next for the disabled students campaign following the the general election. There was a sense of general dismay in the room over the fact that the conservative party had obtained a majority in government, and would thus be continuing their manifesto pledge of 12billion cuts to the welfare budget and to cut the disabled students allowance. It was emphasised how difficult it would be for the disabled students campaign going forward, with the opposition political parties much weaker following the election.

After lunch I attended the “how to engage with parliament” workshop. The session explained how the parliamentary system worked in practice, and the various mechanisms by which groups can bring issues to the attention of parliament. The workshop was followed by an interactive panel of the NUS disabled students campaign leadership, and then further followed by an hour of motion debates and voting.

The evening closed with elections for the NUS Disabled Students officer and National Executive Council positions. In her speech Maddy Kirkman emphasised how difficult the role had been for her emotionally this year, but also spoke of how important the role is for disabled students. Despite the rigours of the role she understood how important the role was and how much she wanted to continue onto a further year. I am glad to report that she was elected for a second term.

The current NEC place candidate James Elliott was also re-elected for a second term. Unfortunately I failed to record any information of the candidate’s speeches in this position. Every candidate was, however, very passionate and willing to do whatever they could in the role. Following the election conference closed, only to reopen again at 7:30pm for the annual awards dinner.

One event discussed throughout the day at the conference was the pending Irish referendum on equal marriage. The conference showed their solidarity with LGBT individuals in Ireland by posing for a photograph officially stating the support for equal marriage by the nus disabled student’s campaign.

A further event was a statement made by Trans delegates condemning the decision of Maddy Kirkman to speak against the national conference motion, calling for the creation of a full time Trans student officer. The statement further called for Maddy Kirkman to publically apologise and to from now on to support the motion. This statement was read out immediately prior to the election and Maddie was visibly upset following this statement.

Sunday
Unfortunately I left the conference early on Sunday due to illness, therefore I cannot report on what occurred during the day. Sunday’s agenda consisted of mainly elections to the various nus disabled students campaign committee positions, and 1 short 30min debate, of motions that had not been discussed in the previous days.

Motions In the interest of transparency I can report I voted for most of the motions, with only a few abstention votes. Only one motion I voted against, which was the motion 405, and motion 405 amendment. The reason the motion was voted against, was the inclusion of an article resolves in the amendment that required NUS to provide resources to anti-capitalist action, including direct disruptive action. I felt that this was unacceptable and not relevant to the motion, which involved providing mental health services and support by NUS. I was left shocked that delegates seemed to have not read the amendment and the motion was passed, with only 2 against votes.

In conclusion I enjoyed my first ever conference. I’d highly recommend any identifying disabled student to become involved next year.

If you would like to ask further questions, you can do so at parttimestudents@swansea-union.co.uk

For information on the motions that were discussed at the conference, the link provided should direct you: http://beta.nusconnect.org.uk/shape-our-work/conferences/disabled-students

Eleni, mynychais Cynhadledd Myfyrwyr ag Anabledd NUS 2015 ar ran Swyddog Myfyrwyr ag Anabledd Tori-Ilana Evans. Parhaodd y gynhadledd tri diwrnod llawn a dyma adroddiad i roi gwybod am beth ddigwyddodd yno!

Dydd Gwener Dechreuodd bore y gynhadledd gyda hyfforddiant cynadleddwr sylfaenol ar gyfer gweithdrefnau a pholisïau’r gynhadledd, a dilynwyd hyn gan gyfeiriad agoriadol gan Swyddog Myfyrwyr ag Anabledd cyfredol NUS, Maddy Kirkman.

Ar ôl cinio, parhaodd y gynhadledd gydag agoriad busnes byr a wnaeth cynnwys cyhoeddiad o amseroedd agor a chau ar gyfer enwebiadau a llefydd ar y pwyllgor. Wedyn, cafodd y gynhadledd ei chyflwyno gan adroddiadau gan Swyddog Myfyrwyr ag Anabledd cyfredol, Maddie Kirkman, cynrychiolydd yr NEC (insert here) a llefydd agored ar y pwyllgor. Cafodd bob adroddiad eu derbyn gan y gynhadledd. Yn dilyn yr adroddiadau, rhoddodd gynrychiolwyr o bob cenedl (Cymru, yr Alban a Gogledd Iwerddon) eu hadroddiadau. Yn anffodus, dim ond cynrychiolydd yr Alban oedd yno felly rhoddwyd adroddiad Gogledd Iwerddon gan Maddy Kirkman, a rhoddwyd yr adroddiad Cymraeg gan Ebbi Rose Ferguson (Is-Lywydd NUS Cymru). Dilynwyd yr adroddiadau yn syth gan gawcws y fenywod.

