[14][15] In 2023, Darke curated an exhibition at the Museum of the Home displaying toys that represent disability including characters from Ironside, The Simpsons and the Barbie collection.

But the culture sector risks establishing an acceptable and unacceptable perspective – a potential impediment to the transformative influence that disability may bring in terms of rejuvenation and creativity.

The challenge is to avoid homogenising the discourse into a sanitised narrative.”[19]Darke is the founder and director of Outside Centre, a disability arts organisation based in Wolverhampton.

[31][32] In 2021, he published a book of stamps issued in the United Nations International Year of Disabled People in 1981, featuring critical essays by Darke, Miro Griffiths, Alison Wilde and Simon McKeown.

[35][36] He has previously called Labour politician David Blunkett 'in denial of his impairment as an experience' and has criticised the outsourcing of work capability assessments to Atos alongside Disabled People Against Cuts.

[38] In 2024, Darke stood as parliamentary candidate for the Green Party in Wolverhampton South East, gaining their highest-ever vote share in the constituency.

He has also worked with the European Network of Independent Living to support disabled people's human rights and submitted evidence to parliamentary committees.

[40] In 2001, Darke ran a website criticising charity Leonard Cheshire to highlight their role in institutionalising those with disabilities and neglecting those in their care.

[41] Among other things, he stated that 'the main reason you cease to be a Leonard Cheshire service user is death' and that charity donations would pay for 'private medical insurance of senior directors and management get-togethers costing £10,000 a weekend'.

[42] After a heated debate on BBC Radio 4, as well as 50,000 hits on the website, Leonard Cheshire submitted a complaint to the World Intellectual Property Organization.