Access All: Disability News and Mental Health

Caitlin Leigh and Brinston Tchana were both young adults when they became disabled and started using wheelchairs. Caitlin loved experimenting with her hair before developing alopecia, at which point she shaved it all off. She started using a wheelchair to remain safe when she has a seizure. Brinston was about to sign as a professional footballer when he was paralysed in a car crash.Both felt their identities had been stripped away when they became disabled and were fed up of people looking at them, so they decided to get into fashion and really give people something to stare at. It’s lead to top modelling jobs for them. This podcast might be about fashion but it's the deepest disability dive you'll hear before 2020 arrives. Enjoy. Presented by Natasha Lipman.

Sinead Burke is all about fashion and equality and in September appeared on the front cover of British Vogue. At three and a half feet tall, she is a fair few notches below average height and describes herself as a "little person". Find out what happens when you are too short to be able to reach up and lock the toilet door behind you? Or what if the most fashionable choice of clothes you have are in the children's department and have "Daddy's Little Princess" written on them? In this month's Ouch podcast from the BBC, Sinead explains how she has used people's interest in fashion to shine a light on inclusive design in public spaces and equality generally and how it has led to other opportunities and the launch of her own podcast. Inspiration is a hideously over-used word when talking about disabled people but I think we can safely say this is a genuinely uplifting listen which gives plenty of great ideas, different ways of looking at life and, if you are disabled, it may well stoke your self esteem a little. One of the hosts of our programme, Simon Minty, is also a little person which lets us dive deep into areas most interviewers wouldnt' think to ask which also brings plenty of wicked humour. With Kate Monaghan and Simon Minty Ouch is on BBC Sounds and available on your smart speaker by yelling "ask the BBC for Ouch".

Migraines are so much more than a headache according to Rachel Creeger. In a fascinating discussion with the comedian, we hear how her various identities impact on her – that’s being disabled, Jewish and a woman. But also, that the disabling form of migraine she has is also linked to her senses, speech and her ability to play musical instruments among other things. Our reporter Emma Tracey caught up with Creeger back in the summer after her run at the Edinburgh Fringe. Photo credit: Ruth Bloch Email: ouch@bbc.co.uk or find us on Twitter @bbcouch Rachel’s condition feels like one of those things which people probably sit at home frantically Googling about so here are some keywords from the podcast audio to help search engines find out more about this unusual collection of symptoms.atypical hemiplegic migraine with prolonged aura, plucking hair, shot in head, stabbing pain, synesthesia, migraine, headache, words, trigger, sounds, smells, Myelin sheaths, genetic disorder, neurological, inherited migraine, MS, onomatopoeia.

Souleyman Bah was the first disabled contestant on BBC One's The Apprentice.But just three weeks into the season he was fired by Lord Sugar and told he was “brave” for being there - how did he feel when he was served up with that cliche from the famous businessman? And what was it like behind the scenes?(*)The Vacuum Cleaner, aka James Leadbitter, has run his mental health project Madlove for five years. It’s all about giving people a say in what their care should look and feel like. He tells Ouch about his new project where he has taken over a former branch of Argos in St Helens, Merseyside, and turned it into a mental health sanctuary, complete with its own blend of tea.How hard is it to be green when you’re disabled and have to use more taxis and avoid the easy to use products with throwaway packaging, for instance. Sam Little gives us some tips and tricks on being environmentally friendly.And we take a wry look at the newly published power list of disabled people from Shaw Trust. Presented by Kate Monaghan and Simon Minty. Spread the word, subscribe to us on your BBC Sounds app and say "Ask the BBC for Ouch" to your smart speaker to play the latest episode.(*) On the podcast, Souleyman said his top moments hadn't made the final edit on The Apprentice. It was also suggested he needed more support. In a statement from The Apprentice, a spokesman says: “The team worked hard to ensure that appropriate measures were taken throughout the production process and one-to-one support was given to Souleyman during tasks to enable him to participate in the process fairly alongside the other candidates. Production continually worked with Souleyman to decide upon and ensure the appropriate adjustments were made at every stage, both in the house and whilst on task.”

