Beth Brown is a visually impaired artist who also lives with epilepsy. She experienced a seizure just waiting to get off at the next stop, on a train, during which someone took advantage and stole her phone and travel pass.

In the post-ictal state, a period of confusion that follows a seizure, she was left disoriented, alone, and unsure how to get home without her phone or pass. Although some help arrived later, including doctors who happened to be at the station, the experience left her shaken and highlighted how reliant she is on technology for independence and navigation.

The incident was caught on CCTV, but was never prosecuted, leaving a huge impact to Beth’s life. Beth now uses social media to share her paintings, offering others a way to see the world through her eyes and raise awareness about disability, resilience, and visibility.

United Response has partnered with the Motability Foundation on a groundbreaking research project, focusing specifically on the lived experience of those disabled people who have been victims of disability hate crime on public transport. A team of disabled researchers has come together to create a first-of-its-kind survey to generate new insights into the issue.

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