Meet Debbie North - IDPD Community Spotlight
Today is International Day of Persons with Disabilities, an annual event created by the United Nations to “promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and wellbeing of persons with disabilities”!
Within the All The Elements Community there are some incredible disability campaigners, activists and changemakers. Through this blog series we’re shining a light on their work, celebrating their achievements, and championing the importance of disability inclusion in the UK outdoors.
Today, as part of our week-long series we’re shining a light on Debbie North (she/her), an inclusion advocate who is passionate about making the countryside more accessible. After being diagnosed with spinal degeneration and becoming a wheelchair user, she discovered how many barriers exist for disabled people who want to enjoy the great outdoors. This experience inspired her to dedicate her life to improving access to nature.
Debbie is the founder of Access the Dales, a charity that provides all-terrain mobility vehicles and holds events designed to create opportunities for people with limited mobility to explore the beautiful Yorkshire Dales and beyond. She is also the Cabinet Office Appointed Disability and Access Ambassador for the Countryside, working to influence policy and promote inclusive access across rural landscapes. Through her work as a speaker, writer, and consultant, she shares her story and campaigns for a world where everyone, regardless of ability, can experience the joy and freedom of the outdoors!
We asked Debbie what she loved most about spending time outdoors and this is what she shared:
What I love most about being outdoors is the sense of freedom it gives me. When I’m out in the countryside, surrounded by open skies and fresh air, I feel completely alive and connected to something bigger than myself. The outdoors has always been my place of peace and renewal, it lifts my spirits and clears my mind.
Even after becoming a wheelchair user, that love never went away. In fact, it grew stronger. Getting outside reminds me that adventure and joy are still possible, no matter what challenges life brings. I love the way nature welcomes everyone - it doesn’t judge or exclude - and that’s what inspires me to make sure more people can experience that same feeling of belonging and freedom.
What's one thing you wish more people understood about accessibility and the outdoors?
That access isn’t just about ramps and paths, it’s about inclusion, equality, and mindset. Accessibility means giving everyone the opportunity to experience the joy, peace, and freedom that nature offers.
Many people assume that making the outdoors accessible means compromising its beauty or wilderness, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Small changes - a gate that opens easily, clear information about terrain, an available all-terrain wheelchair - can make a world of difference.
Most of all, I wish people understood that accessibility benefits everyone. When we design outdoor spaces with inclusion in mind, we create richer, more welcoming environments where families, friends, and communities can share the experience of the natural world together.
What's the most impactful adaptation or change that you’ve found, or someone has made, that's helped you to access the outdoors more easily?
The most impactful change that’s helped me access the outdoors has been the introduction of all-terrain wheelchairs and mobility scooters. These incredible pieces of equipment have completely transformed what’s possible for me. They’ve given me back the freedom to explore hills, trails, and countryside paths that I once thought I’d lost forever.
It’s not just about the equipment itself, though. What really makes a difference is when places embrace a welcoming attitude - when landowners, park managers, and communities see accessibility as an opportunity rather than a challenge. Having a network of locations, like those supported through Access the Dales, where all-terrain wheelchairs are available to borrow, has opened up so many more adventures, not just for me, but for countless others too.
That combination, the right equipment and the right mindset, is what truly makes the outdoors accessible.
To find out more about Debbie, Follow her on LinkedIn
To find out more about Access the Dales, Check out her website and follow her on Instagram
This article is part of a series written by All The Elements, to celebrate some of our incredible community members, inspired by International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Each day this week, we are spotlighting a different person. You can explore the full series here or follow along with us on social media.
Join our Disability Campaigners’ Community!
Are you working on disability inclusion in the UK outdoors? If so we’d love you to join our Community! Our last online social of this year is tonight at 6pm, you can sign up here.
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