PGP / SPD My story:

The time Junction 7 a charity said this to me "But she looked fine at Ayclive" (when I could still go) lmao  and held my food parcel to ransom (years ago) because I wanted to help my community with delivery for elderly and disabled and they claimed that was me slxgging them off lol.  #ableism I avoid any charities that make my life harder now. I don't forget when and how and who has treated me badly, I just advocate so others don't have to endure the same mistreatment, and I'm glad I'm nothing like those who #harmed me when I needed #help instead. ❤️❤️❤️ I never dared ask them for help ever again and never have, and have had their supporters supporting this mistreatment and hating on me.  Tells me everything.  Sarah Wingfield  KawaiiDollDecora.uk

Disability Didn’t Become “Cool” — Disabled People Became Visible A recent Telegraph article titled “How having a disability became cool” describes young women with chronic illnesses and disabilities as “ sickfluencers ” and links rising diagnosis, social media visibility, SEND support and disability benefits with ideas around overdiagnosis, identity and economic inactivity. As someone who has advocated for disabled people for more than two decades, I find that framing deeply concerning. There are valid conversations to be had about online misinformation, people selling questionable health advice, undisclosed advertising and the risks of self-diagnosis. Those things should absolutely be challenged. But that is very different from casting suspicion over disabled people as a whole. Women with POTS, autism, ADHD, chronic pain, ME/CFS, EDS and other less-visible conditions are repeatedly positioned as though increased awareness and diagnosis may itself be evidence that something has gone w...

“Why don’t you just get paid work?” Ah yes… because apparently nobody facing disability, inaccessible workplaces or discrimination has ever thought of that one before. 🤣 This is exactly why I talk about systemic ableism. The assumption that someone who isn’t in conventional paid employment simply isn’t trying completely ignores the barriers disabled people can face when trying to access, remain in, or create sustainable work. I am trying to build paid work for myself. I create, advocate, support people, develop projects and work towards making what I do financially sustainable. The issue isn’t a lack of effort. It’s the confidence some people have in judging a life they haven’t taken five minutes to understand. Ask questions. Have a different perspective. Discuss difficult subjects. But assumptions aren’t facts — and “just get a job” isn’t a solution to systemic barriers. 💪🏻✨ #DisabilityAdvocacy #Ableism #SystemicAbleism #DisabledAndWorking #DisabilityAwareness #AccessibilityMatters...

"Should people really have to verify they're disabled by wearing a sunflower lanyard?" Me: No, but considering some people seem to think my walking stick is a fashion accessory, it doesn't hurt to remind people that they can't diagnose invisible conditions, fractures, dislocations, internal swelling, or any other medical condition with their eyes. People can be incredibly ignorant. If wearing a Sunflower Lanyard helps remind others that not every disability is visible and encourages a little more patience and respect, then that's no bad thing. Respect shouldn't have to be earned by proving you're disabled, but until society stops judging people by appearances, anything that helps challenge those assumptions has value. Sarah Wingfield ❤️  #sunflowerlanyard #dynamicdisabilities Alt text: Selfie of a woman with long pastel pink hair wearing pink-tinted glasses and making a peace sign toward the camera. She is wearing a green Sunflower Lanyard around her n...

Biggest Myths and PIP: One of the biggest myths I keep seeing is that disabled people have to look disabled. Apparently, if you're not permanently in a wheelchair, visibly struggling every second of the day, or fitting someone's stereotype of disability, you're somehow not "disabled enough"—especially when PIP is mentioned. No. I live with hEDS/EDhS (as I was told), POTS, chronic pain, osteoarthritis, AuDHD and other conditions. Some days I use a walking stick. Some days I need my wheelchair or my foldable chair. Some days I grit my teeth and push through because life doesn't stop just because my body wants to. My disability doesn't magically appear the moment I pick up a mobility aid. It was there long before that. The walking stick doesn't make me disabled. The wheelchair doesn't make me disabled. PIP doesn't make me disabled either. They're simply supports that help me live with disabilities I already have. I've spent over 20 years a...

Harassment Isn’t Resolution: There’s something I’ve learned — and been reminded of again recently: not everyone wants resolution . Some people want control of the narrative. I entered a conversation about disability, ableism, and respect — a conversation that should have been rooted in understanding, nuance, and lived experience. Because disability is not a competition. Pain is not a hierarchy. And comparing people’s struggles to minimise them is, and always will be, harmful. So I said that. I spoke from lived experience as someone who is AuDHD. I clarified my intent, explained that tone can be misread in text, and asked for kindness, for clarity, for basic respect. That should have been enough. But instead of engaging with what I actually said, the focus shifted — not to the message, but to me. Suddenly, I wasn’t someone raising a valid point. I was “high”. I was “dangerous”. I was “abusive”. And when someone stops addressing your words and starts attacking your character, your health...

Core Forms of Ableism 🌸 -Sarah Wingfield  Independent Disability Advocate  1. Individual Ableism Direct attitudes, beliefs, or actions from a person. Name-calling, mockery, slurs Assuming disabled people are “less capable” Speaking over or infantilising someone Ignoring access needs or boundaries 👉 This is the most visible form—but not the only one. 2. Interpersonal Ableism How ableism shows up in interactions between people. Dismissing someone’s lived experience Comparing disabilities (“others have it worse”) Gaslighting symptoms or needs Tokenism or performative support 👉 This often hides behind “opinions” or “debates” but causes real harm. 3. Institutional Ableism When systems, organisations, or policies disadvantage disabled people. Workplaces refusing reasonable adjustments Schools not supporting learning needs Healthcare dismissing symptoms Legal systems lacking accessibility 👉 This is where the Equality Act 2010 (UK) should protect—but often fails in practice. 4. St...