Crip Life™

Dismantling disabling barriers one article at a time

The image is an infographic illustrating the "Hierarchy of road users," with a focus on vulnerability levels. The design features a gradient background transitioning from light blue at the top to white at the bottom. At the top right corner, there is a blue and green "Safer Mobility" logo from Surewise, featuring an icon of a mobility scooter. The title "Hierarchy of road users" is written in bold green and blue text. A horizontal arrow spans the image, indicating a spectrum from "Most vulnerable" on the left to "Least vulnerable" on the right. The infographic depicts different types of road users along this scale: - On the most vulnerable end, there is a pedestrian, a mobility scooter user (highlighted with a magnifying glass effect and a red question mark), and horse riders. - In the middle, cyclists and smaller vehicles like cars are shown. - On the least vulnerable end, larger vehicles such as vans and trucks are depicted. The image emphasizes the importance of road safety and awareness, particularly for more vulnerable road users like pedestrians and mobility scooter users.
The image is a promotional banner for a podcast called "My Voice Podcast." The banner has a purple background with white text and includes the podcast's logo, which features a microphone icon and the tagline "Amplifying Unheard Voices." The text on the image reads: **"Giving disabled people from ethnic minorities a voice"** (inside a purple speech bubble). **"Listen on Spotify >>>"** (written in large white font). The image also includes the Spotify logo, which is a green circle with three white sound waves. The design suggests that the podcast focuses on amplifying the voices of disabled individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds.
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Three women wearing lanyards stand smiling under a red and blue event arch that reads 'WORK WITH • GROW' outside a modern building. In the foreground, a grey vehicle displays the website 'www.vlad-outreach-cic.org' and a teal leaf logo on its hood.
V.L.A.D. Outreach CIC: Inclusive Mental Health Support For People With Disabilities And Underserved Communities
A group of people are descending a stone staircase outdoors in a lush green park. The group includes individuals of various ages, with some providing assistance to others. One woman in a bright orange jacket and neon green shorts is supported by a woman in a purple jacket. Another woman in a green and navy sweater and jeans is assisting an elderly woman with a walking cane. The atmosphere appears friendly and communal, with people smiling and engaged with one another. The surrounding area features dense greenery, a large tree, and manicured grass, suggesting a peaceful, natural setting.
Nature Unseen: Experiencing Heritage Through Sound, Touch, And Collaboration
The image shows a serene hospital maternity ward with two disabled mothers seated in wheelchairs. One mother, wearing a light blue hospital gown, is visibly pregnant and resting her hands on her belly. She gazes warmly at the other mother, who is dressed in soft pink attire and smiling joyfully while cradling a newborn baby wrapped in a white blanket. They are positioned beside a hospital bed, with natural light streaming through a nearby window, casting a calm and welcoming atmosphere. The room features medical equipment subtly integrated into the background, maintaining the clinical setting without detracting from the emotional warmth and intimacy between the mothers and the child. The scene highlights inclusivity and the strength of motherhood in a supportive medical environment.
Pregnancy And Disability: Ensuring Inclusive Maternity Care For Prospective Disabled Mothers
An image promoting The National Unpaid Carers Union and Forum (NUCUF). It features a beige background with bold, navy blue text for strong visual contrast and clarity. Key Design Elements: Title/Header: At the top, the acronym “NUCUF” is prominently displayed in large, bold capital letters. Below it, in smaller text, is the full name: “The National Unpaid Carers Union and Forum.” Main Message: The central message is styled in a bold, uppercase format: “SHARE EXPERIENCES FOR DWP REVIEW OF CARER’S ALLOWANCE” Bullet Point Highlights: The poster includes six concise bullet points summarising key questions: Impact of Carer’s Allowance overpayments Effectiveness of DWP processes Clarity and ease of communication How carers feel they are treated Areas for improvement Focus areas like self-employment, averaging earnings, and expense clarity Call to Action: At the bottom, in bold navy type: “SUBMISSIONS CLOSE AT 23:59 ON 11 MAY 2025” “SEND RESPONSES TO LEO@NUCUF.COM”
NUCUF Urges Carers To Contribute To DWP Review Of Carer’s Allowance
Image 1 credit: Courtesy of DAO dis_place gallery installation image (screenshot) featuring: ● Richard Butchins, Light of the World, 2021. Digital image. Image credit: Courtesy of DAO ● Sam Metz, Instability, 2024. Valchromat and glazed earthenware. Image credit: Photo by Rachel Deakin Image 2 credit: Courtesy of DAO dis_place gallery installation image (screenshot) featuring: ● Louise Machlachlan, Mōtae, 2019-present. Giclée print on aluminium composite sheet. Image credit: Photo by Rachel Deakin ● Carrie Ravenscroft, Sugarcoated Feminine Rage, 2024. Acrylic paint, oil paint and gouache on board. Image credit: Photo by Rachel Deakin
Disability Arts Online Launches dis_place: A Game-Changer For Accessible Digital Exhibitions
An elderly Caucasian couple is pictured in a modern, accessible living space filled with natural light. The man, smiling, is seated in a wheelchair and wears a light blue shirt and beige trousers. The woman stands beside him, leaning slightly on a cane with one hand gently resting on his shoulder. She has short white hair and is dressed in a beige cardigan over a light top and jeans. The background shows a bright, open-plan area with light wood flooring, neutral-toned furniture, and a simple kitchen, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
Rethinking Accessible Housing For Ageing At Home In Britain
The image is a promotional graphic for *The Great British Sewing Bee*. It features a lively group of contestants posing cheerfully inside the iconic sewing room. Each person is striking a fun, expressive pose, showcasing a range of personal styles, body types, and ethnic backgrounds, reflecting the show’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. At the top, bold white text reads: **“IS YOUR SOUL FED”**, and at the bottom: **“BY NEEDLE AND THREAD?”**, inviting viewers to reflect on their passion for sewing. In the bottom-left corner is *The Great British Sewing Bee* logo, established in 2012. Just beneath the main text is the application website: **applyforsewingbee.co.uk**. The background is a rich green, with a stitched-line motif weaving through the frame, symbolising threads and the theme of sewing. The overall design is energetic, inclusive, and warmly inviting.
Calling All Stitch Stars: The Great British Sewing Bee Is Welcoming Disabled Sewers to the Sewing Room
Mi-Spend I want financial inclusion I want a card in my name I want my spending money my way Breaking barriers to a new way forward
Celebrating 5 Years of Mi-Spend: Empowering Independent Spending
A digital vector image displays five rounded-square app icons arranged in a 2x3 grid on a black background. Each icon has a dark green background with a white symbol in the center. The icons represent the following services: a slice of pizza, a generic bank card without a flag, a person running, a shopping basket, and a TV screen with a play button. The design is clean and minimalistic, with consistent styling across all icons.
Mobile App Accessibility: Why Most Apps Are Failing Disabled And Ageing Users
Features Mental Health
Crip Life

