Episodes
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A miniature, toy version has been launched of a scheme to help people inform others they have a hidden disability.The hidden disabilities sunflower lanyard scheme has been running for eight years.The idea is to use the lanyards to inform the public that anybody wearing one might need extra help. Emma meets Paul White, who founded the scheme.She gets a demonstration of the new Lego figures from 14-year-old Jayden, who has a heart condition known as long QT Syndrome, and her mum, Tasha, who has three other children who also have hidden disabilities.Also on the show - to mark Disability History Month, we hear from historian Professor David Turner Presenter: Emma TraceyProducers: Daniel Gordon, Alex CollinsSound recording and mixing: Dave O'NeillEditor: Farhana Haider
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Mental health campaigners have warned the government to avoid "unhealthy benefit war rhetoric" strategy when it finalises its plans to get more benefits claimants back to work. We hear the reaction of Catherine Parsons, who oversees the Big Issue’s specialist employment service Big Issue Recruit. The service helps find work for those who face barriers including homeless people, ex offenders and others with mental health issues. We also investigate data from a children’s rights charity suggesting that many disabled kids in care, and care leavers, could be missing out on vital support. And Emma speaks to CBeebies presenter George Webster, who has Down’s Syndrome.
Presenter: Emma TraceyProduced by: Daniel Gordon, Alex CollinsRecorded and Mixed by Dave O'NeillEdited by: Farhana Haider
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The latest part of the Covid inquiry, which looks at the impact of the pandemic on the NHS, has heard powerful evidence from disabled people and their relatives for the first time. BBC Health Reporter Jim Reed — who presents The Covid Inquiry Podcast — shares some of the most poignant testimony that has been shared so far. Emma Tracey also hears from Rachael Andrews, who is partially sighted and has fibromyalgia, and Lisa Burke, whose son Seth has Duchenne muscular dystrophy about how their lives have been severely impacted by the pandemic. We also hear from roving reporter Ben Morris who has been to Belgium to learn more about some clever AI solutions for wheelchair users. Presenter: Emma TraceyProducers: Daniel Gordon, Alex CollinsAudio recording and mixing: Dave O’NeillEditor: Beth Rose
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More than 350 disabled people’s organisations have formed a coalition to oppose the Assisted Dying Bill.
The bill proposes that anyone aged over 18 in England and Wales who has a terminal illness with six months or less to live should be allowed assistance to end their lives. Safeguards within the proposals include two doctors and a high court judge approving the request.
The new coalition is being led by Disability Rights UK, which despite having long held a neutral stance on the issue has now announced it opposes it.
Emma Tracey speaks to DRUK Policy and Campaigns Officer, Bethany Bale and Professor Tom Shakespeare, who was one of eight disabled academics and campaigners to sign an open letter to MPs calling on them to support the bill.
Also on the show – Strictly Come Dancing insider, Reece Finnegan-Knight, comes on to spill all about blind contestant Chris McCausland and THAT blackout performance.
Reece himself is blind and works as an assistant producer on the show. He also runs popular TikTok account, Blind and Blonde, with his wife, Sophie, and during the interview reveals the inspiration behind their viral videos like “My Blind Boyfriend - the Stereotype edition”.
Presenter: Emma TraceyProducers: Daniel Gordon, Alex CollinsEditor: Beth RoseSound recording and mixing: Dave O’Neill
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Comedy actor Paul Whitehouse and his wife, Dr Mine Conkbayir have turned their focus to ADHD. Dr Mine is an early years researcher and author and was diagnosed with ADHD in 2023. She talks about how a traumatic childhood shaped her, needing plenty of noise and lights to function and her thoughts around medication. Her husband, Paul Whitehouse is known for his sketches on The Fast Show and the more sedate Gone Fishing. All about the calm, he’s curious about why so many of his comedy colleagues are also being diagnosed with ADHD. The couple say why they don’t like the term ADHD, explain what’s meant by dopamining and doom piling and also reveal more about their brand new podcast, ‘I’m ADHD! No you’re not’. Presented by Emma TraceyProduced by Alex Collins and Emma TraceySound Recording and mixing: Dave O’NeillEditors: Sara Wadeson and Beth Rose We love to hear from you. Email [email protected] to tell us what you think or suggest a story we should be covering. You can also find us on Instagram and X under @bbcaccessall
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The Budget is done and dusted and the US elections about to start. How do disabled people fit in to these big political events? Chancellor Rachel Reeves has delivered her budget. Bethany Dawson from Politico and disability charity Scope’s head of policy, James Taylor,talk us through the bits disabled people care about. They discuss the increase in the minimum wage and a rise in what carers can earn before their carer’s allowance gets stopped. Will any of the chancellor’s announcements help disabled people with their household bills? And how significant is the £1 Billion Reeves has promised for special educational needs and disabilities?The experts break it down for us. As Over 40 million disabled Americans head to the polls to vote for their next president, Trump supporter and disability policy expert Melissa Ortiz and disability activist and Harris supporter Mia Ives Rublee predict what their candidate will do for this community if they win. Our guests also give us an insight into how Trump and Harris treat disabled people when the cameras are off.. Presented by Emma TraceyProduced by Alex Collins and Emma Tracey.Edited by Damon Rose and Sara Wadeson.
