Motivational Speaker
Adventure, resilience and making the inaccessible accessible
What happens when the life you imagined changes direction? For Debbie North, becoming a wheelchair user meant finding new ways to reach the places she loved—and helping others do the same.
A motivational speaker, author and founder of Access the Dales, Debbie shares stories of mountain adventures, personal loss and the determination to create a countryside where everyone belongs. Drawing on her own experiences, she explores how confidence grows, why access matters and what becomes possible when people receive the right support.
With warmth, humour and honesty, Debbie invites audiences to rethink barriers—in our landscapes, our organisations and our assumptions. Her talks offer food for thought, practical insight and encouragement to take that next step.
Available for keynote speeches, conferences, after-dinner talks and interactive workshops, Debbie can tailor her presentation to your audience and event.
Making the Inaccessible Accessible
What does it take to open up the countryside to more people? Drawing on her experience as a wheelchair user and founder of Access the Dales, Debbie explores the barriers that prevent people from getting outdoors—from stiles and locked gates to a lack of information, confidence or a sense of belonging. A practical, engaging talk for anyone who wants to make outdoor experiences more inclusive.
Our mountains are not always made of rock. Sometimes they are illness, grief or the uncertainty of starting again. Debbie shares her personal journey through disability and the loss of her husband, Andy, and how her love of the outdoors helped her find purpose. An honest, moving talk about resilience, support and finding a way forward, one step at a time.
In 2015, Debbie and her husband, Andy, set off on a 190-mile adventure from St Bees to Robin Hood’s Bay, using an all-terrain wheelchair called Harriet. With humour and vivid stories from the journey, Debbie shares the challenges, encounters and teamwork behind the adventure that inspired their book, In the Spirit of Wainwright.
Accessible Travel
From exploring cities to reaching mountain viewpoints, Debbie shares her experiences of travelling as a wheelchair user. Combining the joy of discovery with practical insight, she explores why reliable accessibility information matters and how thoughtful design and a warm welcome can transform a trip. Ideal for travel events, tourism businesses and audiences planning their next adventure.
Why Book Debbie North?
Debbie brings warmth, humour and a wealth of lived experience to her talks. As a wheelchair user, author and founder of Access the Dales, she shares stories that connect with audiences while encouraging them to think differently about accessibility, resilience and what it means to belong.
From crossing the country in an all-terrain wheelchair to finding purpose after the loss of her husband, Andy, Debbie speaks honestly about life’s challenges. Her talks celebrate adventure and possibility while recognising the difference that practical support, kindness and teamwork can make.
Debbie served for four years as the Government’s Disability and Access Ambassador for the Countryside. Through Access the Dales, she continues to help people discover the outdoors through all-terrain wheelchair loans, inclusive activities and guided walks.
Her speaking engagements include Sheffield Film Festival, Natural England in the East Midlands, a British Guild of Travel Writers symposium, Naidex and the Camping and Motorhome Show at Birmingham’s NEC, the Walkers Are Welcome Conference, regional WI events and U3A groups. She has contributed to BBC Countryfile and written books including Access Adventure and Walks Without Stiles in the Yorkshire Dales.
Whether you are planning a keynote speech, an after-dinner talk or an interactive workshop, Debbie can tailor her presentation to your audience—bringing memorable stories, fresh perspectives and practical ideas to your event.
Book Debbie for Your Event
Planning a conference, community event or workshop? Get in touch to discuss your audience, preferred topic and what you would like people to take away from the session.
Please include your event date, location, expected audience size and preferred format.
