My last article was about my “Role Models Inspire” film. In May, a professional film crew came to my school and interviewed me about disability employment. Mr Bell our Head Teacher, was also interviewed. Three of the children I teach were were very excited to be involved too. The film was shown at a government led conference which I attended in July. A week before the conference I received a phone call from one of my contacts at the DWP to confirm that I would be attending the conference to tell me that I would be put up in a hotel the night before, as well as giving me some exciting information that I had to keep secret…
I went up to London with my father and my brother George and we stayed at the Novotel Waterlo. Our rooms were on the top floor, which was amazing and we had fantastic views from both windows. I found it quite hard to sleep because of the heat, street noise and lights, hearing Big Ben chiming every 15 minutes and the anticipation and excitement about the next day!
We had to get up at 6am in order to get a taxi to the QE2 Conference Centre at 7.30am. I met a lady called Sarah who took me to another room and told me what would happen shortly. After I’d spoken to her, George asked me: “Who exactly are you meeting?” and I told him: “the Prime Minister!” He was very surprised as I had not let my secret out!! I was directed to sit in a semi-circle of chairs with four other men with different disabilities, who were also part of the Role Models campaign. After quite a long and nervous wait, David Cameron suddenly filled the doorway; he was much taller than I had imagined! The Minister for Disabled People, Esther McVey, was also with him. He shook all of our hands before sitting down next to me and then asked each of us to tell him about ourselves. I was the fourth one, so while the others were talking I had time to think what to say and hope that I didn’t lose my voice. Luckily I didn’t and I was able to tell the PM about my teaching work – he was very interested and very encouraging. The whole time I was talking to him, I felt he was totally focussed on what I was telling him and that he was really listening. After the meeting we all started to leave the room, but were asked to go back to our places as Iain Duncan-Smith was coming to meet us too. He came and said hello and spoke to us as a group to thank us for all the different work we are doing. As we were leaving for the second time Sarah came and found me, as she had remembered that I had wanted to give the Prime Minister a copy of Wellspring, which she said she would make sure he received.
The conference was opened by Esther McVey, who then handed over to the PM, who made the first speech and launched the Disability Confident campaign. I couldn’t believe I was actually hearing him speak live rather than watching him on the news. His speech was very heartfelt and he referred to his own experiences with his son Ivan.
The whole day was hosted by the BBC Security Correspondent, Frank Gardner, who is himself disabled, as he was shot in Saudi Arabia in 2004. He is someone I have always been very interested in on the news, so this was another amazing part of the day for me. I thought he was incredible; very focussed and able to freely switch between his scripted cards and talking from his own experiences, as well as hosting the panel sessions.
After the morning break, the film about my work was shown on the big screen. I had no idea what it was going to be like, but I was really pleased with the results. It was lovely to see the children I worked with (in the film), when I felt I was in such a different world that day! After the film Frank pointed me out in the audience and thanked me for my work.
At the end of the conference I wanted to meet Frank Gardner, as I had found him such an amazing host of the day. There were lots of other people also waiting so I had to queue up - then he started wheeling away! Luckily George caught up with him and we had a good conversation.
As I was leaving the conference centre a lady with a hearing impairment came to talk to me as she had so enjoyed my film. She said it had encouraged her to follow her ambition to work in a school. I wished her good luck and told her what a fulfilling job it is.
After the conference, we were very lucky to be given a guided tour of 10 Downing Street by my friend Joanna who works inside. As we approached the front door, ramps were being put in place on the pavement and step, so I was then able to enter easily. As I went in I looked up at the “10” and felt as if I were in a dream. We were taken to the famous staircase where all the pictures of past prime ministers line the walls and we were given drinks and biscuits in the Cabinet Room where I sat in the PM’s place at the green table! As we left we bumped into Sarah again, who was very surprised to see me and was able to show me some of the press photos from the PM’s meeting. We went out through the front door and all had our photos taken with the closed door behind us.
In August I received a personal letter from the Prime Minister to thank me for the copy of Wellspring. He said “I was delighted to receive a copy of the newsletter, which is incredibly comprehensive and professionally produced. The newsletter covers some incredibly important issues and I am sure that readers will learn a lot from the publication.” The letter really was the ‘icing on the cake’ after such an incredible time on the day of the conference!