V.L.A.D. Outreach CIC: Inclusive Mental Health Support For People With Disabilities And Underserved Communities

Three women wearing lanyards stand smiling under a red and blue event arch that reads 'WORK WITH • GROW' outside a modern building. In the foreground, a grey vehicle displays the website 'www.vlad-outreach-cic.org' and a teal leaf logo on its hood.

V.L.A.D. Outreach CIC is a community-driven organisation dedicated to providing inclusive and accessible mental health support, particularly for people with disabilities. Recognising the profound and often overlooked mental health challenges faced by individuals with physical, neurological, sensory, and invisible disabilities, V.L.A.D. Outreach offers a person-centred approach that meets people where they are – emotionally, physically, and geographically.

V.L.A.D. Outreach CIC was founded in memory of Vladimir, a 17-year-old who struggled with isolation and mental health. His family created the organisation to support others facing similar battles, offering connection, understanding, and hope to those who feel unseen, unheard, or alone.

Who is V.L.A.D. Outreach for?

One of the defining features of V.L.A.D. Outreach is its focus on some of the most marginalised and underserved groups in society. This includes individuals with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), a group often misunderstood in both medical and public spheres, by specifically acknowledging and addressing the needs of those with FND,

V.L.A.D. Outreach ensures that people living with this and other complex conditions are not left behind. The organisation also serves older and bedbound individuals, who frequently struggle with loneliness, isolation, and reduced access to mental healthcare due to mobility or health constraints.

V.L.A.D. Outreach recognises that mental healthcare should not be one-size-fits-all. Instead, it offers tailored, compassionate support that reflects each person’s unique experiences and challenges.

This inclusive ethos extends to those dealing with addiction, homelessness, or displacement, further underlining the organisation’s commitment to accessibility for all, especially those with disabilities that intersect with other life challenges.

The support services available at V.L.A.D. Outreach

A woman with long light-brown hair holds up a square, black-and-white beaded QR code in front of a bookshelf filled with psychology and therapy books. She looks directly at the camera with a neutral expression.

The support services provided by V.L.A.D. Outreach is designed to be flexible and adaptable. Individuals can access help through various formats, including online sessions, walk-and-talk therapy, home visits, and appointments at neutral therapeutic spaces.

This range of delivery methods is crucial for people with disabilities who may face transportation barriers or have accessibility needs that make traditional clinic visits difficult.

Initial support includes up to six sessions that are completely free or donation-based, removing financial barriers for those in crisis or on low incomes.

After this initial period, a multidisciplinary team evaluates the individual’s circumstances to offer a bespoke care plan for an optional additional six weeks of support at a minimal fixed donation of £50.

This structure ensures that ongoing care remains affordable and accessible, particularly for those living with long-term health conditions or disabilities that impact their financial independence.

V.L.A.D. Outreach’s holistic approach combines evidence-based therapies with peer mentoring and psychological support. This combination helps individuals not only manage their mental health symptoms but also build resilience and community connections.

The future of V.L.A.D Outreach

As the organisation grows, it plans to expand its offerings to include 24/7 crisis support via text, webchat, phone, and email, as well as in-person drop-in sessions. This future vision reinforces its dedication to meeting people’s needs at any time, particularly for those with disabilities who may experience sudden or unpredictable mental health crises.

By fostering a non-judgmental, inclusive space, V.L.A.D. Outreach empowers people with disabilities to access the mental health support they deserve—compassionately, affordably, and without stigma.

To find out more and seek support, visit the V.L.A.D. Outreach website or follow V.L.A.D. on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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We want to place adverts for a wide range of clients. So, whatever the size of the organisation, if you want to promote a product or service, contact Joanna Baker-Rogers.

For more information on our advertising strategy, read our Crip Life™ Media Pack 2025. (If you prefer, we also have a Plain Text version).

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