Access All: Disability News and Mental Health

From benefits to AI, Emma Tracey looks through the headlines with BBC tech reporter Paul Carter, as well as sharing a few unexpected stories from their personal lives as innocent-looking 'smugglers'.And comedian Rosie Jones with actor and reporter Ruben Reuter join Emma to talk about Pushers - the new Channel 4 sitcom written by Rosie about a disabled woman who becomes a drug pusher through desperation after losing her benefits money. Sound recording and mix: Dave O'Neill Producers: Alex Collins and Emma Tracey Series Producer: Beth Rose Editor: Damon Rose

The much-awaited government bill introducing benefits changes has been published today and officially introduced to parliament, kicking off the process of getting it into law.There were no surprises in the snappily-named Universal Credit and Personal Independent Payment Bill which outlined and confirmed the tightening of Pip eligibility and acknowledged the concession that there will be a 13-week transition period for those whose benefits are being withdrawn. Lots of you got in touch with questions about what this all means - so Access All presenter, Emma Tracey, BBC Social Affairs Correspondent Michael Buchanan and Yahoo News UK journalist, Jasmine Andersson, join up with BBC 5 Live Drive to answer them.Presenter: Emma Tracey Sound mix: Dave O’Neill Series Producer: Beth Rose Editor: Damon Rose And with special thanks to the Five Live Drive team, especially Kirsty Macaulay!

Emma Tracey explores how accessible beaches are if you are a wheelchair user, and how inclusive open water swimming is if you can't see. Some really useful and interesting info you won't want to miss in this chat with Will Behenna, Director of the Beach Access Project, and Sadie Rockliffe from the University of Brighton And Dr Grace Spence Green is the woman who was disabled when a man fell on her from a height at a shopping centre in London. She was 22-years-old and continued her studies to become a doctor. She has a new book out and says becoming disabled radicalised her. Presenter and producer Emma Tracey Sound design by Dave O'Neill Produced by Kirsteen Knight Series producer: Beth Rose Editor: Damon Rose And a special shout-out to our friends at BBC South East who got their toes wet by visiting the swimmers in Brighton.

Ever wondered what other people's therapy sessions are like? We meet a counsellor with her client and talk about the why and the how of building back the self esteem of a man who's had his legs amputated and wants to rejoin the dating scene. Plus ... is getting a wheelchair accessible taxi difficult in your area? Find out why Northern Island has lost a lot of cab drivers these last few years (Clue: Covid didn’t help). Presenter: Emma Tracey Sound: Dave O’Neill Producers: Kirsteen Knight and Alex Collins Series producer: Beth Rose Editor: Damon Rose

More than 100 influential disabled people have signed an open letter to Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, calling £5bn worth of benefit cuts, “cruel”.Screenwriter, Jack Thorne, behind hits including Adolescence and Toxic Town talks exclusively to Access All about why he signed the letter which dubs the planned reforms “cruelty by policy”. The Department for Work and Pensions says its “determined to support people in all parts of the county”. Also, we hear from author and The Guardian columnist, Frances Ryan about how a trip to the pub lead to her chronic illness and why her new book Who Wants Normal? The Disabled Girl’s Guide To Life is essential reading for everyone. Presented by Emma Tracey Produced by Alex Collins Sound recorded and mixed by Dave O’Neill Editors: Beth Rose and Damon Rose

Ellie Simmonds, a five-time Paralympic gold medalist and TV presenter, shares her insights on the urgent need for disability activism. She discusses recent protests in the UK and US, highlighting the impact of welfare cuts and challenges faced by activists. Ellie also introduces her documentary, 'Should I Have Children?', reflecting on the decisions of parents facing potential disabilities in their unborn children. The conversation delves into her own experiences and the broader societal pressures surrounding parenthood for those with disabilities.

Labour MP for Nottingham East, Nadia Whittome, cannot support the announced benefits changes and speaks to Emma Tracey about the experiences she has had as a disabled person herself. BBC's political correspondent Helen Catt walks us through whether government will face a significant challenge getting their legislation through parliament this summer, with other insights. Then, music from American artist, Gaelynn Lea, who's touring the UK. The discussion includes the folk singer and musician’s bespoke way of playing violin, like a cello rather than up on her shoulder.Sound recording and mixing by Dave O'Neill, producers Beth Rose and Alex Collins, the editor was Damon Rose. Spread the word loyal followers.

The dotty medium of Braille has just turned 200 years old. Famously invented by French boy, Louis Braille, it spread worldwide and became the way blind people were finally able to read. Access All's presenter Emma Tracey explains what she does with it and why she loves it whilst meeting interesting people who have used the medium in very interesting ways…including, Stevie Wonder. Presenter: Emma Tracey Producer: Adele Armstrong First broadcast on the BBC World Service April 2025.

There's a bit of a parental feel about this week's podcast. Two mums from Nottingham were categorised in a hospital computer system as having learning disabilities and, they say, received poor treatment as a result. Claire Whyte and Elizabeth Jones are autistic but their local NHS trust only has the ability to (inappropriately) categorise them as having a learning disability, because there is no neurodivergent box to tick on the system. They say they were spoken to in simplified language and had decisions about their care made without consulting them. As a result, they felt patronised and left out of their own maternity care. Presenter Emma Tracey speaks to them and we get a response from the NHS and the company, System C, who make the app. Emma also speaks to Jessica Slice, author of newly published and ironically titled book Unfit Parent: A Disabled Mother Challenges an Inaccessible World. In it she maintains that disabled people are unusually placed to have the skills to be parents. She says her life as someone with POTS and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, has made her more resilient, patient, tolerant of pain, and thinks disabled people shouldn't be written off as mums and dads ... and a whole lot more. Presenter: Emma Tracey Producer: Beth Rose Sound recording and mix: Dave O'Neill Editor: Damon Rose

This week we bring you inspiration and strategies for getting a job if you're disabled, with tips from two disabled people who have heaps of experience in this area. Should you disclose you're disabled on a job application form? Is there a better way to catch the eye of an employer? Or maybe you're thinking about heading down the self employment route cos you're sick of being rejected? Entrepreneur Liz Jackson MBE, and former disability consultant Phil Friend OBE speak with Emma Tracey. Liz tells how she set-up a business the same year she went blind. While Phil brings 35 years of speaking to employers and disabled people to the table. Some disabled people simply can't work and have to rely on benefits and others want and need nothing more than to be part of the workforce. We get it and we will be looking at this subject again soon from a different angle. Presenter: Emma Tracey Sound recording and mixer: Dave O'Neill. Editor: Damon Rose, Beth Rose Executive Editor: Emma Rippon