Don't Call Me Special

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Don't Call Me Special

A nonprofit association promoting disability rights. Seeing the person, not the disability!

27/03/2026

Empowering the Next Generation of Disability Advocates at the Senedd!!!
🙌

Today, our Rise Up project cohort had an impactful Workshop 5 at the Senedd! Our young disabled advocates honed their digital campaigning skills, filmed powerful messages outside the Welsh Parliament, and toured the institution. It was inspiring to see them confidently articulate their perspectives at the heart of Welsh democracy.

It reinforces our commitment to fostering ethical, disability-led advocacy and ensuring disabled voices shape policy. A huge thank you to the Welsh Government for hosting us and our vice chair Emma Burke for delivering a great political experience for the participants!

20/03/2026

Our Rise Up! Session 4 was a masterclass in making noise. We were joined by Richard Morgan from ITV, who gave us knowledge and some truth about pitching to newsrooms and writing press releases that actually get results. No corporate fluff: just the tools we need to ensure our stories can’t be ignored.

Nia backed it up with some vital social media strategy, showing us how to turn digital noise into real-world influence.

This isn't about being "represented": it's about taking the lead. We’re moving from being the subjects of policy to being the ones who shape it.

Next up: We’re taking over the Senedd for filming on March 27th. 😁

13/03/2026

Another fire RISE UP workshop today! 🔥 We spent the day diving into digital campaigning and storytelling led bythe incredible Kat Watkins trutee dcms/employed by Disability Walesit. 📣

It’s all about taking control of our own stories and using media to challenge the systems that try to define us. We’re not just talking about change; we’re building the skills to make it happen. Visibility is power. ♿✨

07/03/2026

Yesterday’s RISE UP session was absolute fire as we dived deep into digital campaigning because we’re tired of being spoken about instead of being heard. Video gives us control and allows us to challenge systems directly without waiting for permission: it isn't just 'content creation,' it is advocacy, power, and evidence. 🎥✊

We’re using our lived experience to drive real change across Wales because visibility creates influence, and influence creates change. When we say 'nothing about us without us,' this is what it looks like: pulling the stick out of the systems that try to hold us back and building our own movement. ♿✨

27/02/2026

The first RISE UP workshop with DPAC? A total success. 💥

We’re done waiting for a seat at the table. We’re building our own. Last week was all about creating safe spaces for disabled activists in Wales to sharpen their tools and find their voice. No performative inclusion here: just raw, lived-experience power. ✊✨

We got into the weeds on why "CUTS ARE DISABLING" and how to hit back with "Good targeting." Seeing the room buzzing with ideas and shared frustration turned into action is exactly why we do this. This isn’t about "inspiration": it’s about building a movement that can’t be ignored. 📣♿

A massive thank you to everyone who joined us. You’re the ones making sure we aren’t just passive recipients of broken systems, but the leaders of the change we need.

Wales is rising up. Let’s keep this momentum going. 🔥

17/02/2026

THIS IS IT. The final countdown. 🚨

We have exactly ONE space left for our RISE UP programme in Wales.

If you’re a young disabled person (18–35) who is tired of being talked about and ready to start doing the talking: this is for you. We’re moving beyond 'consultation' and straight into power. Storytelling, digital campaigning, and making the systems that ignore us actually listen.

Worried about the cost? Don't be. Travel is fully covered. We don't just talk about accessibility; we build it into everything we do.

This isn't about inspiration p**n or 'overcoming' anything. It’s about lived experience being the expertise that changes the world.

Don't let the last spot go. This is YOUR moment to lead.

👇 Grab the final spot here by emailing [email protected]

09/02/2026

RISE UP – final places available

A free, disabled-led digital campaigning programme for young disabled people in South Wales.

✨ Campaigning & influencing
🎥 Filming & storytelling
📣 Your own campaign
🚌 Travel paid
📷 Camera to keep on successful completion
♿ Access needs welcome

📍 Tramshed tech, Cardiff
🗓 Fridays | 27 Feb – 10 April 2026
⏰ 13:00–15:00

Funded by:
Millennium Stadium Charitable Trust.

