Keep up to date with the latest news and contributions from Forum members and guests!

The Forum is made up of a wide range of people with different disabilities and experiences and we want our blog to reflect that. As such, you might hear from someone with a visual impairment in one post and someone with epilepsy in another.

If you have an idea for a blog post, get in touch! See our blog submission guidelines for more information.


Privilege Wheel

Image: Diagram labelled ‘Wheel of Power/Privilege’ showing the different degrees to which a person can be marginalised or have power over others in society based on their characteristics. In the centre is the word “power”, and on the…

Helen sits in a manual wheelchair, smiling

September is Pain Awareness Month

Helen has a condition which causes chronic pain, as well as periods of severe acute pain and is here to tell us about Pain Awareness Month. Before we get any further, if someone tells you they are in…

A person on a trike is crossing Millenium Bridge

Sign up for a disabled cycle ride – 17th October

One of our members, Jamie, tells us about cycling as a disabled person and an upcoming event in York: I’ve been an everyday cyclist in York – simply because it’s the fastest and most convenient way of getting…

View of York city centre from a distance, York Minster is visible in the background

When two ideals collide

We’re pleased to welcome volunteers Olivia and Kirsty to York Disability Rights Forum! Olivia has recently graduated with a degree in Criminology at Anglia Ruskin University and is aiming to do an MA in International Criminology in autumn…

View of York city centre from a distance, York Minster is visible in the background

York’s Blue Badge battle

On 28th August, a letter appeared in York Press from Councillor Andy D’Agorne making a statement on ‘York’s Blue Badge battle’. York Disability Rights Forum would make like it very clear, we do not want a battle, we…

A row of books on a shelf, all on the topic of disability

Disability on the page

Helen loves reading and disability activism, and enjoys reading about other people’s experiences of disability. Today she takes us on a quick tour of her bookshelves: The War on Disabled People by Ellen Clifford offers a comprehensive look…

York Minster on a sunny day

Introducing The York Access Hub

Bill has recently set up York Access Hub and is here to tell us a bit more about it: “I’ve been disabled with ME for the last fifteen years, after a long army career and working in various…

University and Chronic Illness book cover

Chronically ill? Starting college or uni soon? Read on!

It’s that time of year when many young people are getting exam results and thinking about their future. But what if you’re disabled or chronically ill? York’s very own Pippa Stacey is here to tell you more about…

An empty Blue Badge parking space shows the yellow wheelchair icon associated with disability

Support our Formal Objection to Footstreet Proposals

Objections to the footstreet proposals must reach City of York Council by 6th August. To make this easier for individuals, we provided templates and have recently reached out to other organisations in the city for their support. We…

A Blue Badge clock dial

Objecting to the Footstreet Extensions

On 22nd June, the Executive Member for Transport (Councillor D’Agorne) made the decision to publicise the proposals to make the current footstreet arrangements permanent. We spoke against the decision and are continuing to raise our objections. Since then,…

A Blue Badge clock dial

Amendments to ‘Ensuring Access for All’

For background to this motion, please see our recent blog ‘Statement Presented to the Council: Ensuring Access for All’. We were disappointed that Cllr D’Agorne’s amendments were passed and as a result of those amendments, the motion itself…

Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita Awareness Day June 30 handwritten on a blue background with a blue heart

Wear Blue for Arthrogryposis

30th June is Arthrogryposis Awareness Day and Abi, one of the Steering Group members, tells us more about this mouthful of a word: Your first question is probably how do I say that? Followed closely by what is…

Woman facing a chalkboard that reads Trust Yourself

Being part of the steering group

Lydia tells us more about being part of the Steering Group: In my introduction blog, I commented that I have been able to grow and develop various skills during my time on the YDRF Steering Group, including giving…

Speak Up Diversity logo

York to Become an Anti-Racist and Inclusive City

For today’s blog, we turn to Haddy from Speak Up Diversity. Haddy is the Founder and Directory of the organisation which is working to end the systemic and institutional racist policies that disproportionately affects people of colour. Speak…

Lydia is smiling at the camera

Meet: Lydia

In this post, we chat with Lydia to find out a bit more about her as well as why she joined the Forum’s Steering Group. Her love of York and supporting others is clear and we are lucky…

YDRF logo

Behind the scenes of the Steering Group

Raising awareness and visibility of disability wherever we go! When people talk of the York Disability Rights Forum Steering Group, it can feel a bit abstract or distant. So, who are we and what do we do? Who…

Mental Health Awarness Week Logo

Mental Health Awareness Week

Lydia, one of the Steering Group members, tells us a bit about her experiences and what she wants more people to know about mental health: Firstly, it’s important to note that not everyone who experiences mental health issues…

A manual wheelchair is on the road, someone is self propelling but we only see their arms

Why I love my wheelchair

Freedom! Independence! Being able to leave the house!  These are all things that most people take for granted, but if you have a disability that affects your mobility, they often become treasured.  Until I got my wheelchair, leaving…

Illustration of a coffee cup with the word 'nope' on it.

Pavement Cafés and Street Furniture: Not For Us

The City of York Council Licensing and Regulatory Committee met on 26th April. On the agenda (item 6) was a report about businesses reopening with pavement cafés which stated there were no equality implications surrounding this. We strongly…

two ducks in water, a male mallard is floating and a white duck is standing

Wheelchair walks in and around York!

Spring is arriving and we’re starting to think about how nice it’d be to go for a wander in nature. We’ve asked around and discovered your favourite accessible walks! Let us know if the comments if we’ve missed…

A Blue Badge clock dial

Blue Badge Application Assessments

We have been made aware that people applying for, and renewing, Blue Badges have been asked to attend face to face assessments. This is clearly concerning during a global pandemic when many people have still not recieved a…

a glass jar on it's side with pennies spilling out

The Universal Credit uplift and those of us left behind…

TLDR: The treatment of people on legacy benefits is yet one more case where disabled people have been left behind and forgotten about during (and before) the pandemic. Here Helen talks about why the £20 uplift to Universal…

View of York city centre from a distance, York Minster is visible in the background

The Latest: Disabled Access to York City Centre

Concerns about disabled access into and around York city centre are growing as the city thinks about ‘opening up’ and the removal of Blue Badge access remains in place. Added to this now are concerns around the accessibility…

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