Difference North East - Changing Perceptions of Disability
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Category: Work & employment

Living Library Disability History Month. Black-and-white photograph of members of the Disabled People’s Direct Action Network (DAN) protesting in the street in 1995, with wheelchair users and other disabled activists gathered beside a double-decker bus. The image has a grainy documentary style with bright yellow, cyan, and pink colour overlays, giving it a bold, archival activist poster aesthetic.

Researcher Callout – Researcher Disability Living Library Archive

May 22, 2026

Difference North East is looking for a Disabled researcher based in the North East to help uncover and preserve local disability history.
Working across 2026 and 2027, you’ll dig into archives held by local authorities and other institutions, exploring stories of figures like Mary Greaves, disability rights protests in the 1990s, and the history of workhouses and special schools in the region.
The role pays £275 per day for 10 days per year, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Grant.
Applications close midday 1st July 2026. Send a short expression of interest to bex@differencenortheast.org.uk and allison@differencenortheast.org.uk.

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Your Access to Work Story. Graphic image of disabled people in the work place. the word "access" is repeated over and over as an overlay.

Access to Work Parliamentary Inquiry

March 17, 2026

Access to Work and our report to Parliament

Access to Work is a government scheme. It helps Disabled people stay in work. It can pay for things like equipment, taxis, or a support worker. Parliament is looking at whether Access to Work is working properly. We sent them a report. Our report was based on what Disabled people across the North East told us. Many people had problems. The biggest problems were long waits, poor communication, and support being changed or cut without warning. Some people had good experiences. When Access to Work works well, it really helps people stay in work and do their jobs. We told Parliament five things that need to change so the scheme works better for everyone.

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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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Recruiting Disability History Month. An image of a female wheelchair user. She is wearing a red dress and is chairing a meeting.

Help Shape Disability History Month in the North East! We’re Recruiting!

January 27, 2026

Disability History Month is coming back to the North East: and we’re looking for a disabled person to help make it happen.

This paid freelance role supports events, venues, artists, and communities to make sure Disability History Month is accessible, welcoming, and led by disabled people. You’ll work flexibly, mostly from home, with support and reasonable adjustments built in.

The role pays £275 per day and is open to disabled applicants living in the North East. Applications close 13 February.

👉 Read the full job description and apply now.

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Real Stories Shape Employment: A heavily distorted images showing disabled people in various work settings. The image has significant digital glitching effects with purple and cyan colour shifts, horizontal scan lines, and pixelated artifacts that obscure details. The corruption creates a halftone dot pattern overlay throughout, giving it a degraded VHS or digital transmission error aesthetic.

Real Stories, Real Change. Help Shape Better Employment Support in the North East

January 13, 2026

We want to hear from disabled people in the North East who are not in paid work. Share your experiences and help shape better employment support. You will be paid for your time.

We’re also looking for three employers who want to show what inclusive work looks like.

Take part in interviews, discussion groups, creative photography, or filmed stories.

Sign up today using our online form or email us. Every voice matters, and together we can make work fairer and more accessible for everyone.

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Budget 2025 Disability North East

Budget 2025 Disability North East: Fix the Systems, Not the Rules – What This Week’s Budget Means for Disabled People

December 1, 2025

Fix the Systems, Not the Rules
This week’s Budget affects disabled people across the North East. Some changes, like ending the two-child limit, could help families and lift children out of poverty. But many measures focus on more checks and assessments, not on fixing the barriers that make life hard. Disabled people need income security, accessible systems, and a say in decisions that impact them. Tougher rules do not make life better, fairer, well-funded systems do. Change happens when disabled people and allies speak up together. If you agree, join Difference North East and help push for real change.

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Three colleagues are at work, they are smiling and talking.

Have you booked your Disability History Month speaker yet?

October 7, 2025

Learn About Disability History Month

Join a friendly one-hour online session to explore disability, inclusion, and accessibility. Our trainers all have lived experience of disability and share real stories and advice.
Choose from topics like reasonable adjustments, everyday ableism, the social model of disability, or inclusive design. Each session helps your team understand how to make workplaces fairer for everyone.
These sessions are perfect for staff learning or awareness events.
Book now to save money or combine with a full training course for even better value.
To book or ask questions, email hello@differencenortheast.org.uk

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