PGP / SPD My story:

High Force Waterfall: When Accessibility Is About More Than Ramps After the email I received today, I have made the difficult decision that I will no longer be visiting High Force Waterfall while I remain disabled. That is not a decision I wanted to make. I love nature. I love our countryside. I believe disabled people should be able to enjoy these beautiful places just as much as anyone else. But I also deserve to be treated with dignity when I do. The outcome of my complaint has left me feeling that I am simply not welcome there as a disabled visitor. What upset me most wasn't just the original interaction itself, but that, after a formal investigation, I was left feeling that my experience had not been properly understood. This experience was never about wanting special treatment. It was about wanting to be treated with basic human respect. Before anyone had asked why my partner was carrying a foldable chair, it was refused. Before anyone knew it was a disability aid, assumption...

The body I live in. Written by Sarah Wingfield / Kawaii Doll Decora   The rocky terrain keeps making my ankles twist as I find it hard to gain my footing. Why did my body become this clumsy, tight and painful suit I have to carry like a lead weight in this world? Whilst almost everyone around me floats so effortlessly and smoothly through life? I sigh. Every step I take creates pain, swelling, tenderness, I don't ever remember doing any sports where I never had earache or pulled muscles, tendons or soreness. It went unseen for so long, job failure after job failure with no answers to what was making my health as such. I had people looking at me like I'm the same as them and dismissing me for not being able to perform or operate as robotically as them. When in reality I worked much harder than most, liked to keep busy but needed days and days off where I lay in pain or swelling and my body had yet again let me down. I am disabled. Those words still hit me hard, like a knife jol...

From My Bed, I Built a Lifeline: When I ran a helpline during the years I was bedbound, I came across far too many women from all over the world calling me for help, support, and simply someone to listen. Some were pregnant with their first child. Others their sixth or seventh. Many had been abandoned. I listened, comforted, reassured, and helped them navigate systems that often seemed impossible to access. One woman's story has stayed with me all these years. She was pregnant with her sixth or seventh child. Her husband had left her. She was alone, disabled, in pain, caring for multiple children, and had no support network around her. I helped her explore what support might be available, including carers, adult social services, advocacy referrals, and local assistance. I wrote supporting letters and helped signpost her to services that could make a difference. All whilst I was bedbound and housebound myself, living with permanent Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD) and Ehlers-Danlos...

Realising You're Disabled Isn't a One-Time Event One of the things many non-disabled people don't realise is that coming to terms with disability isn't something that happens once. It happens over and over again. Sometimes it's because a condition worsens. Sometimes it's because you discover a new limitation or barrier you hadn't encountered before. Sometimes it's remembering something you used to do without thinking that is no longer accessible to you. Other times, it's simply being reminded that the world wasn't designed with your needs in mind. Disability can involve a constant process of adjustment, adaptation, and grief. Not necessarily grief for who you are, but grief for opportunities lost, independence changed, plans altered, or a life that looks different from the one you imagined. Many disabled people continue to push forward because we have no choice but to. We learn, adapt, advocate, and find new ways to navigate a world that often cr...

Disability Advocacy, Hate Campaigns and a Passion for Justice 🙏🏻✨ Sarah Wingfield speaks on recent events and her passion for supporting communities. #Advocacy #facts #chronicpain #community #support

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...

Let me be heard: I’ve just been given my court hearing date to legally ensure an ex leaves me alone. It’s the morning of my practical driving test. And I sat with that for a moment… not shocked, not even angry, just tired. Because sometimes life doesn’t give you space to process things one at a time. It stacks them. Major, emotional, life-shaping moments, all at once. On one hand, I’m preparing for a court hearing — something that represents boundaries, safety, and closure. On the other, I’m preparing for a driving test — something that represents independence, growth, and moving forward. Both important. Both significant. Both happening together. And it really made me reflect on resilience, not in the idealised sense, but in the very real, human sense. Showing up when you’re in pain. Showing up when your mind is foggy. Showing up when your circumstances feel overwhelming. There’s a narrative that resilience looks like strength and composure at all times, but often it looks like continu...

Twisting the Narrative: People have continued to alert me that Retrophiliac is still twisting the narrative and producing judgemental content that has directly contributed to real-world harm against me. At no point did I say that any disabled person is intrinsically better than another. What I stated — clearly — is that the message matters more than the money, while also affirming that disabled creators absolutely deserve to be paid for their work. What disabled creators do not deserve is for larger pages to prioritise monetisation so aggressively that they demand content be removed unless it benefits them financially, or to weaponise their platforms by spreading false narratives that result in smaller creators being harassed, abused, or financially penalised — as I was. This situation was never about denying payment to disabled people. It is about values, ethics, and responsibility. When a platform is used to harm rather than help — especially by targeting smaller advocates — the issu...

