This Conference states clear and strong its belief that full access to all UNISON's facilities and resources and the provision of personal assistance are fundamental to the full equal and effective participation of disabled people in all the Union's activities. To ensure this, Conference resolves:
That no UNISON meeting at branch, regional or national level should take place in a venue considered inaccessible by disabled people according to guidelines developed by disabled people.

To instruct the National Executive Council, in negotiation with the National Disabled Members Committee, to put together guidelines on what needs to be checked to ensure a venue is accessible. These guidelines should draw on information already produced by disabled people with experience and expertise in access issues, and should be distributed to all branches, regions and other networks no later than 31 December 1995.

To instruct the National Executive Council to undertake a full access survey of all UNISON national and regional buildings and facilities. This survey should form the basis of a report to the 1996 National Delegate Conference and Disabled Members Conference which would outline a five year rolling programme with a sufficient level of researching to undertake any improvements or modifications identified.

That the above survey and any access check UNISON undertakes is carried out by disabled people with training and experience of access issues.

That every disabled member of UNISON has the right to use a personal assistant to attend any UNISON activity they have been sponsored by UNISON to attend.

That choice of the personal assistant is that of the disabled member alone and no structure in UNISON can challenge that choice.

That personal assistance should be on the basis of a paid contractual relationship and that UNISON should provide the necessary funding at whatever level of organisation: branch, regional or national. The pay rates should be established annually by the National Disabled Members Committee and National Executive Council but should not be below a minimum of £7.50 per hour core time and £5.00 per hour peripheral time. If a branch can prove inability to fund personal assistants to regional or national events, then they should be able to claim extra branch retention, a process which is too slow and cumbersome in this instance.

To instruct the National Executive Council in negotiation with the National Disabled Members Committee to produce guidelines on the provision of personal assistance, a draft contract and training package. This to be circulated to all levels of UNISON's structures no later than 31 March 1996.

To instruct the National Executive Council to ensure that all UNISON national and regional offices provide an accessible service to members with hearing impairment. This should include a minicom system and staff training in its use.