Pleidleisiodd gynadleddwyr dros ba adran o gynigion y bydd yn cael eu trafod yn gyntaf yn adran drafodaeth y gynhadledd. Enillodd addysg rhan fwyaf o bleidleisiau’r cynadleddwyr dan system pleidleisio AV. Dilynwyd hyn gan gynigion ar thema rhyddhau addysg a gwneud mwy i roi rhagor o gymorth i fyfyrwyr ag anabledd o hunaniaethau amrywiol o fewn addysg.

Yn dilyn adran gynigion ac egwyl, roedd yr ystafell ar agor i hysting anffurfiol i’r ymgeiswyr a, Swyddog Myfyrwyr ag Anabledd NUS. Dim ond un person wnaeth ymgeisio am y lle, Swyddog Myfyrwyr ag Anabledd cyfredol Maddy Kirkman.

Y brif fater y cafodd ei drafod oedd cynnig llywodraethau’r ceidwadwyr i dorri DSA (lwfans myfyrwyr ag anabledd), bydd y toriad hwn yn achosi trafferth i fyfyrwyr wrth fynychu addysg, gan ofyn iddynt dalu am offer eu hunain. Fe wnaeth y gynhadledd gondemnio’r cynnig gan y llywodraeth, a fe wnaeth arweinwyr yr ymgyrch myfyrwyr ag anabledd addo i wneud popeth yn eu gallu i lobïo’r llywodraeth ar y mater. Noddodd un cynadleddwr fod y rhethreg yn yr arweiniaeth yn peryglu dieithrio aelodau’r symudiad a oedd yn cefnogwyr o’r Ceidwadwyr. Ymatebodd Maddy Kirkman fod gwerthoedd y Ceidwadwyr yn uniongyrchol wrthgyferbyniol i werthoedd ymgyrch myfyrwyr ag anabledd, a noddodd nad oedd modd iddi gynrychioli cynadleddwyr a wnaeth cefnogi toriadau uniongyrchol i fyfyrwyr ag anabledd yn addysg, lles, tai ac amryw o adrannau eraill.

Mater arall a godwyd oedd penderfyniad Maddy Kirkman i wneud araith yn erbyn cynnig cael swyddog myfyriwr Trans yn y gynhadledd genedlaethol. Ymatebodd Maddy Kirkman ei bod wedi gwneud yr araith gan bod gan rhai ormod o ofn o ddiwylliant bwlian cyn y gynhadledd. Pwysleisiodd nad oedd hi am wneud yr araith gan ei bod yn gefnogol o fyfyrwyr Trans, ond wedi penderfynu gwneud yr araith i rwystro rhywun rhag torri ar draws yr araith gyda rhethreg gwrth-drans. Y dadl a roddwyd yw byddai hunanreolaeth ymgyrch LHDT myfyrwyr yn cael ei effeithio gan bod y cynllun wedi methu cyrraedd y mwyafrif o 2/3 yng nghynadledd myfyrwyr LHDT. Y dadl oedd ei fod e’n rhy niweidiol i hunanreolaeth ymgyrch myfyrywyr LHDT nes i NUS yn syml cymryd rheolaeth o’r sefyllfa. Nododd cynrychiolwyr Trans yn y gynhadledd serch hynny, bod myfyrwyr Trans wedi cefnogi cread swyddog myfyrwyr Trans yn syfrdanol ym mhob un o’i cawcysau yn y gynhadledd LHDT. Teimlodd cynrychiolwyr na ddylai Maddy Kirkman fod wedi gwneud yr araith gan ei fod yn anwybyddu hunanreolaeth myfyrwyr Trans i benderfynu ar y mater eu hunain.

Dydd Sadwrn Dechreuodd y bore gyda awr o sgyrsiau’n trafod cynlluniau, yna amryw o hunan-gyflwyno o grwpiau o gawcysau yn dilyn. Yn anffodus fe wnes i orgysgu a collais trafodaethau’r bore. Yn dilyn egwyl, agorodd y gynhadledd gyda adroddiad ar beth sydd i ddod nesa ar gyfer ymgyrch myfyrwyr anabl yn dilyn yr etholiad cyffredinol. Roedd yna deimlad o naws siomedig ar y cyfan yn yr ystafell dros y ffaith bod plaid ceidwadol dal yn y mwyafrif yn y llywodraeth, ac felly’n parhau gydag addewid eu maniffesto o doriadau o 12 biliwn i gyllideb lles ac i stopio lwfans myfyrwyr anabl. Roedd wedi ei bwysleisio pa mor anodd byddai i ymgyrch myfyrwyr anabl wrth symud ymlaen, gyda gwrthbleidiau gwleidyddol eraill llawer gwanach yn dilyn yr etholiad.

