Access All: Disability News and Mental Health

Access All collaborates with BBC Radio 3 on an item about the Clarion, a musical instrument which can be played by anyone by anything - from fingers to Eyegaze technology. Our guests are Barry Farrimond-Chuong, the CEO of Open Up Music, who helped design the software instrument, and Alessandro Vazzana a player of the Clarion in the National Open Youth Orchestra who is enabled to chat with us by his mum, Anne.Do you find it hard getting a wheelchair through the traditional means? Nick Goldup from the Wheelchair Alliance talks about its latest report which uncovered a postcode lottery when it comes to wheelchair services. We meet 19-year-old Lachlan from Devon who has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and needs a wheelchair most of the time, but he's been waiting nearly a year for a chair that fits him properly.And at 24, Ellie Middleton was diagnosed as being autistic and having ADHD. Her book Unmasked talks about why women and girls often get diagnosed late in life, and how she felt vindicated that she wasn't a bad person - something she had come to believe.Presenters: Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey. Recorded and mixed by MC Dave O'Neill. And Produced by Beth Rose, Alex Collins, Hayley Clarke and Emma Tracey. The Editor is Damon Rose, Senior Editor Sam Bonham."Alexa, ask the BBC for Access All" plays the latest edition of the programme. Follow us on X, formerly Twitter, @BBCAccessAll and on old-fashioned email we're access.all@bbc.co.uk

We head to Cologne, Germany, where we catch-up with the man they dubbed the parastronaut - former Paralympian and surgeon John McFall. He was recruited by the European Space Agency one year ago to work out how space travel might be different for disabled people. He tells us about his findings so far and we ask about recent headlines which claim his prosthetic leg would poison those aboard a space station. Gogglebox's Simon Minty, and former host of Ouch, joins us and chats about growing up with his non-disabled sister and fellow Goggleboxer Jane and how in recent years he has been competing at the World Dwarf Games…and winning medals! Plus Nikki Fox, host and BBC Disability Correspondent, is given 60 seconds to round-up the latest benefits situation introduced in the chancellor's Autumn Statement. Presenters: Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey. Recorded and mixed by DJ Dave O'Neill. Produced by Alex Collins, Emma Tracey and Damon Rose. Edited by Beth Rose, senior editor is Sam Bonham. Find us on BBC Sounds every week and subscribe there, or wherever you get your podcasts. Holler "Alexa, ask the BBC for Access All". Contact us by email: accessall@bbc.co.uk and follow us on X, formerly twitter, on @bbcaccessall.

Actor Ruth Madeley plays wheelchair-using Shirley Anne Bingham in the first of three Doctor Who anniversary specials, with the first one kicking off on Saturday 25 November. Joining her is super-fan Tom Harries, known as Tharries on his YouTube channel. The surprises are being kept tightly under wraps so take a listen to see if you think Ruth has given away any clues to die-hard followers of the blue police box. Shadow disability minister Vicky Foxcroft joins us to talk about her vision for improving the lives of disabled people. From education to cost of living, mental health act reforms and more, see how her plans differ from those currently out there and overseen by Tom Pursglove, her opposite in government who we spoke to a few weeks ago. Plus, with the new series of I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here having just hit our screens, which reality show would Nikki be able to do? Our two presenters kick this about with some surprising revelations. Presented by Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey. Recorded and mixed by DJ Dave O'Neill. Produced by Beth Rose, Alex Collins, Betty Douglas and Emma Tracey. The editor is Damon Rose, the senior editor Sam Bonham. The podcast drops late every Monday evening, subscribe on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts. Also, say "Alexa, ask the BBC for Access All" and you'll hear our very latest episode. We are @bbcaccessall on the X platform - follow us like a baby bear cub follows its mom. Doctor Who is 60 this week, and the first of three anniversary episodes go out on BBC One and iPlayer on Saturday 25 November.

Harry Potter stuntman, David Holmes, opens up about his life-changing accident when he dislocated his spinal cord on the set of The Deathly Hallows Part 1, leading to paralysis. He also talks about his firm friendship with Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe. There’s a lot going on at the heart of government – and that’s not including the government shuffle. The BBC has uncovered potential benefit changes for people who are unable to work due to health conditions. Social affairs correspondent Michael Buchanan, who got the scoop, fills us in. And Mental Health Act reforms failed to be included in the King’s Speech at the Opening of Parliament which sets out the government’s priorities. What does that mean for the 40-year-old Act widely thought to need an update? Olly Parker from the charity Young Minds breaks it down for us. Presented by Emma Tracey and Nikki Fox. Recorded and mixed by Dave O’Neill. Producers are Beth Rose, Emma Tracey and Alex Collins. The editor is Damon Rose. Senior editor, Sam Bonham. Follow us on X - @bbcaccessall or email accessall@bbc.co.uk. You can hear the latest edition on Alex by telling Alexa “Ask the BBC for Access All”. A transcript of this programme is available too – best found by googling it.

