PGP / SPD My story:

Disability Advocacy Changes Lives ❤️ Disability advocacy means everything to me. It isn’t just about words — it’s about action. It’s about refusing to stay quiet when people are discriminated against, ignored, or mistreated. That’s why I created and shared this graphic today. Because people still need reminding that: Disability advocacy means fighting for the rights, inclusion, and equality of people with disabilities. It is about challenging discrimination and barriers, and promoting accessibility and independence for all. That’s what I live by. That’s what I fight for. Recently, my advocacy has looked like: Delivering my Disability Awareness Speech, sparking honest conversations about accessibility, the social model of disability, and how society must change. Working as an Independent Visitor for children in care, standing alongside them so they know they have someone in their corner when the system feels overwhelming. Supporting people when they face housing gatekeeping, making sure...

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 

Dog Bins Reinstated at Tees Barrage – A Small Win for Our Community Last year I contacted Stockton Council about the lack of dog bins at Tees Barrage. For many of us who walk there regularly, especially dog owners, the absence of bins had become a real issue. It made it harder to keep the area clean and safe, and such a well-loved space deserves better. I’m really pleased to share that the council have now worked with the Canal and River Trust , who own the Barrage, to reinstate bins in the area. It might seem like a small step, but it’s an important one for our community. This is a reminder that raising concerns does make a difference. When local people speak up and councils take action, we can create positive change — even in the everyday things that affect our environment and wellbeing. A big thank you to everyone involved for listening and making this happen. Hopefully this sets the tone for further improvements to our shared spaces. Previous blogs: https://pgpandspd.blogspot.com...

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...

My new Disability Advocating Petition to the UK government has been supported and is now queued! Thank you!  Alt text: Neon graffiti-style text on a dark brick wall reads “FULLY LEGALISE” in glowing blue and pink, and “MEDICAL CANNABIS” in bright green, with paint splatters around the letters. https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/742000/sponsors/new?token=6DN8zRHQgtDVaCERP9iJ Please help 🙏🏻  #medical  Allow medical cannabis users a card to purchase cannabis at pharmacies and choose how they administer it. Background: Medical cannabis is already legal in the UK, but in practice, access is severely limited. Patients face long waits, high costs, and inconsistent supply chains. This delays treatment, causes unnecessary suffering, and increases hospital admissions that could be prevented if patients had reliable access to their medication. What we want: We are calling on the UK Government to: Introduce a Medical Cannabis Patient Card, recognised nationally, which allows...

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...

  Today I signed and shared a petition forwarded to me from Sarah: Changing the Narrative, on Facebook. It was a real life acknowledgement of the systemic barriers regarding housing disabled individuals, and how most bungalows are 65+. I signed it, shared it and I sent the following email to my MP.  If you'd like to sign and share it, please use the link below and if you need to, you can use my email as a template for your own. Good luck 🤞🏻 we are going to need it to change this issue. 🙏🏻 ---- Subject: Support for Petition on Accessible Housing for Disabled People Dear Alan Strickland, Anita, I am writing to you as one of your constituents and as a disability advocate to ask for your support regarding an important petition I have signed:  https://petition.parliament.uk/signatures/159851268/signed The petition calls for the Government to require social housing providers to ensure that all disabled people, regardless of age, can access ground-floor or accessible housing...