Access All: Disability News and Mental Health

With record temperatures bearing down on London, Adam Gabsi has been stuck in his flat for 12 days. The musician with multiple sclerosis (MS) uses a wheelchair but hasn’t been able to leave his sixth-floor flat because the lifts are broken. In an Access All exclusive, Scope reveals the extent disabled people experience negative attitudes when they’re out and about, in its biggest ever survey. Naomi tells Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey about the threat to tip her out of her wheelchair while Shani recounts how she deals with unwanted filming. And actress and TV presenter Samantha Renke reveals she is now a media triple-threat as she becomes a published author.Produced by Beth Rose, Keiligh Baker and Emma Tracey Recorded and mixed by Dave O’Neill The editors were Damon Rose and Jonathan Aspinwall

As the UK braces for record temperatures how do disabled people cool down in a heatwave? Jo Southall talks about the "body armour" she wears to keep her core cool while Dr Katherine Fletcher says the UK's infrastructure needs to be improved to cope with rising temperatures. Tim Renkow, comedian and writer of BBC Three's Jerk, talks to us about his character who likes nothing better than winding up non-disabled people - big time. With Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey Produced by Beth Rose, Keiligh Baker and Emma Tracey Recorded and mixed by Dave O'Neill The editors were Damon Rose and Jonathan Aspinwall

In a mindfully politics-free zone this week, disabled actress Melissa Johns talks about her "worst nightmare" coming to fruition when nude photos of her were leaked online. The Coronation Street star reveals how she managed to take ownership of that moment and turn it into a successful and funny one-woman show. Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey chat about their high street habits and why it's hard to be a shopaholic if shopping is inaccessible. Plus founder of SEND Coffee, Harry George, gives some simple solutions to help businesses find their way to wooing more disabled customers ... so they wil happily spend more money. Produced by Beth Rose and Keiligh Baker Recorded and mixed by Dave O'Neill The editors were Damon Rose and Jonathan Aspinwall

As LGBT Pride month makes way for Disability Pride Month, UCAS exclusively reveals to Access All that disabled students are twice as likely to identify as LGBT. Connor, a trans man, and Lucy, a lesbian, talk about the positive experiences they've had of finding their communities while studying, but also the challenges they've experienced, like inaccessible venues. Emma Tracey and Martin Dougan take the show on the road to give blind tennis a go (watch out for the video on social media) to see if they're Wimbledon ready. And disabled dancer, Kate Stanforth, talks about re-imagining her ballet career after she became a wheelchair-user and getting her students to tap dance…with their hands. Produced by Beth Rose and Keiligh Baker Recorded and mixed by Dave O'Neill The editors were Damon Rose and Jonathan Aspinwall

After a rough few weeks for disabled air passengers, Access All learns insurance caps on damaged wheelchairs could be removed As Glastonbury Festival gets under way, guest presenter Martin Dougan relives the time he braved the mosh pit in his wheelchair when seeing The Prodigy. And Live At The Apollo comedian, Chris McCausland, gives Martin and Emma the backstage gossip on TV panel shows and why failing a job interview for MI5 was probably for the best. Produced by Beth Rose and Keiligh Baker Recorded and mixed by Dave O'Neill The editors were Damon Rose and Jonathan Aspinwall

Being in a mental health crisis is an already distressing experience, yet for hundreds of patients the situation is made worse when sent away from home for treatment due to a lack of beds. Experts call it an "inhumane" practice which was meant to stop in 2021, so why is it still happening? American singer, Lizzo, made headlines around the world when an ableist slur featured on her latest track, Grrrls. Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey get to grips with what that really means and the impact such insults have had over the years. And actor Arthur Hughes, whose credits include Then Barbara Met Alan and The Archers, talks about becoming the first disabled actor to play the ultimate (disabled!) villain, Richard III, for the Royal Shakespeare Company. Produced by Beth Rose, Keiligh Baker and Alix Pickles Recorded and mixed by Dave O'Neill The editors were Damon Rose and Jonathan Aspinwall

As singer Kate Bush climbs the charts once again, disabled super-fan Nikki Fox reveals she believes dancing to Bush's music helped her keep walking for longer than she expected. Nikki and Emma Tracey chat about Love Island's first deaf contestant while trying not to play Top Trumps with their disabilities. And, getting serious, as the cost of living crisis begins to bite, Rob tells Access All the impact on his mental health and the strategies he uses to cope with it. Produced by Beth Rose and Keiligh Baker Recorded and mixed by Dave O'Neill The editors were Damon Rose and Jonathan Aspinwall.

Disabled people who live in high-rise flats reveal to Access All their fear of not being able to escape from a fire after the government turns down mandatory evacuation plans that were recommended by the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. Joe Kimber says "the fear of being cremated alive is horrendous" while Sarah Rennie, who runs campaign group Claddag, says "a lot of disabled people across the country are very frightened". They talk about their personal experiences and how they plan to fight the decision. Blind TikTok star Lucy Edwards joins Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey to talk about her latest fashion campaign, how her two million followers accidentally got her in the dance music chart, and her hopes for future motherhood. Produced by Beth Rose and Keiligh Baker Recorded and mixed by Dave O'Neill The editors were Damon Rose and Jonathan Aspinwall.

After the BBC's Frank Gardner was left on a plane at Heathrow Airport waiting for his wheelchair to be returned to him upon landing - we ask, why does this keep happening to wheelchair-users? Nikki and Emma explain the very complex and very Covid reasons behind it and reveal some possible solutions that might be coming your way soon. We also hear from wheelchair-users who join in with Frank's annoyance. Aidy Smith was a successful child actor until he developed Tourette's Syndrome and the industry stopped booking him for jobs. With a bit of imagination and a knowledge of drinks he developed and produced the hit TV show, The Three Drinkers. He reveals the highs, lows and horrors of schooling at a time when little was known about Tourette's, and he talks about his brand new documentary which busts myths surrounding the condition Presented by Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey. Produced by Beth Rose and Keiligh Baker With thanks to Mary Doyle and her wheelchair and airport knowledge. The editors were Damon Rose and Jonathan Aspinwall.

The number of blind and visually impaired people who say they have fallen from train station platforms onto rail tracks is shocking, and something Access All explores this week.It follows the death of Cleveland Gervais who died in 2020. He fell from a London platform into the path of a train. A recent inquest ruled his death an "accident" but found the lack of tactile paving on the platform edge contributed "more than minimally" to his death.Artur Otega reveals his own harrowing story. He and his guide dog, Mercer, fell onto the rails at a busy London station which didn't have tactile paving. "The guide dog was screaming," he says, with a train just moments away. We ask what's being done to stop these incidents happening again.It's also Mental Health Awareness Week with a focus on loneliness. Sophie Potter, who has Down's syndrome, talks candidly about her experience of loneliness following a bereavement and the closure of her day centre during the pandemic. She also gives Nikki a glimpse into the world of modelling following her recent shoot with Cosmopolitan magazine. With Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey.This week's Access All was made by Beth Rose and Keiligh Baker. The technical producer was Dave O'Neill. The editors were Damon Rose and Jonathan Aspinwall.