Disabilities can greatly impact daily life, from mobility and access to services, to employment, and social inclusion. Despite the Equality Act 2010 aiming to combat discrimination, many still face significant barriers. That’s why support and community groups are so crucial—they provide a platform for sharing experiences, advocating for rights, and accessing vital resources. There is an ongoing discussion in the neurodivergent community about whether we see or classify ourselves as disabled. However, it is clear that many of the barriers faced by physically and mentally disabled individuals are strikingly similar to those experienced by people across the neurodivergent spectrum.

As a multiply-neurodivergent psychologist, scientist, local business owner, and neuroinclusive environmental design specialist, this discussion was especially close to my heart. In Lancaster, where I live and work, disabled individuals often struggle with accessing public transport, public and private spaces, and local services. The attitudes of the community also play a huge role in shaping these experiences. Sadly, harassment and discrimination remain all too common.

Our goal in these conversations was to highlight the lived experiences of all disabled community members, address the challenges they face, and gather innovative ideas and good practices. Together, we aimed to foster a greater understanding of disability access issues in the Lancaster district and inspire action towards a more inclusive and accessible society.

I was eager to bring my experience to the table, sharing insights on how we can make our community more accommodating and supportive for everyone and it was lovely to chat to so many others who are committed to finding and implementing solutions.

A huge thank you to Lancaster City Council, Lancaster University, Lancaster District CVS, and NeuroDropin for partnering up on this. It was a fabulous discussion.