PGP / SPD My story:

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...

Homelessness Awareness Track: 😱😱😱 I genuinely can't believe it. What started as a poem about homelessness has now become my most-streamed track on SoundCloud, reaching 7.8k streams. ❤️ I never expected this song to resonate with so many people, but it shows how powerful music can be when it shines a light on real issues and gives a voice to those who are too often ignored. Thank you to every single person who has listened, shared, and supported my music. Every stream means more than you know. Together, we're proving that art can start conversations that matter. Sarah Wingfield ❤️ K•Doll  #SoundCloud #Music #IndependentArtist #KDotDoll #HomelessnessAwareness #AwarenessMatters #OriginalMusic #SingerSongwriter #Poetry #MentalHealth #AlternativeMusic #IndieMusic #SupportIndependentArtists #MusicWithAMessage #ThankYou #Milestone #7KStreams #CreativeJourney Alt text: Screenshot of the SoundCloud analytics page showing the top tracks over the last 12 months (June 2025–June 2026). ...

Organise and PIP: I've just voted for Organise to continue its fight to protect PIP and challenge politicians who continue to misunderstand what it actually does. PIP is not an out-of-work benefit. It helps disabled people stay independent, access support, remain in employment, volunteer within their communities, attend appointments, manage daily living, and make choices about what works for them. For many of us, PIP is the difference between isolation and participation. It provides the flexibility to meet individual needs because disability is not one-size-fits-all. Putting pressure on politicians at a national level is no small task, but collective action works. Last year, disabled people, carers, allies and campaigners helped force the Government to rethink immediate plans to cut PIP and ensured a consultation was launched. More than 100,000 people in the Organise community are continuing to mobilise to protect PIP and other vital lifelines. Every voice matters. Disabled people ...

The Positive Side of Smear Campaigns: As I continue to deal with unwanted attention, rumours and people forming opinions without knowing the full story, I've realised there is one positive outcome. Smear campaigns reveal people. Not me. Them. I've watched some people rush to judgement, repeat gossip and ignore evidence. I've seen individuals excuse threats, harassment and harmful behaviour because it suited their narrative. But I've also seen the opposite . I've seen kindness. I've seen loyalty. I've seen people check in on me, ask questions, offer support and refuse to join the mob mentality. The people who stayed, listened and showed compassion are the people worth keeping. A smear campaign doesn't cost you your people. It reveals who your people are. And for that, I'm grateful. ❤️✨ Sarah Wingfield ❤️  Actor • Author • Advocate  KawaiiDollDecora.uk #SarahWingfield #Advocacy #AutisticAdult #AuDHD #DisabilityAdvocate #TruthMatters #ChooseKindness #...

Those angry about my "monetisation" genuinely make me laugh. I've been accused of taking over groups for profit, exploiting communities, using advocacy for money, and all sorts of wild conspiracy theories. Meanwhile, here's the reality. My Facebook earnings for June currently stand at $0.73. That's right. Seventy-three cents. So while I'm running community groups, disability advocacy projects, a website, a community magazine, helping people with support and signposting, and often working at cost or entirely for free, apparently I'm secretly building a financial empire worth less than the price of a packet of crisps. Fact-checking matters. If you're going to accuse someone of profiting from community work, at least make sure the evidence supports the claim first. Stay curious. Stay informed. Stay kind. 💜 Sarah Wingfield  KawaiiDollDecora.uk Alt Text: Screenshot of a Facebook Professional Dashboard on the Monetisation tab. The screen shows "Approxi...

We give people more chances than they need, and more explanations than they deserve - because our intention is resolution. The problem is, not everyone shares that intention. Some people will take your words, twist them, and repurpose them into something they can use to justify their behaviour.  Not because they misunderstood you - but because their goal was never understanding.  It was harm. Once you’ve seen it, you can’t unsee it. Look at the patterns:  – Who rallies others instead of resolving things directly. – Who hides public attacks behind the word “accountability”. – Who thrives in group pile-ons and audience validation. That’s not growth. That’s performance. And the moment they realise you see them clearly? That’s when it escalates. The truth is, I gave chances. I communicated. I clarified. And now I’m choosing distance - not because I don’t care, but because I care enough about my peace not to stay around energy like that. For those of us with CPTSD, this hits d...

