Fighting Ostracism with Grace and Hope:
Fighting Ostracism with Grace and Hope:
Sometimes, standing up for yourself comes with consequences you never expected.
Last year, I sought something simple: an apology. Acknowledgement for the verbal abuse and mistreatment I endured. I believed that honesty and accountability could lead to understanding — maybe even healing.
But instead of resolution, I found myself facing something even harder: ostracism.
Since then, I’ve been the target of online hate and exclusion, all because I spoke up for myself and for fairness. It’s painful and disheartening, especially when that behaviour is normalised within the very community you’ve tried to uplift.
Recently, through a mediator — because direct communication is no longer possible — I asked the councillors a question about their rebranding that should have been easy to answer:
Would they include and support all of Aycliffe with the Aycliffe Radio rebranding as a community page, or continue to be elitist and selective in who they represent?
Their response was simply: “No comment.”
Those two words may appear neutral on the surface, but they speak volumes. When people in positions of influence choose silence over inclusion, it tells the rest of us exactly where we stand.
It tells every disabled, marginalised, or outspoken person that they are still not welcome at the table — not because of their actions, but because they dared to challenge the status quo.
I want to be clear: I don’t share this out of bitterness. I share it because it matters. Because the way we treat people who seek accountability defines the integrity of our community.
Aycliffe deserves leaders who value openness, fairness, and respect for all residents — not just the chosen few. Community should never be about control or exclusion; it should be about belonging.
I hold no anger, just a deep sadness that this continues, and a quiet hope that things will one day change. My wish is that empathy replaces silence, that courage replaces avoidance, and that healing replaces hostility.
Because real community isn’t built through hierarchy — it’s built through heart.
I will, however, continue to bring heart and inclusion to our community and fight for accessibility and fairness.
I hope for positive change.
Sarah Wingfield
Independent Disability Advocate
#disabilityinclusion #strongertogether #disability #disabilityawareness #disabilitysupport #disabilityrights
