When Systems Fail Us, We Build Our Own
When Systems Fail Us, We Build Our Own
Being disabled in the UK means constantly navigating a system that isn't built with us in mind.
Employment opportunities are scarce. Access is inconsistent. Support is conditional. And worth? That’s something society often demands we prove — again and again — just to be seen.
So I’ve stopped waiting for the world to catch up.
I’m building my own future.
Right now, I’m learning to drive so I can attend more acting auditions and paid work, and I’m setting up my own small sole tradership. It might not look like much to some, but it’s mine. I've run a business before, and I know what it takes.
I still do the community work that matters — I’m an independent visitor for children in the care system, and I continue supporting charities and causes I believe in. But I also know I need to invest in my future too. I can’t afford to sit in the waiting room of broken systems anymore.
Because here's the truth: we can't rely on people to understand disability before we move forward. We can’t rely on councils or policies or performative "inclusion" to carry us through. If anything, I’ve learned we must carry ourselves — even when exhausted, overlooked, or afraid.
And trust me, I get afraid. I get anxious. I get overwhelmed. But I still show up.
I still do it.
Because that’s where my power lives.
It’s not about having everything figured out — it’s about daring to try, knowing the odds aren’t fair, and doing it anyway.
So no, I’m not giving up. I never have.
When support fails, I build a bridge.
When opportunities dry up, I plant my own seeds.
And when I'm told to wait — I take a step forward.
There is strength in that. Quiet, steady strength. The kind that builds futures even when the system won’t.
And if you’re reading this and you feel stuck, tired, or forgotten — please know this: you’re allowed to build your life on your own terms, at your own pace, in your own way.
We deserve more than survival.
We deserve progress, pride, and purpose.
Even when it’s hard.
Especially when it’s hard.
Sarah Wingfield
Independent Disability Advocate
Actor | Writer | Survivor