Laundry: #SheDidIt ahaha 😂😅💖 For most people, laundry is just laundry… but for me, damp clothes are a full sensory NOPE. 😭😅 The texture, the smell, the whole experience gives me the biggest ick. So honestly? I’m proud of myself for getting it done today. 🫶🏻 Living with chronic pain and fluctuating energy means even “small” tasks can take a huge amount of physical and mental effort. This week has been exhausting, but I’ve still managed to keep pushing through, and I’m really grateful for that. Medical cannabis has genuinely helped me regain some independence and quality of life. When your pain is reduced even slightly, it becomes easier to function, easier to stay motivated, and easier to feel human again instead of feeling defeated by your body all the time. I’m absolutely knackered now and I’ve got a meeting tomorrow… but hey, we keep going. 💖 And I’m grateful that I still can. Sarah xo #ChronicPainWarrior #DisabledCreator #MedicalCannabisUK #MedicalVape #ChronicIllness #Neuro...

I step away from what harms me. I protect my peace. And I keep going. Peter showed up for me yesterday 👊🏻☺️ He even took the day off work just to support me — and that meant more than I can put into words, so I treated us yesterday to some nice food. Despite chronic pain, I got everything done that I needed to. Not everything went to plan, but I still showed up — and that matters. Today is about magazine work and continuing the decluttering with DCC Breakthrough. Last night, my body completely seized up and I’m still in a lot of pain today. Without my prescribed medical cannabis, I would genuinely be in hospital or unable to cope. Pain management isn’t a luxury — it’s essential. It saves lives. I’m aiming for the 10th for the magazine release. If it’s slightly delayed, I’m not stressing — it will be completed properly and shared as soon as it’s ready. I keep going. On the painful days. On the heavy days. I won’t lie — the pain triggered my depression last night and my mind turned on ...

  Being Different - Neurodivergent and Observant: There’s something I’ve noticed, especially as someone who is neurodivergent. We often see the patterns others don’t. We see people venting, sharing, asking for advice, being supported, being included… and we learn from that. We take it as a cue for how connection works. So when we show up in those same ways — open, honest, seeking support or offering it — we expect the same response. But instead, we’re treated like a problem. And that disconnect is confusing, because the behaviour isn’t different — the reaction is. It highlights something deeper. Support, for some people, is conditional. It’s given to those they relate to. Those they understand. Those who fit their comfort zone. But true support — real support — is inclusive. It doesn’t pick and choose based on who is easiest to empathise with. Because the truth is, the people who show up differently, who communicate differently, who might not follow the same unspoken social rules… ...

“They caught me on a pain flare day and still had to write an article about me anyway 😂💅 Because that’s the reality — disabled creators don’t wait for perfect days… we build through the hard ones. Grateful for the support, the growth, and everything I’m still creating even on my worst days. This is what resilience actually looks like. 💖✨ Still on my journey to becoming a sole trader — and I’m not stopping anytime soon. Sarah Wingfield ❤️ Independent Disability Advocate KawaiiDollDecora.uk #disabilityinclusion #strongertogether #disabledcreator #smallbusinessuk #resilience” Alt text 🌸 “A smiling woman with glasses and a headband sits holding digital art equipment boxes including a drawing tablet and stylus. She has a walking stick beside her and is dressed in colourful patterned clothing. The image appears candid and natural, highlighting her as a disabled artist receiving support to grow her business.” https://www.livin.co.uk/latest/news/nhc-bursary-helps-local-artist-to-grow-her-b...