I can't believe I actually know some stuff about manual cars too lmao 🤣 you surprise yourself some days... Have I earned a break yet?! Nearly 7/7goals hit on my app! 🙌🏻✨ Bearing in mind this is only the hours spent on the practical driving section and not the theory part! Thankful to have passed that part! So far - so good. ✨ Bad pain day but breaking goals day! 🤘🏻 Rock on! Xx 💋 Xo Alt Text: Two screenshots of a driving test learning app showing progress. The first image displays a summary stating “1 Goal left to hit” with 6 out of 7 goals completed, and a circular progress graphic showing 95%. It notes 4 hours 39 minutes of learning completed and 21 days until the driving test. The second image lists goals with progress bars: “Set your official Driving Test date/time” at 100%, “Watch 95 practice video clips” at 67%, “Correctly answer all 124 quiz questions” at 100%, “Complete the Ready to Pass section” at 100%, “Complete the day of your test section” at 100%, “Complet...

I need five more supporters on this campaign: Could one be YOU?! 🫵🏻😊✨ #LegalisePepperSpray https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/742673/sponsors/new?token=58HvqjhNhqF8wEQyxN7G Legalise Pepper Spray for Self-Defence in England Why this matters: Every day across England, people – especially women, disabled people, and survivors of domestic abuse – are left vulnerable to harassment, assault, and violence. Reports of harassment and sexual offences on public transport have surged. People are being threatened at bus stops and in public spaces. Domestic abuse is still at epidemic levels – and too many victims are left defenceless while waiting for help. Police response times can stretch into hours, leaving victims exposed and unprotected. Right now, the law treats pepper spray as if it were a firearm. That means ordinary people have no legal way to carry even the most basic tool of self-defence. What we’re asking for: We call on the UK Government to: ✅ Legalise and regulate pepper spray...

  Article link: https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/cost-of-living/dwp-could-seize-blue-badges "In a recent development, Conservative Party MP Danny Kruger pressed the Labour Party to "consider the benefits to which PIP is a gateway, such as Motability, disability premiums, Council Tax discounts and Blue Badges" and called upon Sir Stephen to "promise at least that those entitlements could come down"." 🥺😥💔 I think the mistake lies in not recognising the reality of ambulatory wheelchair users, dynamic disabilities, and invisible conditions. The PIP system absolutely does make mistakes, and it’s deeply ableist to expect disabled people to be continually scrutinised when they are already under constant assessment. The idea of widespread “fake claimants” is a media-driven narrative – official figures show that fraud rates for PIP are only around 0.1%. In other words, the overwhelming majority of claimants are genuine and are being unfairly put through unnec...

I’ve Booked My Driving Test! The Road to Freedom is in Sight! It’s finally happening — after all the lessons, the nerves, the little victories, and the big wobbles, I’m officially one step closer to passing my driving test . Today, I booked my practical test for November! When I pressed that “confirm” button, my heart did a little backflip. This is it — the countdown has started. In just a few months, I could be holding that pass certificate in my hands, with the open road calling my name. I have to give a huge shout-out to my amazing instructor, Andy. His patience, calm energy, and encouragement have been such a massive part of this journey. No question is too silly, no mistake too big — he always finds a way to help me understand and improve. And honestly, without the Motability Scheme , this dream wouldn’t even be possible. It’s given me the opportunity to learn and have a car that meets my needs, in an automatic that feels safe, comfortable, and mine. For so many disabled drivers, ...

 Today I enjoyed some sunnyshine 🌞 as I stepped into my role as an Independent Visitor . I listened to some wonderful tunes on the bus and soaked up the scenery along the way. Had a coffee in town, then came home to snuggles from my parents’ little doggy 🐾 and some wonderfully weird duplex YouTube videos about hauntings my son wanted to show me. Lol 😆 It’s been an interesting little day! Tomorrow it’s my driving lesson, so I’m keeping moving forward — onwards and upwards, as they say! Stay rocking at kindness ! 🤘🏻 Xx ❤️ Sarah Wingfield Alt text: A female person with long bright red hair is smiling and sticking out their pierced tongue while making a rock hand gesture 🤘🏻. They are wearing pink-and-white cat ear headphones, glasses, a tongue bar, a lip ring, a black moon nose piercing, a black top with a white vampire teeth design, a green disability positive sunflower lanyard, and a pastel beaded bracelet. There is a grey bag over her shoulder.The background shows greenery ...

