Join The Forum
York Disability Rights Forum is free to join. We are led by disabled people but also welcome allies to join and support our work.
What you’ll be part of
Led by disabled people, York Disability Rights Forum (YDRF) brings people together to challenge barriers to inclusion and promote equal access to human rights for all disabled people who live, work, or study in York.
As a member or ally, you may be involved in:
- Campaigns and projects tackling local barriers
- Events, meetings, and forums to share ideas and build community
- Consultations with local decision-makers
- Collaborative working groups (subgroups) focusing on key issues
Join as a member
What does it mean to be a member?
Membership is about being part of a collective voice for change.
As a disabled-led organisation, YDRF brings people together to challenge barriers and influence decisions that affect our lives. Our strength comes from speaking and acting collectively.
Who is membership for?
Membership is open to people who:
- Identify as disabled or as having a disability
- Are over the age of 18
- Live, work or study in York
You do not need a formal diagnosis or label to join—if you experience barriers in society, your voice matters.
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 impairments as well, and we do not require ‘proof’ to become a member of YDRF.
As a member, you can:
- Have a direct say in our priorities, making sure our focus stays where it matters most to you
- Contribute your lived experience as part of a collective voice calling for change
- Take part in decision-making, including voting on key issues
Benefits of membership
- Community connection
Connect with others through events, meetings, and online spaces (including social media groups) - A platform to influence change
Contribute to campaigns and help shape local decisions - Opportunities to get involved
Join subgroups, projects, or consultations - Monthly news and updates
Stay informed about campaigns, opportunities, and events
Join as an ally
What does it mean to be an ally?
We welcome allies who want to support disabled-led change. Allies play an important role in challenging barriers alongside disabled people—while respecting disabled leadership.
As an ally, you can:
- Support campaigns led by disabled people
- Challenge barriers in your workplace, organisation, or community
- Find out what’s important to York’s disabled community by signing up to our monthly newsletter
As an ally, you commit to:
- Listening and learning from disabled people’s experiences
- Respecting disabled leadership and decision-making
- Amplify disabled people’s voices and perspectives
- Facilitating positive change
How to join
- Complete our sign-up form
- Or contact us directly to join in a way that works for you
Contact options:
- Email: hello@ydrf.org.uk
- Leave us a voicemail: 01904 326 781
- Write to: York Disability Rights Forum, c/o Centre for Applied Human Rights, 6 Innovation Close, York, YO10 5ZF
Get more involved
Once you’ve joined, there are plenty of ways to get involved and help out.
Subgroups (Working Groups)
Subgroups focus on specific issues or projects (e.g. access, identity, mental health).
- You can join a subgroup if you’re interested in a particular area
- Subgroups are a great way to collaborate and take action on specific issues
Steering Group
The Steering Group helps guide the overall direction and governance of YDRF. We work together to challenge the barriers that affect disabled people in York. Typical activities include:
- Attending meetings to represent YDRF
- Sharing feedback and ideas in meetings
- Contributing to campaigns
- Considering multiple perspectives and helping shape discussions
- Bringing perspectives from your own experiences or communities
We’re currently looking for more members of the Steering Group. If you’re someone with lived experience of facing disabling barriers in York then we’d love to hear from you. We also welcome allies of the disabled community who share our commitment to challenging disabling barriers and who want to work alongside disabled people to create change.
What our members say
“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