Disability Support needs to be Stronger in the community: Disability comes in all shapes, sizes, forms, and ages. So why are disabled people still being mistreated—especially when they are already fighting every single day just to live and survive? This is even more evident within our own local communities. 👈🏻👈🏻👈🏻 Too often, the moment a disabled person becomes successful in any way, support disappears and is replaced with criticism, judgement, or backlash!! It’s getting ridiculous. I recently shared my music online—something I create as part of my own mental health support and to help others—and I faced backlash for it. Despite being an admin, having consent to post, and checking beforehand, people still chose negativity over support. It isn’t hard to uplift your community. Yet time and time again, people would rather criticise than encourage. What shocked me most was that one of the individuals involved had even attended a PIP protest—someone who should understand the importanc...

 🌸 Autism & ADHD Support – Stockton-on-Tees If you or someone you care about is autistic, has ADHD, or is exploring neurodivergence, there are local organisations in Stockton-on-Tees and the Tees Valley that can offer advice, support, activities, and advocacy. 💙 Daisy Chain Project – 01642 531248 A well-known charity supporting autistic and neurodivergent people and their families. They offer family support, training, youth activities, and community programmes. 💙 Autism Matters – 01642 601262 Provides advice, guidance, and support services for autistic individuals and families across the North East. 💙 Stockton Parent Carer Forum – 07935 447375 A parent-led organisation helping families of children and young people with SEND. They provide information, peer support, and work with local authorities to improve services. 💙 SNAPS Tees Valley – 01642 530292 Offers support, short breaks, and activities for children and young people with additional needs and their families. 💙 TEWV...

Family systems shape identity — sometimes through belonging, and sometimes through exclusion. This piece explores what it feels like to grow up not quite fitting into your wider family narrative. For many neurodivergent children — particularly those who are AuDHD like myself — being “quirky” or different can unintentionally place you outside unspoken expectations. When adult misunderstandings go unaddressed, children often inherit those narratives. Over time, those narratives can solidify into distance, labels, or long-held assumptions. The central pink stencil figure in this artwork represents visibility and difference — not as something wrong, but as something highlighted. The drips are intentional. They symbolise how identity can feel exposed when you are the one who stands out. This isn’t about blame. It’s about recognising how early environments shape confidence, voice and belonging. As adults, we have a responsibility to reflect on the narratives we create around children — espec...

♿  International Wheelchair Day – 1st March. Today is International Wheelchair Day. And I need to say this properly — in my voice. Wheelchairs are not weakness. They are not surrender. They are not attention seeking. They are access. They are survival. They are freedom. I’m an ambulatory wheelchair user. Some days I can stand. Some days I can walk a little. Some days my hips dislocate, my nervous system crashes, my POTS flares and the ground might as well be lava. Energy is not a constant in a disabled body. Pain is not linear. Function is not fixed. And yet the judgement is constant. The looks when you stand up. The whispering when you park in a disabled bay. The muttering when you don’t “look” disabled enough. The hands that grab your chair without asking. Let me be clear — do not move someone’s wheelchair without consent. Ever. It is not a shopping trolley. It is not public property. It is an extension of our body. Ambulatory users get policed relentlessly because people are unc...

Ablesplaining : They don’t start by listening. They start by correcting. Not the harm. Not the abuse. Not the behaviour that caused the reaction. You. This is what ablesplaining looks like in real life — lived, not theorised: • Being told how my disability affects me by people who don’t live in my body. • Being instructed to “calm down,” “log off,” or “take a break” instead of having harm addressed. • Having my communication scrutinised while abusive behaviour is excused or minimised. • Being spoken over when I name discrimination, as if I lack insight into my own lived reality. • Being framed as “too emotional” the moment I speak with confidence and clarity. For disabled women especially, advocacy is quickly reframed as aggression. Boundaries become “attitude.” Self-defence becomes “harassment.” Disability does not mean: – lack of awareness – lack of intelligence – lack of authority – or needing non-disabled people to explain our lives back to us I already understand my condition. I a...

