Difference North East - Changing Perceptions of Disability
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Category: Active Campaigns

wheelchair accessible taxis north east. A stylized, posterized image shows a wheelchair user beside the open side door of an accessible taxi. They lean forward toward the vehicle while another person stands nearby. The wheelchair, open doorway, and part of the taxi's interior are visible, though fine details are obscured by the image's artistic effect.

Middlesbrough wheelchair-accessible taxis fallen 80%! & disabled people are being stranded

September 1, 2026

In Middlesbrough, wheelchair-accessible taxis have dropped from 150 to just 30 in six years. An 80% fall. This means many disabled people cannot get to hospital, work, or see family. The council scraps taxis when they turn 12 years old, even if they still work well. They are thinking of changing this rule, but it’s not enough.
This problem is happening across the North East. We are asking MPs for:
– Better driver training
– A national plan with targets
– Easy booking systems
– One place to report issues.
Share this story and tell us your taxi experiences. Disabled people have waited too long. We need action now.

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Cleveland Police Hate Crime Strategy Launch: Attendees seated at round tables in a bright community hall, facing a presenter standing beside a projected presentation screen at the Cleveland Police Hate Crime Strategy launch

Difference North East at the Cleveland Police Hate Crime Strategy Launch

March 17, 2026

The Cleveland Police Hate Crime Strategy Launch. Difference North East went to a big meeting about hate crime in Cleveland. A hate crime is when someone hurts you or is mean to you because of who you are. This could be because you are Disabled, Black, or LGBTQIA+ or something else. We told Cleveland Police what they need to do to help Disabled people. We said Disabled people need the same legal protection as everyone else. Cleveland Police made an easy read document. This is good.
If you have experienced a hate crime in Cleveland you can report it to Cleveland Police.

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Report 2026 Disabled Northeast: A disabled woman navigating a pavement with accessibility barriers in Darlington town centre

Access to the Everyday Report 2026: What Disabled People in the North East Are Telling Us

February 12, 2026

Disabled people in the North East told us everyday life is still too hard.
77 people shared their experiences.
Many said: Transport is unreliable or inaccessible! There are not enough accessible toilets! Services are confusing and stressful! Workplaces and buildings exclude them! They are treated without respect!
People want to be listened to and involved in decisions that affect their lives.
Access should not be optional. Everyone deserves to get around, use services, work, and be treated with dignity.
Read the full report to learn more and get involved.

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Stylised, colour-filtered image showing Kim McGuinness’ and Mary Kelly Foy faces on the right, one above the other, both looking forward. The background features a large elephant statue and an industrial or urban scene, overlaid with a textured pattern in purple, yellow, and pink tones, giving the image a bold, poster-like appearance.

Building Momentum for Fair Travel: MP & Mayor Support and Voices from Our Community

January 14, 2026

We are making progress in our campaign for fair and accessible travel. After we asked for change, Mary Kelly Foy MP confirmed she supports all of our actions. She will follow this up, and we will share updates soon. The North East Mayor, Kim McGuinness, has also responded positively and is looking at our proposal.

This campaign is about disabled people’s real lives. Many people cannot travel when they need to. One member, Delta, shared how limited bus times and high taxi costs leave her feeling trapped. Fair travel would help disabled people live more independent lives.

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Stylized illustration using a halftone dot pattern effect. The center shows an empty purple chair symbolizing MPs who didn't attend the welfare reform meeting. On the left are stacked yellow coins marked with pound sterling symbols representing proposed benefit cuts. On the right is a teal-colored protest sign reading 'THESE CUTS WILL KILL.' The image conveys the stakes of welfare reform and political absence.

Driving Difference 2024-25

January 12, 2026

Disabled people across the North East made change happen in 2024-25.
We told our stories. We shared what barriers we face every day. Then we turned those stories into evidence that decision-makers had to listen to.
We wrote a 17-page report about transport problems. We campaigned when the government forgot about us. We trained police and council workers about disability.
When 18 MPs didn’t come to our meeting, we didn’t give up. We organized together. And we won a government meeting that didn’t exist before.
This is what happens when disabled people work together.

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