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Pop Idol star Gareth Gates and former Labour politician-turned-TV star, Ed Balls drop by the Access All studio to chat to Emma Tracey about living with a stammer. More than 20 years after he shot to fame on Pop Idol in 2002 Gareth talks about the new musical he is penning which is all about stammering. He has an overt or exteriorised stammer which causes him to get stuck at the start of a word and repeat the initial letter. Former politician, Ed, didn’t realise he had a stammer until he was already serving in Gordon Brown’s government. He has a covert stammer and describes it as a “block” which means the right words don't always come. He reveals the impact it had on political life when his rivals used it to rock the public’s confidence in him and the moment he knew he had to go public. Presenter: Emma Tracey Producer: Alex Collins Editor: Beth Rose Sound: Dave O’Neill and Daniel Gordon
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Over the past five years, Elliot Caswell has let the BBC follow him as he searched for his first job after leaving college, but so far he’s faced nothing but barriers.
That frustration has coincided with the publication of a House of Lords report into how the transition from education to work could be improved for young disabled people.
Stephen Veevers, CEO of HFT, an organisation which helps disabled people prepare for employment, gives his thoughts on the report and offers some success stories too.
Plus, when Norwegian gamer Mats Steen died aged 25 his parents feared their son had lived a lonely life as a result of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. But, when they posted a final update on his blog they were inundated with messages.
Mats, it turned out, had lived a full and vibrant life online. Emma speaks with his parents – Trude and Robert – and two of his online friends - Xenia and her autistic son Mikkel - who learned to connect with each other with Mats’s help. Now a Netflix movie is set to be released on 25 October, about Mat's extraordinary, hidden life.
Presented by Emma TraceyProduced by Daniel Gordon and Emma TraceyEdited by Beth Rose
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Teen drama Heartstopper has gained a huge following on Netflix and the third series, which has just dropped, is no different. This time the love story between Nick and Charlie comes with the added complexity of Charlie’s eating disorder. It’s a challenge many LGBTQ+ people face. According to the charity Just Like Us, 20% of young LGBTQ+ teenagers experience an eating disorder compared to 7% of non-LGBTQ+ young people. Why are the numbers so different? Writer and broadcaster Matthew Todd, an expert on mental health issues affecting gay men explores the reasons behind this and James Downs, a gay man and researcher, talks about his own experience of an eating disorder in his teens. Plus author Liz Pichon talks about her best-selling Tom Gates series which has sold 16-million copies and is a hit with dyslexic children and reluctant readers. Liz talks frankly about her own experience of dyslexia and slips in a few easter eggs along the way revealing what Tom might get up to next…. Presented by Emma TraceyProduced by Alex Collins and Emma TraceySound recorded and mixed by Dave O’NeillEdited by Beth Rose The national eating disorder charity Beat has a helpline run by trained advisors for anybody who’s concerned they may need help with the issues discussed in this episode. The number is 0808 801 0677.
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This week, Access All lives up to its name - we’ve been granted permission to go inside MI5 and meet an autistic senior intelligence officer. Liam (not his real name and voiced by an actor) tells Emma Tracey what it’s like to work as a senior manager and the responsibility he feels for protecting public security. He reveals the moment he first experienced autistic burnout and the strategies he has learned to cope going forward. Liam goes on to describe the support he was offered by MI5 and his colleagues. The BBC’s Security Correspondent, Gordon Corera, also drops by to give the inside story on the role of Britain’s domestic intelligence agency and offers up some interesting spy stories from the past. Presenter: Emma TraceyProducer: Alex CollinsActor voicing Liam: Matthew McCloudMixed by Dave O'NeillEditors: Beth Rose and Daniel Gordon The Access All team love hearing from you. You can email [email protected] or find @bbcaccessall on X and Instagram.
