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Join the Forum

There are different ways to get involved with the Forum.

Choose the option that’s best for you.

Become a Forum member

Our newsletter archive is available if you want to catch up on our recent newsletters.

Sign up as a member: York Disability Rights Forum is open to people over the age of 18 who live or work in York and identify as disabled or as having a disability*.

*Please note, YDRF includes autism, ADHD, and other neurodivergence in our definition of disability, as the neurotypical society we live in is disabling for neurodivergent folks. There are of course other disabilities as well, and we do not require ‘proof’ of disablement to become a member of YDRF.

Sign up as an ally: You can also choose to join the Forum as an ally if you would like to be involved but don’t identify as disabled or as having a disability.

Members and allies can also sign up to join a subgroup or the Steering Group. To find out more about joining a subgroup or the Steering Group, get in touch by email or leave us a voice message on 01904 326781.

Our current subgroups include:

Sign up to the Forum

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Membership options

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails or writing to us at York Disability Rights Forum, c/o Centre for Applied Human Rights, 6 Innovation Close, York, YO10 5ZF.

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Join the Steering Group

York Disability Rights Forum is open to anyone living or working in York who identifies as disabled or as having a disability.

Contribute to shaping and guiding the Forum. By joining the Steering Group, you’ll help figure out the priorities, logistics, activities and other important issues.

As Steering Group members, you would represent YDRF at meetings, share ideas to improve what we do, engage with members and join a subgroup.

If you’re interested in finding out more, get in touch. We’re happy for you to join us at a Steering Group meeting so you can see if it’s for you!

Volunteer

We’d love to hear from anyone who’s interested in volunteering their time and skills to help out. For example, this could be:

  • administrative and meeting support
  • marketing, PR and events assistance
  • providing BSL interpretation at events and meetings
  • advising on accessibility matters

Why get involved?

“I’m involved because I want to make a difference, help people be aware of what’s going on, and help in some way, even if it’s a small way”

Lydia

“I still see a big disconnect between the disabled community and decision makers, as well as the need for a louder voice to amplify disability issues. In joining the Forum, I see an opportunity for people of all disabilities to come together to be that voice.”

Bill

Meet the Steering Group

Current Activities

These are the things that the Forum is currently working on.

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

Footstreets

We know the reduction of Blue Badge access in the city centre is a big issue for so many of you and have been working hard on it.

Catch up on what we’ve been doing about the footstreets.

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Annual Review

Our annual survey helps us find out what matters to you about disability issues in York.

To help us stay accountable, we have also published our first Annual Review:

Let’s work together.

For businesses and organisations, we can help you reach out to the disabled community in York and work together to help inform decisions and actions that affect everyone.

For organisations already involved with the disabled community – hello! We’d love to work with you and your members to support the work you’re already doing.

Get in touch