Ar ôl cinio mynychais y gweithdy “sut i gysylltu â’r senedd”. Eglurodd y sesiwn sut oedd system y senedd yn gweithio’n ymarferol, a’r amryw o fecanweithiau gall grwpiau godi materion i sylw’r senedd. Yn dilyn y gweithdy oedd panel rhyngweithiol arweinwyr ymgyrch myfyrwyr anabl yr NUS, ac yna’n dilyn oedd awr o drafod cynlluniau a pleidleisio.

Daeth y prynhawn i ben gydaf etholiadau ar gyfer Swyddog Myfyrwyr Anabl NUS a swyddi Cyngor Cenedlaethol Gweithredol. Yn ei haraith pwysleisiodd Maddy Kirkman pa mor anodd oedd y swydd wedi bod yn emosiynol iddi hi y flwyddyn hon, ond gan trafod hefyd pwysigrwydd y rôl i fyfyrwyr anabl. Er gwaethaf llymder y rôl deallai pwysigrwydd y rôl a faint oedd hi eisiau parhau am flwyddyn arall. Rwy’n hapus i adrodd ei bod wedi’i hethol ar gyfer ail dymor.

Cafodd yr ymgeisydd presennol ar gyfer safle PGC James Elliott ei ail-ethol ar gyfer ail dymor hefyd. Yn anffodus ni llwyddais i gofnodi unrhyw wybodaeth o areithiau ymgeiswyr yn y safle hwn. Roedd pob ymgeisydd serch hynny yn angerddol iawn ac yn barod i wneud unrhywbeth y gallen nhw yn y rôl. Yn dilyn yr etholiad caewyd y gynhadledd, dim ond iddo ail-agor am 7:30yh ar gyfer y pryd gwobrwyo blynyddol.

Un digwyddiad trafodwyd trwy gydol y diwrnod yn y gynhadledd oedd refferendwm presennol Iwerddon ar briodas hafal. Dangosodd y gynhadledd ei undod gydag unigolion o LHDT yn Iwerddon drwy ystumio ar gyfer llun yn dangos yn swyddogol eu cefnogaeth ar gyfer priodas hafal gan ymgyrch myfrwyr anabl nus.

Digwyddiad pellach oedd datganiad gan cynrychiolwyr Trans yn condemnio penderfyniad Maddy Kirkman o siarad yn erbyn cynllun y gynhadledd cenedlaethol, ac yn galw am swyddog myfyriwr Trans llawn amser. Yna galwodd y datganiad i Maddy Kirkman ymddiheuro’n gyhoeddus ac o hyn y mlaen i fod o blaid y cynllun. Darllenwyd y datganiad hwn yn syth cyn yr etholiad ac roedd Maddie yn amlwg yn dilyn y datganiad.

Dydd Sul Yn anffodus gadewais i’r gynhadledd yn gynnar ar ddydd Sul oherwydd salwch, felly ni allaf adrodd ar yr hyn ddigwyddodd yn ystod y dydd. Roedd agenda dydd Sul yn bennaf yn cynnwys amryw o etholiadau ar gyfer safleoedd ar pwyllgor ymyrch myfyrwyr anabl nus, ac 1 dadl fer 30mun o hyd o gynlluniau na trafodwyd yn y dyddiau blaenorol.

Cynlluniau O ran diddordeb gallaf adrodd fy mod wedi pleidleisio o blaid rhan fwyaf o’r cynlluniau, gydag ambell bleidlais yn ymatal yn unig. Dim ond un cynllun pleidleisiais yn ei erbyn, sef cynllun 405, a gwelliant cynllun 405. Y rheswm pleidleisiwyd yn erbyn y cynllun oedd cynnwys erthygl yn y gwelliant oedd yn gofyn i NUS ddarparu adnoddau ar gyfer gweithredoedd gwrth-gyfalafol, gan gynnwys gweithredu aflonyddol yn uniongyrchol. Teimlais bod hwn yn annerbyniol ac yn amherthnasol i’r cynllun, a oedd yn cynnwys darparu gwasanaethau a chymorth iechyd meddyliol gan NUS. Cefais fy synnu ei fod e’n edrych fel nad oedd cynrychiolwyr wedi darllen y gwelliant a pasiwyd y cynllun, gyda dim ond dai pleidlais yn ei erbyn. I gloi, mwynheuais i fy nghynadledd cyntaf, Byddaf yn argymell yn gryf unrhyw myfyriwr anabl i fod yn rhan ohonno blwyddyn nesaf.

Os hoffech chi ofyn cwestiynau pellach, gallech wneud hyn drwy ebostio parttimestudents@swansea-union.co.uk

Ar gyfer gwybodaeth ynglyn â’r cynlluniau a drafodwyd yn y cynhadledd, dylai’r linc isod eich arwain chi ato: http://beta.nusconnect.org.uk/shape-our-work/conferences/disabled-students