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The opening weeks of the Lampard Inquiry into 2,000 mental health patient deaths in Essex have been devoted to so-called "impact statements" made by relatives of those who've died. The inquiry is expected to run until 2026. We hear from the BBC's East of England health correspondent Nikki Fox, who's been at the hearings on what it's like listening to such harrowing testimony. She also explains the background to the inquiry and what it's designed to achieve. Julia Hopper, the mother of Chris Nota, whose death aged 19 is being examined as part of the proceedings, tells Access All how she felt when she made her impact statement. We also hear from competitors taking part in next month's Cybathlon. The event pits developers and users of assistive tech against rival teams, and they use their devices to compete in contests and races. The University of Bath team share their hopes of triumph for the technology they've developed to read the brainwaves of a man whose lower body is paralysed, so he can move external objects.
Presenter Emma TraceyProducer Daniel GordonRecorded and mixed by Dave O'NeillEditors: Beth Rose and Damon Rose If you have been affected by any of the topics discussed in this episode you can visit BBC Actionline for more support. The Access All team love hearing from you. You can email [email protected] or find @bbcaccessall on X and Instagram.
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New research has revealed that the quality of life for some people with learning disabilities can decline after they hit the big 4-0.Manchester Metropolitan University researchers came across cases of people who were still being cared for by their parents and others who were being sent to bed at 5pm.
Emma Tracey asks lead researcher, Professor Sara Ryan why this is happening and what can be done to improve the situation.
Also in this episode, Labour’s Marie Tidball gives an insight into her early days in office as a high profile, newly-elected, disabled MP.
Presenter Emma TraceyProducers Daniel Gordon, Alex CollinsRecorded and Mixed by Dave O'NeillEditors: Beth Rose and Damon Rose
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Alison Lapper was pregnant with her son Parys when she famously – and controversially – posed naked for a statue that was displayed on Trafalgar Square’s fourth plinth in 2005. Alison was born with phocomelia, meaning she has no arms and shortened legs, and uses her mouth to create her artwork. Her career was tragically interrupted in 2019 when her son, Parys, died aged 19. He had developed severe mental health issues and died of an accidental overdose. In this moving interview, Alison tells Emma Tracey why it’s taken her five years to start to process her grief and the exhibition she has put together about her son, called Lost in Parys. She also talks about the making of Alison Lapper: In My Own Words - a new BBC documentary about her life which you can watch on BBC iPlayer. Presenter Emma TraceyProducer Daniel GordonMixed by Dave O’NeillEditors: Beth Rose and Ben Mundy If you have been affected by any of the topics discussed in this episodes you can visit BBC Actionline for more support. The Access All team love to hear from you. You can email [email protected] or find @bbcaccessall on X and Instagram.
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In the final episode from Paris, Emma is given privileged access to the athletes' village - and gets a tour of the Ottobock compound - the place where competitors can bring damaged disability equipment for repair.
From welding a wheelchair frame that got cracked in a rugby tackle to stitching the webbing that holds an athlete securely in their chair - the repair shop staff keep the show on the road.
Also in this episode - Paris-based wheelchair user and disability activist Deza Nguembock tells Emma what life's like for disabled people living in France - and whether hosting the Paralympics is likely to be a catalyst for change. And ParalympicsGB CEO David Clarke gives his verdict on the Games. Presenter Emma Tracey, assisted by Karen GolightlyParis Producer Beth RoseLondon Producer Daniel GordonMixed by Dave O’NeillEdited by Ben Mundy
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In the second episode from Paris, Emma meets with three gold medallists. Para-cyclist Kadeena Cox shares her highs and lows from the Games after winning the team sprint - but crashing out of the time trial. Grace Harvey reveals her joy at upgrading her silver in the pool from Tokyo 2020 to a gold. Plus, Ellie Challis shows off the gold she won in the women's S3 50m backstroke final with Emma. Presenter Emma TraceyParis Producer Beth RoseLondon Producer Daniel GordonMixed by Dave O’NeillEdited by Ben Mundy
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In the first of a series of special episodes recorded in Paris, Emma visits ParalympicsGB House. BBC Sport Presenter, Martin Dougan, provides a tour of the building described as a “home from home” for the British competitors and their families. Emma also takes a trip to La Défense Arena, where she meets fans and experiences some of the swimming events. Plus, she catches up with Callie-Ann Warrington, who won silver in the S10 100m women's butterfly final.
