(Feature image) Muawiyath carries this chair as a “symbol of rebellion against indifference to our needs.” Photo courtesy of Lachlan White.
A disability advocate attending a peak national student conference has accused organisers of ignoring his disability requirements.
Muawiyath (Muthu) Didi is an independent delegate from Flinders University Student Association (FUSA) attending the annual meeting of the National Union of Students (NUS), known as National Conference (NatCon).
NatCon is where delegates from affiliated student unions decide policy and the National Executive for the coming year.
Emails between FUSA and NUS General Secretary and a conference organiser, Sheldon Gait, which were obtained by Tertangala, communicated Muthu’s disability needs.
They included ground floor accommodation and access to accessible bathroom facilities or a shower chair if they weren’t available.
Sheldon replied that a ground floor unit could be allocated at student accommodation at Federation University in Victoria, where the conference is taking place. He also said accessible bathrooms were not available due to the old age of the accommodation.
However, Muthu said he was given an upstairs room and had to carry a chair from the conference floor since he was not given a shower chair.
“Not just as a necessary shower chair due to my cerebral palsy, but as a symbol of rebellion against indifference to our needs,” he said on X, formerly Twitter.
He tweeted on Tuesday that he walked on the conference floor on Monday to protest what he called a lack of accessibility at the four-day event.
“I just wanted to show people that this place is not very accessible… The organisers, and the people in the NUS, I feel, haven’t put the effort into considering these things. I thought Australia was standard on these things,” he said.
“Right now I want to finish this quickly and go back home. I am looking forward to going back… But I still want to contribute, I still have a responsibility for those who put their trust in me. There are just so many things that able-bodied people don’t consider.”
Speaking to Tertangala, Sheldon Gait apologised to Muthu’s for his experience.
“I think there was some miscommunication between me and the [main] conference organiser, and just some last minute changes… It was something missed. It was a mistake and it shouldn’t have happened,” Sheldon said.
“Hopefully we’ve fixed it, but again he shouldn’t have been put in that situation in the first place. I acknowledge that.”
As for whether accessibility was considered in the planning of the conference, Sheldon said “Yes, all the forms had accessibility requirements… We are trying our best.”
Sheldon said organisers were constrained in finding a suitable university to hold the conference, especially considering NatCon’s “chaotic” reputation, which limited planning capacity for accessibility.
“Once we have the site we can then work on workarounds for accessibility needs, but sometimes we are stuck with the venue we get,” he said.
Tertangala also sought comment from the main conference organiser. They said they were not permitted to comment.
NLS, the Labor left faction, also walked out on conference floor Monday evening over a motion condemning La Trobe’s student union.
Muthu walked with them, though he said it was a separate protest against Unity’s (Labor’s right faction) opposition to a motion calling for another Disabilities Office Bearer in the NUS National Executive.
“If you were really concerned about students’ wellbeing, you would really think about it. Maybe the motion was not perfect, but instead of cancelling it, why don’t you suggest amendments and come out with proper arguments?” Muthu said.
“They were ableist throughout, without any good reason… I don’t think they understand what accessibility and inclusivity mean in real terms.
“They (Unity and the NUS) have the power to create change, they are using that power to create more barriers and sideline us. So I don’t see them as an ally.”
The motion failed without support from Unity, who hold a majority of the conference floor at NatCon.
Sheldon rejected the claim of ableism.
“I don’t think it is fair to characterise my faction as ableist. I don’t think it is true. We have people with disabilities here. We are going to hold the next disability office bearer. I think there are people here who can do incredible work on the issue… There are definitely people passionate about it.”
Muthu later said to Tertangala, “I am glad that in this mess, something has come out and the political bodies have come together to help the vulnerable groups that need more focus and attention in getting the support through policy and making change.”