Advocacy in a Flare-Up: When the Body Says Stop, But the Cause Says Go

Advocacy in a Flare-Up: When the Body Says Stop, But the Cause Says Go

I'm still incredibly busy working behind the scenes on projects that matter. I never seem to stop. I’ve learned not to speak on things until they’re done—too often, those who’ve committed hate crimes against me have used early information to sabotage or further ostracise me.

As always, I remain dedicated to improving our communities—especially for disabled individuals—despite the challenges I face.

I continue to deal with maladaptive individuals and harmful behaviours, and I hold onto hope that justice or at least closure will come.

I won’t be silenced. I’m simply choosing to work with organisations and platforms that genuinely support disabled voices. My advocacy continues—stronger and more focused than ever.

At the same time, I’m managing chronic pain flare-ups, so I’m learning to rest and treat myself with kindness when needed. That self-care allows me to keep doing the important work that fuels me.

Positive change doesn’t happen by staying silent—it happens when we speak out and fight for what’s right.

Systems and laws are meant to protect vulnerable adults—not be manipulated to harm them further. I will never stand by and allow those systems to be misused.

Sarah Wingfield

Independent Disability Advocate

Image Description (Alt Text):

A vibrant cartoon-style square format, digital illustration shows a determined young woman with long reddish-brown hair sitting in a wheelchair, working on a laptop at a cluttered table. She wears a yellow jumper and teal trousers, with a pink heat pack on her lap. Around her, papers are scattered on the floor and table. Behind her, teal walls display a large poster that reads “FIGHT FOR JUSTICE”, and a window shows silhouettes of people outside. Another sign in the window reads “DISABILITY RIGHTS.” The night sky is starry and calm, giving the scene a hopeful yet resilient tone. The style is colourful, with clean lines and a bold, uplifting palette. A logo of a heart stating KawaiiDollDecora is on the laptop back and again with an @ symbol 'KawaiiDollDecora' in black text on the left edge of the image.