Presenter Emma TraceyParis Producer Beth RoseLondon Producer Daniel GordonMixed by Dave O’NeillEdited by Ben Mundy
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As the 17th summer Paralympic Games start in Paris, some of Great Britain’s athletes have been going the extra mile when it comes to training by working out in a heat chamber set to 40C. But it’s about more than just heat. Athletes with spinal cord injuries or limb differences don’t have the same surface area through which to sweat, so the chamber is also about seeing how their bodies adapt and recover. After every session, the sweat Hoover is brought out… Plus, Canadian filmmaker and activist, Kyla Harris, discusses her new BBC comedy, We Might Regret This. It follows Freya (played by Kyla) as she attempts to navigate moving to London and a romance with a silver fox lawyer. What could possibly go wrong…? Just a heads up, there is some stronger language than usual in this episode. Presented by Emma Tracey and Paul CarterProduced by Daniel Gordon, Claire Bates and Alex CollinsSound design and mixed by Dave O’NeillThe editors were Beth Rose and Ben Mundy Get in touch with the team by emailing [email protected] or find us on the socials @bbcaccessall
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Broadcaster and writer Stephen Fry has travelled to Ukraine to see how war is impacting the country’s mental health. He joins Lyse Doucet and Vitaly Shevchenko, from Access All’s sister podcast Ukrainecast, to discuss his new documentary ‘Stephen Fry into Ukraine’, in which he speaks to those affected and asks whether there is sufficient government support. He also reflects on his own struggles with mental health and why Ukraine matters to him. The producers were Arsenii Sokolov, Cordelia Hemming, Hatty Nash and Ivana Davidovic.The technical producers were Mike Regaard and Rohan Madison.The series producer is Tim Walklate. The senior news editor is Richard Fenton-Smith.Access All’s Emma Tracey also makes an appearance with team support from Dave O’Neill and Beth Rose. You can watch ‘Stephen Fry into Ukraine’ here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FO6ZJL26eM If you have been affected by any of the issues discussed in this episode you can visit BBC Action Line on www.bbc.co.uk/actionline Email [email protected] with your questions and comments. You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord
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As Edinburgh’s world famous arts festival continues, Emma Tracey takes to the stage at Dynamic Earth to host an episode in front of an audience. Adam Hills has presented The Last Leg for 12 years and has his face on an Australian postage stamp, but it’s only now he’s realising life is better when your “shoes are half full”. The comedian, who has a prosthetic foot, also gives the inside track on what he’ll be doing at the Paris Paralympics. Dan Tiernan has been winning all sorts of comedy awards and is making a huge name for himself as a dyspraxic comedian. But with constant mishaps – tripping over and losing items – he wonders whether there should be tax breaks for neurodivergent people. Plus they both reveal that receiving bad news is often good news for a comedian who has a show to write…something Dan discovered when he was recently diagnosed with gout at the tender age of 28… Recorded by, and with thanks, to the BBC Edinburgh Festivals teamMixed by Dave O’NeillProduced by Claire Bates and Alex CollinsThe Editors were Beth Rose and Ben Mundy Email: [email protected], find us on BBC Sounds and your smart speakers and follow us on X and Instagram as @bbcaccessall
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Edinburgh’s world famous arts festival is in full swing with Emma Tracey in the Scottish capital to put on a show at Dynamic Earth in front of an audience. Comedian and host of The Political Party podcast, Matt Forde, reflects on joining the disability club just 12 months ago after receiving life-changing news at last year’s Fringe. He also throws in a few impressions of politicians you’ll be very familiar with… And Blue Peter’s 42nd presenter, Abby Cook, gives us the lowdown on life as the first physically disabled presenter and the terrifying challenge she had to complete to get her badge... Recorded by, and with thanks to the BBC Edinburgh Festivals team.Mixed by Dave O’NeillProduced by Claire Bates and Alex CollinsThe Editors were Beth Rose and Ben Mundy Email: [email protected] and Google us for the latest transcript. Find us on BBC Sounds and smart speakers and follow us on X and Instagram - @bbcaccessall .
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