Collaborating with: Disabled People Against Cuts - Cymru

📩 Email to apply:
[email protected]

Alt text (carousel):
Image 1: Teal RISE UP poster reading “2 places available – Join now”. Images show disabled young people filming and working together. Contact email: [email protected]

Image 2: Teal poster titled “RISE UP – What you’ll get”. Text lists campaigning skills, filming, travel costs paid, disabled-led programme, and a camera to keep on successful completion. Dates shown: Fridays, 27 February–10 April 2026, 13:00–15:00. Location: , Cardiff, with a visit to the Senedd.

Image 3: Teal poster titled “RISE UP – What you need to do”. Text explains six in-person sessions, no experience needed, and that access needs are welcome.

Image 4: Teal poster titled “About RISE UP”. Text explains it is a free, disabled-led programme supporting disabled people to speak up, share experiences, and create change through workshops, filming, and campaigning.

20/01/2026

🚨 ONLY 2 SPACES LEFT 🚨

RISE UP is a disability-led digital campaigning programme for disabled young people aged 18–30 in Wales.

This programme is about more than skills — it’s about power, voice, and influence.

Participants will:
📷 Keep a Canon EOS digital camera
🎥 Learn filming, storytelling & social media
📢 Build real digital campaigning skills
🏛 Shape what they want the Welsh Government and Senedd to do next

📍 Cardiff
🕒 Friday afternoons
📅 Feb–Mar 2026

🚆 Travel support may be available depending on where you’re travelling from.
If travel could be a barrier, please email us to discuss what might be possible.

Delivered by Don’t Call Me Special
In collaboration with Disabled People Against Cuts - Cymru
Supported by the Millennium Stadium Charitable Trust

👉 Apply now - riseupsignup.netlify.app/
⏳ Very limited places remaining

12/01/2026

Last week we shared that we had secured funding for a new programme. We can now officially share what we are delivering — and why.

RISE UP is a disability-led digital campaigning and grassroots advocacy programme for disabled people aged 18–30, delivered in collaboration with , with funding from the Millennium Stadium Charitable Trust.

This programme is about looking to the future and supporting disabled people to rise up — to build the skills, confidence, and tools needed to influence real change.

RISE UP focuses on: Grassroots and digital campaigning, storytelling and narrative-building rooted in lived experience using digital platforms, photography, and film as tools for advocacy developing the confidence to challenge systems and decision-makers... Participants will shape campaigns around a central question:

What do you want the Welsh Government to do differently to better support disabled people in Wales?

As part of the programme, participants will be provided with a Canon UK camera to use throughout the project to support digital content creation and storytelling. The camera is retained by participants on completion of the programme.

Workshop dates will be confirmed once participants are in place, ensuring accessibility and meaningful participation.

Places are limited, and we are now inviting expressions of interest.

👉 Sign up or join the waiting list here: https://riseupsignup.netlify.app/

For any questions, contact: [email protected]

07/01/2026

A new programme is coming.

Represent. Influence. Speak. Empower. Unite.

A disability-led programme funded by the Millennium Stadium Charitable Trust

More details soon.

Want to know more?

Email [email protected]

19/12/2025

Christmas Office Closure 🎄

Don’t Call Me Special would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a restful festive period.

As we reflect on the year, we are proud of the advocacy impact achieved across Wales and are especially grateful for our continued collaboration with Disabled People Against Cuts - Cymru and Cardiff People's Assembly. We would also like to say a sincere thank you to Heledd Fychham MS , Sioned Williams AS/MS, , Inclusion London and more... for supporting our work this year and for standing alongside disabled-led voices and campaigns.

We look forward to continuing this work in 2026 .... strengthening disabled-led advocacy, challenging injustice, and driving meaningful change together.

We’ll be back from 7 January.

Address

Unit 123016, PO Box 92
Cardiff
CF111NB

Telephone

+447429707770

Website

https://www.dontcallmespecial.org/

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