Overload, Support, and Purpose: My Journey : I have an important meeting and an appointment today, so I’ve cancelled all other plans to focus on these. Yesterday, my housing officer came earlier than expected — before my breakthrough worker arrived. Breakthrough is a DCC service that helps me declutter and organise because of my mobility issues. I’m glad I still have this support and that it hasn’t been sabotaged yet, especially given what I’ve seen happen to other services. I rely on it. She may have thought she was helping by offering to remove my stairlift — one of my most needed and relied-upon mobility aids. But this triggered me and made me feel invalidated. I literally used the stairlift the night before. I guess I mask well, but seriously?! The sudden change caught me off guard and inside I was screaming, though outside I just said, “Yeah, it’s fine, come in.” I wasn’t fine. On top of everything else from yesterday, it all pushed me into overload. I broke. I reached out to my F...

 Turn pain and lessons into power and action. ❤️✨ Disability Rights: Alt text: An illustrated group portrait of diverse individuals of different ages and abilities, including children, adults, and elderly people. Several are seated in wheelchairs, one uses a cane, and others are standing, showcasing visible diversity in disability. The group is facing forward with calm, determined expressions. The text above the group reads, “Turn pain and lessons into power and action.” Below, it says, “Disability Rights.” A heart in the top right corner contains the words “Kawaii Doll Decora,” and the same name appears vertically along the left edge as a watermark . I’m exhausted by the state of the world — but more determined than ever to change it. People need a reality check. The disabled community needs authentic voices, because those merely playing at supporting disability are revealing their true colours. Masks are slipping. And ableism persists — even from within our own community. When a ...

✨ Hi, I’m Sarah! ✨ I’m currently #OpenToWork and looking for a paid role to support the unpaid roles I’m passionate about — including being an Independent Visitor for children in care 💛 (I’m up to date on all safeguarding legislation and learning to drive to be even more helpful!) 🎯 I’m looking for: ▪️ Admin / Assistant roles ▪️ Sales Associate / Advocate ▪️ HR positions ▪️ Data Input / Analyst work ▪️ Acting roles too 🎭 📍 Based in: Newton Aycliffe | Darlington | Bishop Auckland 💻 Open to Hybrid / Flexible options 🧠 About me: I’m a qualified disability advocate with over 20 years’ experience. I bring knowledge, heart, and a serious work ethic — and I’d love the chance to join a supportive, inclusive team. Let’s connect! I’d be grateful for leads, advice, or a friendly chat. 💬 Thank you for reading! Now hire me — just kidding… but seriously, let me send over my CV and impress you. 🫵🏻😏 Sarah Wingfield 🌹 #HireMe #Disability #Inclusion #FlexibleWork #HybridWork #PartTime #JobSea...

Durham County Council  DurhamEnable  #formalcomplaint #evasive #discrimination #falsecareforwellbeing #noremorse #noaccountability #disabledvoices #DurhamEnable #EmploymentSupport #vague #unprofessional #durhamcountycouncil #dailymail #article #disabilityinclusion #strongertogether #disability #disabilityawareness #disabilitysupport #disabilityrights Subject: Formal Response to Podcast Termination and Lack of Transparency Dear Helen, This response is wholly inadequate. It fails to address any of my direct queries regarding your social media policy, and it is both unreasonable and evasive to cite "drug use on social media" without clarity, context, or a specific link to my conduct. No reasonable person could accept that as a justified or coherent explanation for terminating my podcast. At no point was any evidence presented that related directly to me. I welcome the recent press coverage that exposed this, as it is clear your actions lack both transparency and accountability. ...

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14825319/Council-shut-disability-podcast-photo-cannabis.html #news #disabilityinclusion #strongertogether #disability #disabilityawareness #disabilitysupport #disabilityrights DurhamEnable Durham County Council #news #disabilityinclusion #strongertogether #disability #disabilityawareness #disabilitysupport #disabilityrights DurhamEnable  Durham County Council 

Disability Pride Month My disability is a part of me and there needs to be more education and awareness on invisible illnesses and dynamic disabilities. I'm not faking, I'm surviving. Sarah Wingfield  Independent Disability Advocate  #Disabledpride #DisabilityPride #Pride #DynamicDisabilities #InvisibleIllnesses #disabilityinclusion #strongertogether #disability #disabilityawareness #disabilitysupport #disabilityrights

I've done nothing wrong and I keep losing my Facebook profiles and I'm being unfairly sabotaged by Facebook. I'm now suspended from recommendations for sharing a picture of my face.  It's really crazy how unfairly Facebook is treating some of us. I am a beta tester for Facebook and this is still happening to me when all I try is to help! I can't even verify with meta verification because I get this warning ⚠️ notice or error notice (see last image). Sarah x #Facebook #Meta #Metapaysupport #MetaforDevelopers #Kawaii Doll Decora