Access All: Disability News and Mental Health

Lucy Edwards, well known influencer and star of TV shampoo commercials (among many other things), joins Emma Tracey to talk about her new book for children Ella Jones Versus The Sun Stealer. While together the two women, both of whom are blind, talk about wide-ranging subjects from beauty hacks and disability politics to Lucy's exciting new business venture. Plus Lucy talks openly about the genetic condition she has, incontinentia pigmenti, and how she and her husband are going through an IVF process in order to decrease the risk of passing it on. Sound recording and Mix: Dave O'Neill Editor: Beth Rose

Sir Stephen Timms, the minister for Social Security and Disability talks to Emma Tracey about the proposed £5bn worth of welfare cuts the government recently announced.The Minister explains the Labour government’s thought process around the planned changes which include tightening up eligibility for Personal Independence Payment and explains why people under the age of 22 will no longer get the health top-up to Universal Credit.Sir Stephen also reacts to news that Disabled and Deaf People's Organisations (DPPO) are considering stepping back from working with him as a result of the plans.Presented by Emma Tracey Produced by Alex Collins Sound mixed by Mike Regaard Edited by Beth Rose and Damon Rose

Suspended Labour MP, John McDonnell, talks to Access All about the distress he feels over the benefit cuts outlined in March's Spring Statement. Having had the whip removed last summer he hopes to be restored to the party he joined 50 years ago but says he is "praying" his former colleagues rethink the plans and U-turn. The benefit cuts mean there have been a lot of numbers flying about. Finance journo, Felicity Hannah, who presents BBC radio shows, Money Box and Wake Up To Money, breaks it all down for us and outlines what the changes could mean for you and your wallet, and where to go to get personalised help. Plus we hear from actress and deaf advocate Rose Ayling-Ellis and deaf series producer Camilla Arnold about their new BBC documentary, Old Hands, New Tricks, where they aim to teach residents at a retirement home how to use British Sign Language. It's available right now on BBC iPlayer. Presented by Emma Tracey Produced by Alex Collins and Beth Rose Sound recorded and mixed by Dave O'Neill Edited by Damon Rose and Beth Rose

Nigel has lived with paranoid schizophrenia for decades, navigating "tormenting voices" and spending time in secure units and prison. He talks to Emma Tracey about his life, managing the condition and the importance of his friendship with Andy, who we also meet. Lucy Schonegevel from Rethink Mental Health reflects on Nigel's story and brings us up to date on reforms to the Mental Health Act, expected later this year, which might improve the experiences of people with schizophrenia. Last week, government changes to disability benefits grabbed the headlines. One grant scheme that didn't get the limelight was Access To Work. Angela Mathews from the Business Disability Forum gives us the lowdown on what's happening with that while BBC Transport Correspondent, Sean Dilley, pops in to talk about a select committee report which described the experience of many disabled people on public transport as a "national embarrassment". Emma also gets out and about on the London Underground to find out how a new Chatty Cabin scheme is helping commuters with their mental health. Produced by: Daniel Gordon and Alex Collins Recorded and mixed by: Dave O'Neill Edited by Beth Rose and Damon Rose

Billy Monger's ambition to become a professional racing driver looked like it had come to a serious and tragic end when a crash on the track aged 17 resulted in both his legs being amputated - one above knee, one below. Talking with Emma Tracey, he looks back at how life changed after the accident, and the challenges he's put himself through since then. After breaking it to his parents his racing career wasn't over, he was back on the track within months. Since then he's raced in F3, taken part in BBC Two's Celebrity Race Across the World and most recently the Iron Man challenge - which is the subject of a new BBC documentary on iPlayer this week. PRODUCERS: DANIEL GORDON, ALEX COLLINS PRESENTER: EMMA TRACEY EDITORS: BETH ROSE, DAMON ROSE SOUND RECORDING AND MIX: DAVE O'NEILL

What will the welfare reforms announced by the government on Tuesday mean for disabled people who claim benefits?In this emergency episode, Emma Tracey tries to find out by talking to the BBC’s Disability Correspondent Nikki Fox, two claimants of disability benefits - Ellen Clifford and Justine Stamp - and to Arun Veerappan of the Disability Policy Centre. PRODUCERS: DANIEL GORDON, ALEX COLLINS PRESENTER: EMMA TRACEY EDITOR: DAMON ROSE SOUND RECORD AND MIX: DAVE O’NEILL

BBC research has revealed that nearly a third of child claimants of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) have been rejected for adult benefits when they turn 16. BBC Data Unit reporter Joanna Morris has been investigating to find out why this is happening, and shares that many rejections come because the forms are addressed to the teenagers who try to complete the paperwork themselves. That includes Holly Crouch. Holly, who has epilepsy, tells Access All she was turned down for Personal Independence Payment at 16 because she had written on her form that she could cook - even though the risk of seizures meant she could never use the cooker without supervision. Also on the programme - Jonny Heaver, fresh from being fired as a contestant on The Apprentice, gives an exit interview and talks about living with a facial difference. PRESENTER: Emma Tracey PRODUCERS: Daniel Gordon, Alex Collins EDITORS: Beth Rose, Ben Mundy SOUND RECORDING AND MIX: Dave O’Neill

Polly Crosby opens up about living with the life limiting condition cystic fibrosis. As a newborn, she was the first person in the world to test positive for CF through a heel prick test. Being diagnosed so early helped her mother manage her condition but many of her childhood friends died very young. And she’s been reflecting on that period in her latest novel, The Vulpine.Also in this episode, we hear complaints that maternity services don’t give equal care to wheelchair users.Plus, could comedy become available at the doctor’s? We explore.And we end with a tribute to our former colleague and GB Volleyball squad member, Kat Hawkins, who recently died. PRESENTER: Emma Tracey PRODUCERS: Daniel Gordon, Alex Collins EDITORS: Beth Rose, Ben Mundy SOUND RECORDING AND MIX: Dave O’Neill

To mark the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we catch-up with Oleksii and Raisa who previously spoke to Access All. Oleksii has learning disabilities and, after initially re-locating to Denmark, returned to his group home in Ukraine a few months ago. Raisa runs a nearby respite centre for disabled people.And we hear from Sara Cincurova, a human rights journalist, who has recently visited a specialist school in Ukraine for disabled children.This episode also shines a spotlight on teen actress Niamh Moriarty, who has cerebral palsy and was thrilled to break away from the stereotype of disabled characters and play a bully in her new film, September Says.Plus we hear how surf therapy is becoming a craze for the over 50s in Wales with mental health challenges.PRESENTER: Emma Tracey PRODUCERS: Daniel Gordon, Alex Collins EDITORS: Beth Rose, Ben Mundy SOUND RECORDING & MIX: Dave O’Neill

Corie Mapp, a double leg amputee, is fresh from winning gold at the Para-bobsleigh World Championships in Switzerland. Corie took up the sport after he was injured in Afghanistan and says “going down an ice chute in a bath tub” has given him a fresh perspective on disability and risk. Also on this episode, a suicide charity which runs the UK’s only 24-hour phone line staffed by trained, paid, call handlers, says it’s desperately short of funding. Emma Tracey talks to Francesca, a long-term user of Papyrus who credits the service with saving her life, and CEO Ged Flynn. And Chantal Nasseri, the Access Coordinator for the Hollywood film Wicked, describes how she made every aspect of the production accessible, from transport to costumes. Presenter: Emma Tracey Producers: George Sharpe, Daniel Gordon, Alex Collins Recorded and mixed: Dave O’ Neill Editors: Beth Rose, Ben Mundy