Difference North East - Changing Perceptions of Disability
Skip to main content

Author: diffneteam

Disability Community Gateshead Tyneside

Disability Community Gateshead Tyneside. Background image used by Difference NE featuring a stylized, purplish painting of a steaming glass teacup with a teabag, set on a saucer. The background is soft and abstract with bubble and splash-like textures. The top left includes the Difference NE logo and a yellow tagline reading, “Do you want to fight for disability rights? Join!” There is a large blank grey box in the lower left area intended for overlaid text or digital content.

People met in Gateshead in May 2025 to talk about what life is like for disabled people.
Even getting to the meeting was hard because of transport, parking and access problems.
People shared stories about taxis refusing help, confusing signs, and public transport that is difficult to use.

They said services often expect everyone to use phones or read complex information, which does not work for many people.
Workplaces are not flexible, and support like Access to Work comes too late.
They want simple changes, better understanding, and more disabled people involved in decisions, so everyone can live well.

Disability Community, Darlington, Tees Valley

Disability Rights Community, Darlington. Stylised image with a purple background and purple overlay. A teapot pours liquid into a teacup that is already stacked inside another teacup, causing it to overflow. To the left is a sugar pot with a spoon, and to the right is a decorated cake topped with macarons and fruit. At the top left, there are two logos: the "Difference NE" logo with the text “Do you want to fight for disability rights? Join!” and a second logo reading “D.A.D” with teal letters bursting through a red brick wall.

People met in Darlington in May 2025 to talk about their lives as disabled people. They shared honest experiences about transport, money, health, and support for their children. Many said getting around is hard. Taxis refuse equipment. Buses do not use ramps. Streets are difficult to use. Forms and benefits systems are stressful and confusing. People must fight for help they are entitled to.
Parents said they often battle alone to get support for their children.

Everyone wanted the same things. Fair treatment. Simple adjustments. Enough money to live.
They want a local community, led by disabled people, supporting each other and speaking up together.

Voices from Amble: A Conversation on Disability and Community

Disabled Advocacy Northumberland. Disability community amble northumberland. A Stylised graphic representing Amble Harbour

Voices from Amble brought disabled people, carers and local activists together in May 2025. They shared real stories about life in their town. People spoke about bad pavements, narrow doors and lack of accessible toilets. They talked about being ignored by doctors and about unfair rules for benefits and equipment. The group wanted simple changes: dropped kerbs, wider doorways, fair healthcare and respect for all. They said small community groups make a big difference. They want a town where everyone belongs and is treated fairly. Join local groups, tell your story, and help make Amble more inclusive and welcome everyone.

Surveillance is not safety: Now more than ever

Oxevision Lampard Inquiry NHS surveillance - A black and white hand-printed poster with the words “STOP OXEVISION.” The text is surrounded by images including a person slumped over, another figure looking at a screen in a room decorated with lights, and a third figure sitting or kneeling. The style is expressive, with rough textures and bold line work

Rose Powell from ‘Stop Oxevision’ tells how her group was stopped from speaking at the Lampard Inquiry on 14 May 2025. They had worked for two years to collect stories from mental health patients. They were meant to share this, but the hospital trust sent in another statement and their talk was pushed back. Rose explains why cameras in hospital bedrooms can be harmful and why public money should not be spent on unsafe tech instead of real care.

Spring Newsletter 2025

A Blue Plaque dedication that has been recoloured pink and the words reimagined by Difference North East

Have a read of what we’ve been doing for the last couple of months in our spring 2025 newsletter.