This week we look at the challenges and financial risks of using the Equality Act when it comes to transport services. Anna Lawson, professor of law at University of Leeds, and Tim McSharry who volunteers with Access Use-Ability Group give us their insights. We talk to 17-year-old Ava Jolliffe, an artist and clothes designer who has found her way onto this year's Disability Power 100 list. She is deafblind with other complex needs and uses bright colours and designs that work for everyone. Kirkmoore is a new short comedy film about a residential six form college for disabled young people for BBC Three. Writer Andrew Bogle joins us, as does actor Keron Day who also appears in the latest season of Sex Education on Netflix. Presented by Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey. Mixed by Dave O'Neill. Producers are: Bethan Ashmead, Alix Pickles, Emma Tracey and Beth Rose. The editor is Damon Rose, Senior Editor: Sam Bonham. Follow and contact Nikki on @bbcaccessall on the X platform. And don't forget you can hear the latest edition by telling Alexa "Ask the BBC for Access All". A transcript of this programme is available on the BBC site, best found by googling it.

Paying by card is simple for most of us, but for some visually impaired people, newer, touch screen card readers can be a problem. RNIB’s Dave Williams tells us about the challenges as well as the workarounds. And lawyer Chris Fry joins us to explain where we stand legally.We have Georgina Rose back with us, Strictly Come Dancing’s first live audio describer. She shares all her behind-the-scenes secrets with us, from how she preps to commentate on the sequins and how to squeeze in a speedy bathroom break. And there’s a new kids show in town, MixMups uses stop-motion animation to reframe disabled characters and stories for the next generation. Nikki and Emma catch up with the show’s creator Rebecca Atkinson and get introduced to Pockets, Giggle and Spin.Presented by Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey. Mixed by Gareth Jones. Produced by Emma Tracey, Drew Hyndman, Bethan Ashmead, Beth Rose and Alix Pickles. The editor is Damon Rose and the senior editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.Subscribe on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts. Say "Alexa, ask the BBC for Access All". Email accessall@bbc.co.uk and on X we're @BBCAccessAll.

We meet actor Eloise Pennycott from BBC Three's Phoenix Rise. She lost her hearing four years ago and now, at 18, is one of the sparkiest deaf/disabled people we've come across for a while. She talks about her character Daisy who she describes in unflattering terms but loves playing. We look at the latest statistics for disability hate crime in England and Wales, with Ali Gunn, head of policy at the charity United Response which campaigns against disability hate crime, and Mark Brooks from social care provider, Dimensions, who also shares his personal experience. And we catch-up with the people of York who are overjoyed that Blue Badge parking will return to the city centre. We also look at your feedback about how easy – or not – it is to weigh yourself. Presented by Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey. Recorded and mixed by Dave O'Neill. Produced by Beth Rose, Alix Pickles, Emma Tracey and Drew Hyndman. The editor is Damon Rose and the senior editor is Jonathan Aspinwall. Subscribe on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts. Say "Alexa, ask the BBC for Access All". mail accessall@bbc.co.uk and on X we're @BBCAccessAll.

Minister for Disabled People, Tom Pursglove, joins Nikki Fox In the studio to talk about what he’s been up to since taking over the role in 2022. They go deep into topics including work, benefits and his love of cricket… If politics isn’t your thing, reality TV might be. Jay from the latest series of Married At First Sight joins Nikki and Emma Tracey to talk the three L’s – love, Luke and limb difference. Recorded and mixed by Dave O’Neill. Produced by Beth Rose, Alix Pickles and Drew Hyndman. Editor is Damon Rose and exec editor is Jonathan Aspinwall. “Alexa, play Access All form the BBC” is one way of hearing our latest show, and making sure you subscribe on BBC sounds is another. Email the team on accessall@bbc.co.uk

When Lizzie posted on Facebook that she hasn’t been able to weigh herself for 22 years, including through three pregnancies, it sparked our interest about access to scales. Gillian also told us she’s been trying to keep check of her weight during a health kick but it’s been months since she was last able to get on scales. And Dr Georgie Budd offers some thoughts and suggestions around this dilemma. We talk emotional support animals after an incident in Florida where one particularly scary example was banned from a ball game. And the cruelly named Elephant Man, Joseph Merrick, is depicted on stage like never before courtesy of young actor Zak Ford-Williams who has cerebral palsy but doesn't use prosthetics or alter his facial appearance. Recorded and mixed by Dave O’Neill. Produced by Alix Pickles, Drew Hyndman, Emma Tracey and Beth Rose. Editor is Damon Rose, and exec editor is Jonathan Aspinwall. "Alexa, play Access All from the BBC" is one way of hearing our latest show, and making sure you subscribe on BBC Sounds is another. email the presenters Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey now: accessall@bbc.co.uk

Access All joins forces with The Climate Question this week to explore an important global issue. About 16 percent of the world’s population is thought to be disabled, but they are still 2 to 4 times more likely to be injured or killed in a natural disaster than those who are not disabled. Emma Tracey, from the BBC’s Access All podcast, investigates for The Climate Question, meeting disabled people who have dealt with extreme weather events first hand. As well as those who are researching and enforcing change, even in the places you’d least expect it Emma is joined by: Sébastien Jodoin, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Law of McGill University, Canada Kera Sherwood-O'Regan, an Indigenous and disabled climate justice advocate, New Zealand Gaele Sobott, writer, living in Sydney, Australia Kemi Yemi-Ese, visual artist from Austin Texas, US Setareki Macanawai CEO, Pacific Disability Forum based in Fiji Presenter: Emma Tracey, BBC Access All Producers: Octavia Woodward and Jordan Dunbar Series Producer: Simon Watts Editor: China Collins Sound Engineer: Nigel Appleton Production Coordinators: Sophie Hill, Jacqui Johnson