Access All: Disability News and Mental Health

Warning: This podcast discusses domestic abuse and sexual violence with occasional graphic content. Ebere* was 31 when she finally fled Nigeria for the UK to study, with hopes she had left domestic abuse behind. But a new relationship soon turned controlling, then violent and brought back memories of the sexual and physical abuse she had experienced as a child. As a black, disabled, queer woman, Ebere has experienced abuse throughout her life and struggled to find an accessible refuge when she needed it most. She hopes that by telling her story, and how she survived, it will help other women to leave abusive situations. Produced and presented by Keiligh Baker. *not her real name. If you, or someone you know, have been affected by domestic abuse or violence, the organisations listed on the links below may be able to help. If you are in immediate danger, you should dial 999. Visit the BBC Action Line page for Information and Support on Domestic Abuse: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3FQFSnx6SZWsQn3TJYYlFNy/information-and-support-domestic-abuse Or the BBC Action Line page for Information and Support on Sexual Abuse and violence: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/22VVM5LPrf3pjYdKqctmMXn/information-and-support-sexual-abuse-and-violence

Warning: This podcast discusses domestic abuse with occasional graphic content. Emma Dalmayne was just 17-years-old when she fled her abusive partner with her baby. Emma, who is autistic, has experienced violence at the hands of two ex-partners and has lived in a women's refuge. Saliha Rashid faced honour-based violence from her family. As a blind woman she thought they were being protective, until she went to university and realised their behaviour was abuse. It took her three attempts to escape. According to the statistics, disabled people are three times more likely to experience domestic abuse - but why is this? Emma, Saliha and Sara Cincurova, a journalist and former domestic abuse support worker, tell their stories and discuss what needs to be done to improve the situation. Presented by Keiligh Baker. If you, or someone you know, have been affected by domestic abuse or violence, the organisations listed on the links below may be able to help. If you are in immediate danger, you should dial 999.Visit the BBC Action Line page for Information and Support on Domestic Abuse or the BBC Action Line page for honour violence and forced marriage. Subscribe with BBC Sounds and say to your smart speaker "Ask the BBC for Ouch"

Seaneen has a bipolar diagnosis, so when she experienced sudden and severe anxiety after having baby Jack in January, the perinatal mental health team came straight away. A medication increase caused further difficulties and an infection landed her in A&E. Recovering now, she feels "robbed" of Jack’s first golden month and worries what impact it has had on him. Plus, we discuss how to talk to your child about Mummy or Daddy's mental health difficulties. And there’s another clanger from the Book of Awkward Questions. Presented by Mark Brown and Seaneen Molloy. Produced by Emma Tracey. Subscribe with BBC Sounds and say to your smart speaker "Ask the BBC for Ouch"Reach our presenters by email: ouch@bbc.co.uk

Our lockdown couple Kate and Holly adopted a toddler with restricted growth during the pandemic. She calms down around dogs, but does she really need therapeutic assistance from an animal? And we drop back in on Kate's story about living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome whilst mostly shielding. She has been offered an operation to help her endometriosis and wonders if she should have paid more attention to a diagnosis of something called FND. The podcast also witnesses Kate's first attempt at using hormone replacement gel as she wonders where to put it (Prepare for cheeky humor) If you've enjoyed this series and have any advice or thoughts to share with Kate, please email amy.elizabeth@bbc.co.uk Produced by Amy Elizabeth. Subscribe to Ouch's podcast on BBC Sounds or say "Ask the BBC for Ouch" to your smart speaker.

Model Lucy Dawson was just 21 when she was wrongly sectioned for three months. Doctors believed she was experiencing a mental health breakdown, but she later learned she had encephalitis – a rare but serious condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the brain in a situation called “friendly fire”. While in hospital, an accident on the psychiatric ward led Lucy to become permanently disabled. "At one point I really thought my life was over, I was so depressed," she says. "But somehow I managed to turn it around - I was so unlucky, but at the same time I'm so lucky to have persevered." Now a successful model and disability advocate, Lucy talks about her time in hospital, why she likes to make sure her mobility aids are pictured on lingerie shoots, and how she deals with online trolls. Presented and produced by Keiligh Baker. If you’d like to get in contact with the team, email ouch@bbc.co.uk. You can hear our latest podcast by saying “Ask the BBC for Ouch” to your smart speaker, plus you can listen and subscribe on the BBC Sounds app.

The day has finally arrived!After many months of lockdown we’re all finally allowed to meet friends and family – outside and in groups of six or as two households. For Kate, the relaxation means she can see her family, but will her mobility issues get in the way and prove problematic? And for transplant recipient wife Holly, who has been strictly shielding for most of the year, after so long apart will it all feel a bit overwhelming and too awkward to see Kate’s family?Will there be tears? And how tough will it be to not hug each other? Produced by Amy Elizabeth.Subscribe to Ouch's podcast on BBC Sounds or say "Ask the BBC for Ouch" to your smart speaker.

The UK has just marked one year since it officially went into its first Covid-19 lockdown. It’s the anniversary no one wanted.On this episode we discuss the highs and lows of those 365 days for disabled people across the country.Nikki Fox, the BBC’s disability correspondent, has spent the past year finding out how disabled people are managing in the pandemic and practicing her ukulele. She’s joined by Jonny Benjamin MBE, an author, vlogger and mental health campaigner who talks about the rollercoaster of emotions the pandemic brought up for him, and how he ended up in a psychiatric hospital in the middle of it. BBC Ouch producer and mum Emma Tracey chats about doing the online shop and what lockdown’s been like for blind and visually impaired people, while writer and campaigner Ciara Lawrence reveals what the pandemic has been like for people with learning disabilities - and why she wrote to Boris Johnson.Presented by Nikki Fox.Produced by Keiligh Baker.If you’d like to get in contact with the team, email ouch@bbc.co.uk.You can hear our latest podcast by saying “Ask the BBC for Ouch” to your smart speaker, plus you can listen and subscribe on the BBC Sounds app.

Kate Monahan has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and her wife Holly is a transplant recipient. Filling out the Census form should take 10 minutes they say but it prompted a big debate for this couple. Kate also provides some hot advice for teenage girls who have the same condition as her or who live with pain. If you have any questions you'd like to put to Kate or Holly please email the producer amy.elizabeth@bbc.co.uk Maybe you want to know more about adopting a disabled child? Or perhaps you have advice to pass on about how to entertain children that requires minimal physical energy from parents (yes please) or on navigating lockdown life. Drop us a mail. Produced by Amy Elizabeth. Subscribe to Ouch's podcast on BBC Sounds or say "Ask the BBC for Ouch" to your smart speaker.

Kate Monaghan has Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, her wife Holly is on immunosuppressants, their newly adopted daughter Gracie has dwarfism and four-year-old Scout is returning to school. Want to know what it's really like navigating the pandemic as a disabled family? Kate and Holly deliver the brutal honesty of parenting in a pandemic… Produced by Amy Elizabeth. Subscribe to Ouch's podcast on BBC Sounds or say "Ask the BBC for Ouch" to your smart speaker.

Recently journalist Lucy Webster wanted to join a matchmaking website but, before the company took her subscription fee, they warned she might find it difficult. Lucy was upset by the response and shared their email on social media. On this week's podcast we hear stories from disabled people who have used online dating agencies, as well as speaking to a representative from the industry. What should disabled people expect? Presented by Keiligh Baker. Produced by Drew Miller-Hyndman. Subscribe to the podcast on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts. And say “Ask the BBC for Ouch” to your smart speaker to hear our latest programme. Email ouch@bbc.co.uk if you have a story to tell us about online dating or anything else.