I am looking forward to following the progress of the Disability Confident Campaign and hope that employers will recognise the importance of disabled people in the workplace and young people with disabilities will be able to reach their full potential.
To watch the film about my work, search YouTube for “Disability Confident Lizzie Baily” or click here.
Lizzie Baily 2013
I went up to London with my father and my brother George and we stayed at the Novotel Waterlo. Our rooms were on the top floor, which was amazing and we had fantastic views from both windows. I found it quite hard to sleep because of the heat, street noise and lights, hearing Big Ben chiming every 15 minutes and the anticipation and excitement about the next day!
We had to get up at 6am in order to get a taxi to the QE2 Conference Centre at 7.30am. I met a lady called Sarah who took me to another room and told me what would happen shortly. After I’d spoken to her, George asked me: “Who exactly are you meeting?” and I told him: “the Prime Minister!” He was very surprised as I had not let my secret out!! I was directed to sit in a semi-circle of chairs with four other men with different disabilities, who were also part of the Role Models campaign. After quite a long and nervous wait, David Cameron suddenly filled the doorway; he was much taller than I had imagined! The Minister for Disabled People, Esther McVey, was also with him. He shook all of our hands before sitting down next to me and then asked each of us to tell him about ourselves. I was the fourth one, so while the others were talking I had time to think what to say and hope that I didn’t lose my voice. Luckily I didn’t and I was able to tell the PM about my teaching work – he was very interested and very encouraging. The whole time I was talking to him, I felt he was totally focussed on what I was telling him and that he was really listening. After the meeting we all started to leave the room, but were asked to go back to our places as Iain Duncan-Smith was coming to meet us too. He came and said hello and spoke to us as a group to thank us for all the different work we are doing. As we were leaving for the second time Sarah came and found me, as she had remembered that I had wanted to give the Prime Minister a copy of Wellspring, which she said she would make sure he received.
The conference was opened by Esther McVey, who then handed over to the PM, who made the first speech and launched the Disability Confident campaign. I couldn’t believe I was actually hearing him speak live rather than watching him on the news. His speech was very heartfelt and he referred to his own experiences with his son Ivan.
The whole day was hosted by the BBC Security Correspondent, Frank Gardner, who is himself disabled, as he was shot in Saudi Arabia in 2004. He is someone I have always been very interested in on the news, so this was another amazing part of the day for me. I thought he was incredible; very focussed and able to freely switch between his scripted cards and talking from his own experiences, as well as hosting the panel sessions.
After the morning break, the film about my work was shown on the big screen. I had no idea what it was going to be like, but I was really pleased with the results. It was lovely to see the children I worked with (in the film), when I felt I was in such a different world that day! After the film Frank pointed me out in the audience and thanked me for my work.
At the end of the conference I wanted to meet Frank Gardner, as I had found him such an amazing host of the day. There were lots of other people also waiting so I had to queue up - then he started wheeling away! Luckily George caught up with him and we had a good conversation.
As I was leaving the conference centre a lady with a hearing impairment came to talk to me as she had so enjoyed my film. She said it had encouraged her to follow her ambition to work in a school. I wished her good luck and told her what a fulfilling job it is.
After the conference, we were very lucky to be given a guided tour of 10 Downing Street by my friend Joanna who works inside. As we approached the front door, ramps were being put in place on the pavement and step, so I was then able to enter easily. As I went in I looked up at the “10” and felt as if I were in a dream. We were taken to the famous staircase where all the pictures of past prime ministers line the walls and we were given drinks and biscuits in the Cabinet Room where I sat in the PM’s place at the green table! As we left we bumped into Sarah again, who was very surprised to see me and was able to show me some of the press photos from the PM’s meeting. We went out through the front door and all had our photos taken with the closed door behind us.
In August I received a personal letter from the Prime Minister to thank me for the copy of Wellspring. He said “I was delighted to receive a copy of the newsletter, which is incredibly comprehensive and professionally produced. The newsletter covers some incredibly important issues and I am sure that readers will learn a lot from the publication.” The letter really was the ‘icing on the cake’ after such an incredible time on the day of the conference!
I am looking forward to following the progress of the Disability Confident Campaign and hope that employers will recognise the importance of disabled people in the workplace and young people with disabilities will be able to reach their full potential.
To watch the film about my work, search YouTube for “Disability Confident Lizzie Baily” or click here.
Lizzie Baily 2013