Bella Parkhouse is a typical teenager. She spends her time juggling college, a part-time job and seeing friends. But she's also among the 10% of people who live with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) under the age of 18. Bella tells us how she navigates treatments and medication as well as managing her social life and chronic fatigue. She's also had to confront a few bullies along the way but remains determined not to let MS dictate her life... especially when, she admits, she experiences FOMO - a Fear Of Missing Out. Bella's mum, Sarah, also gives a few top tips for parents on how to support your child with a chronic illness. Presented by Niamh Hughes and Emma Tracey. A full transcript will appear here soon.Listen to Ouch regularly on BBC Sounds or tell your smart speaker: "Ask the BBC for Ouch".

When Damon's guide dog DeeBee visits the vet for a check-up there is some unexpected news.He is weighed and found to be 5kg overweight - that's slightly more than your average cat.Damon must get DeeBee back to a healthy weight or risk having him temporarily taken away while he is slimmed down.So what can you do when your guide dog gets out of shape?Find out in the latest edition of Ouch - the irreverent disability talk podcast from BBC News.With Damon Rose, Niamh Hughes and Beth Rose.Listen to Ouch regularly on BBC Sounds or tell your smart speaker: "Ask the BBC for Ouch".

Comedian Joe Wells talks about the one time in his life that making eye contact with another human being wasn't uncomfortable. Recently diagnosed as autistic, he also explains why he has to block out men's voices by playing loud music in his headphones.Also on the podcast: Sarah Collins tells the story of the OCD moment where she strongly believes she's swallowed an entire packet of paracetamol. And Tom Leeds on how an accident obliterated all of his childhood memories until hearing an '80s song brought some of them back. To hear our podcast regularly, tell your smart speaker: "Ask the BBC for Ouch" or find it on your BBC Sounds app.Produced by Ed Morrish and the Ouch team.

When we put three disabled comedians together round a picnic table we hadn’t banked on hearing one of the best disability love stories we’ve ever heard. We're a hard-bitten cynical bunch at Ouch sometimes but this was a beautiful moment from Spring Day about her relationship with BBC Three's one and only Jerk, Tim Renkow. The story packs even more of a punch when you find out about her history and how much fun they’ve been having as a couple ever since. Features the "catholic cure for stammering", body positivity and more in the podcast that does disability differently - almost like it's normal. With Jon Long and Aidan Greene. Presented by Kate Monaghan and Simon Minty, Produced by Emma Tracey and recorded at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2019.

Life can be a bit different if you're disabled or have a mental health difficulty, but sometimes it is just be plain hilarious. Andy Duffy, Sajeela Kershi and Janine Hammond take to the stage at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to tell true stories on the theme of Lost and Found. From Andy's missing wheelchair battery which almost sparked the evacuation of a London museum, to Sajeela's recent hearing loss which meant she mistook a rude, insulting man, for someone paying her a compliment. Reece Finnegan, who's blind, wakes up hungover and without any of his possessions in his boss' house, and must somehow find his way out. Then there's Janine Hammond who lost her nipples, twice. First to cancer, then to showbiz. This is the first episode of BBC Ouch: Storytelling Live 2019, hosted by comedian Chris McCausland. Subscribe to Ouch on BBC Sounds. Like us, rate us and leave a nice review - this helps others find our programmes. Email ouch@bbc.co.uk Tweet @bbcouch or find us on Facebook.

Everyone in the theatre company Elektric Apple has a learning disability.Using important themes from life, like mental health, sexuality and loneliness, they tell stories in their own words.We sat down with actors Carl and John and their director Andrew Sinclair to talk about what they love most about performing and the message they want to spread with their productions.Presented by Niamh HughesRecorded at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe - @bbcouch