“Accessibility helps everyone!” Accessibility helps everyone — not just disabled people. Ramps help parents with prams. Captions help non-native speakers as well as the hard of hearing. Clear communication helps neurodivergent minds. Flexible systems help all of us when life changes. Accessibility isn’t special treatment. It’s thoughtful design. It’s community care and inclusion. It’s the world acknowledging that humans are diverse — and that’s a good thing. When we build with inclusion in mind, nobody is left behind. ♿🌸 Sarah Wingfield ❤️  Kawaii Doll Decora 🌸 Independent Disability Advocate  #AccessibilityForAll #DisabilityAdvocacy #InclusiveDesign #AccessIsCare #KawaiiDollDecora Alt text: Cute illustrated scene in a park with four diverse characters standing together and holding a sign that reads “Accessibility helps everyone!” From left to right: a child with pink hair in space buns wearing pastel clothing; a smiling person with dark skin and short locs waving; a person ...

Sorry everyone, I needed to take some space today as I got completely dysregulated after everything this morning. I’ve been trying to get on a Ferris wheel for three years in a row, and today was meant to finally be the day. But after the way I was spoken to and the absolute malarkey trying to access support, I had to take some space.  When you’re AuADHD and already overwhelmed, you can’t just carry on as normal — I couldn’t go out dysregulated. It isn’t safe, and it isn’t fair. I ended up missing the Stockton Ferris wheel because of it. And that’s the part people don’t understand: disabilities put us at a disadvantage. When getting help is this difficult — to the point I end up in sensory overload and emotional dysregulation — then it isn’t accessibility. It’s a barrier dressed up as support. I’ve cried all day. I’m tired of fighting for the bare minimum. We even drove to Whitby, and theirs had already been taken down. Year four of the Ferris wheel mission, apparently! It’s honest...

DCC Update - employment support and podcast: I’ve just been informed that Andrew Husband has offered to personally look into my situation. I’m honestly a little shocked to finally be getting access to someone who can help — but I’m also hopeful. If this is handled properly, it could resolve everything that has happened, including: • Having the podcast reinstated • Ensuring my images are shared as originally intended (not cropped) • Regaining access to the employment support I should never have lost This should never have become a fight. It has taken so much energy and unnecessary distress. Once this is resolved, I truly hope we can move towards a more positive working relationship with the council — especially given the volunteer safeguarding and youth work I already do with them. Fingers crossed 🤞 Sarah Wingfield Independent Disability Advocate #disabilityinclusion #disabilityrights #disabilityawareness #communitymatters #strongertogether #inclusion #advocacy

Unfortunately after waiting until yesterday when my initial complaint was made in July 2025 I have had no choice but to escalate the discrimination I received and sabotage by Durham County Council and DurhamEnable to an ombudsman. No accountability received as of yet. Sarah Wingfield  Independent Disability Advocate  #disabilityinclusion #strongertogether #disability #disabilityawareness #disabilitysupport #disabilityrights #autismacceptance #autismawareness 

Broken But Still Beautiful – The Chronic Pain Doll Purple skin, green pigtails, one leg on the floor, a robotic arm and eye cover dangling, little eyes scattered below… a broken doll. She’s not polished, not perfect, but she’s real. I made her to represent how chronic pain feels – like pieces of you fall away when the world isn’t looking. People see the surface and assume you’re fine, but they don’t see the invisible struggles, the parts of you you’ve lost along the way. Disability isn’t always obvious. Sometimes it’s hidden inside joints that ache, nerves that burn, or energy that drains before the day has even started. This doll is me – and she’s many of us. A reminder that even when the world doesn’t see your pain, it’s still there. You’re still valid. You’re still whole in your own way. I also hope amputees can find something in her too. Because losing a piece of yourself – whether visible or invisible – doesn’t erase your worth. It doesn’t strip away your beauty. You’re not less b...