Difference North East - Changing Perceptions of Disability
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Category: People’s Stories

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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Finding Power in Disability History. Historic images of disability protest. Overlaid with colourful geometric patterns

Breaking the Myths and Finding the Power in Disability History

December 1, 2025

Join us for a free talk with Claire Andrews from Difference North East this International Day of Disabled People. Learn about key moments in disability history, from banned sign language to protests that changed the law, and discover how the past shapes our future.
Wednesday 3 December 2025
1pm–3pm (Talk starts 1:15pm)
Billingham Library, TS23 2LN
Free – booking needed
Access: BSL, hearing loop, accessible toilets and parking.
Everyone welcome.
Book your free place and find the power in disability history.

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Ramping Up Rights: Teesside. Three disabled speakers sit in armchairs during the “Ramping Up Rights” event at Stockton Library. The person in the centre holds a microphone and wears a T-shirt that reads “#TakingThePIP.” A Joy Division bag is on the floor nearby. The setting is relaxed and informal, with bookshelves in the background and water glasses on a table in front. The image is tinted purple.

Ramping Up Rights: Disability Power in Teesside

July 11, 2025

Celebrate Wins & Keep Fighting: Ramping Up Rights Ignites Hope!

Rachel Charlton-Dailey’s “Ramping Up Rights” book launch in Stockton was powerful! We celebrated a huge win: community action forced the government to change harmful welfare plans. This proves together we win! This is important even if we’ve not got everything we want!

The book shows how understanding our history helps fight today’s battles. We heard moving stories, like Joy Dove’s fight for justice after losing her daughter Jodey to cruel benefit cuts. Sadly, while Joy spoke, her MP voted for more cuts.

The fight isn’t over. We need everyone! Join Difference North East to build community power, sustain the fight, and win more rights for disabled people. Get the book!

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Disability Community Stockton-on-tees, Graphic promoting Stockton health challenges discussion. Blue slice of cake on a purple background. NeuroKey and Difference NE logo visible in the top right.

Disability Community Stockton-on-tees Teesside

June 29, 2025

People in Stockton-on-Tees met in May 2025 to share their experiences of disability and everyday life.
They talked about transport problems, with very few accessible taxis and buses that do not always provide clear information.
Shops and public places were often hard to use, with not enough Blue Badge parking or mobility equipment available.
Many people described stressful benefits assessments and systems that make them fight for support.
They also spoke about losing jobs, rebuilding confidence, and finding strength through community.
The group wants practical changes and to be involved in decisions, so access is designed with disabled people, not without them.

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Pathways To Work Ignores Disabled Voices: Abstract image of disabled people in the workplace, overlaid text repeating "pathways?" over and over.

“Pathways To Work” Ignores Disabled Voices: Here’s What’s Really At Stake

June 18, 2025

The government’s Pathways to Work plan ignores disabled people. It makes big changes to benefits (like PIP and Universal Credit) but won’t let people have a proper say.
❌ Key problems:
There were no meetings in the North East (only Leeds/Glasgow).
Online sessions filled up fast.
Easy Read versions came 3 weeks late.
💬 Disabled people say:
“I needed work adjustments but was ignored.”
“Train stations still aren’t accessible.”
“They said my cerebral palsy ‘wasn’t disabled enough’.”
We demand:
Stop the changes.
Listen to disabled voices first.
Fix the unfair system.
Act now! Sign our campaign or email hello@differencenortheast.org.uk.
“Nothing about us without us!”

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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.

Disability Community, Darlington, Tees Valley

June 1, 2025

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.

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

Voices from Amble: A Conversation on Disability and Community

May 30, 2025

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.

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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

Surveillance is not safety: Now more than ever

May 20, 2025

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.

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