“We Want What You’ve Got”: Hartlepool’s Rights Fight

Participants shared experiences of patronising treatment in healthcare settings:

“My doctor has been my doctor since my teens, but I find her to be very patronising. She knows my condition, and she talks down to me like I am a child. I had to have a debate with her about my intimate health and birth control: about why I need it.”

Carers reported being ignored in emergency situations:

“My mam’s really poorly, I found people sort of just talking over me. They weren’t acknowledging me. I need people to explain what’s going on, I don’t need medical jargon, I need it broken down.”

Communication barriers were highlighted:

“I asked the hospital, ‘have you booked an interpreter?’ And they said, ‘Who’s the patient?’ And I said my mam, and they said, Is she hearing? And I said, but yes, she’s hearing, but I’m deaf, so I need an interpreter.”

Taxi services in Hartlepool were described as inadequate:

“Taxis in Hartlepool. The council website lists something like six individual numbers that provide an accessible taxi. Out of those six, when we checked, two of them no longer did it any more. Two of them also don’t work after five o’clock. And you can’t pre-book a taxi.”

Public transport presented difficulties:

“I find it quite hard as a dyslexic person. A speaking bus would be brilliant for me, because I can’t always remember what I’ve seen. I nearly missed a bus to an interview because it didn’t say what it was and didn’t say where it was going.”

The Tees Flex service had limitations:

“If I want to book the tees flex, I have to walk from my house 25 minutes to the Tesco. The entire point I need a Tees Flex is because I can’t walk 25 minutes.”

Train travel included experiences of harassment:

“I once got called an ignorant bitch for asking somebody to move out of the wheelchair spot on a train. He said, If it hits me, I’m gonna punch you in the face. I got off the train, and for six months after that, didn’t get on the train again. I was petrified.”

Job Centre advice was problematic:

“The Employment Advisor had told her to leave off the fact that she was neurodiverse on her job application, because it would be more likely to get her a job if she just didn’t put that she has autism. That was the government advisor.”

Workplace adjustments were not maintained:

“I worked in care, and I explained I’m dyslexic, I need additional time for my paperwork, I laid out what workplace adjustments I needed, I found that over time, they kept stripping it back and taking away my reasonable adjustments. That impacted on my mental health.”

Hiring discrimination was reported:

“I applied for jobs for two years, and I could only get a job working with other disabled people. It was only other disabled people who were willing to hire me.”

Transport affected employment opportunities:

“I don’t drive, and every job says ‘oh it’s remote’, but you’ve got to be able to get to here. I find it really frustrating because people will say I need to drive: that’s not a reasonable adjustment.”

Assumptions about disability were common:

“I had an operation on my throat years ago, and had complete silence for two weeks, I wrote on paper, ‘How much do I owe you? I can’t speak for two weeks.’ And he started shouting ‘TWO POUNDS SEVENTY’, I said there’s nothing wrong with my ears.”

BSL access was insufficient:

“Hearing loops are not suitable for deaf people. They’re for people with hearing aids. I would like venues to have a sign or symbol that says staff know basic BSL.”

AI limitations were noted:

“Sign language has regional signs. The sign for purple has 27 different signs depending on where you live. AI can’t handle that complexity.”