Access All: Disability News and Mental Health

The opening weeks of the Lampard Inquiry into 2,000 mental health patient deaths in Essex have been devoted to so-called "impact statements" made by relatives of those who've died. The inquiry is expected to run until 2026. We hear from the BBC's East of England health correspondent Nikki Fox, who's been at the hearings on what it's like listening to such harrowing testimony. She also explains the background to the inquiry and what it's designed to achieve. Julia Hopper, the mother of Chris Nota, whose death aged 19 is being examined as part of the proceedings, tells Access All how she felt when she made her impact statement. We also hear from competitors taking part in next month's Cybathlon. The event pits developers and users of assistive tech against rival teams, and they use their devices to compete in contests and races. The University of Bath team share their hopes of triumph for the technology they've developed to read the brainwaves of a man whose lower body is paralysed, so he can move external objects.Presenter Emma Tracey Producer Daniel Gordon Recorded and mixed by Dave O'Neill Editors: Beth Rose and Damon Rose If you have been affected by any of the topics discussed in this episode you can visit BBC Actionline for more support. The Access All team love hearing from you. You can email accessall@bbc.co.uk or find @bbcaccessall on X and Instagram.

New research has revealed that the quality of life for some people with learning disabilities can decline after they hit the big 4-0. Manchester Metropolitan University researchers came across cases of people who were still being cared for by their parents and others who were being sent to bed at 5pm.Emma Tracey asks lead researcher, Professor Sara Ryan why this is happening and what can be done to improve the situation.Also in this episode, Labour’s Marie Tidball gives an insight into her early days in office as a high profile, newly-elected, disabled MP.Presenter Emma Tracey Producers Daniel Gordon, Alex Collins Recorded and Mixed by Dave O'Neill Editors: Beth Rose and Damon Rose

Alison Lapper was pregnant with her son Parys when she famously – and controversially – posed naked for a statue that was displayed on Trafalgar Square’s fourth plinth in 2005. Alison was born with phocomelia, meaning she has no arms and shortened legs, and uses her mouth to create her artwork. Her career was tragically interrupted in 2019 when her son, Parys, died aged 19. He had developed severe mental health issues and died of an accidental overdose. In this moving interview, Alison tells Emma Tracey why it’s taken her five years to start to process her grief and the exhibition she has put together about her son, called Lost in Parys. She also talks about the making of Alison Lapper: In My Own Words - a new BBC documentary about her life which you can watch on BBC iPlayer. Presenter Emma Tracey Producer Daniel Gordon Mixed by Dave O’Neill Editors: Beth Rose and Ben Mundy If you have been affected by any of the topics discussed in this episodes you can visit BBC Actionline for more support. The Access All team love to hear from you. You can email accessall@bbc.co.uk or find @bbcaccessall on X and Instagram.

In the final episode from Paris, Emma is given privileged access to the athletes' village - and gets a tour of the Ottobock compound - the place where competitors can bring damaged disability equipment for repair.From welding a wheelchair frame that got cracked in a rugby tackle to stitching the webbing that holds an athlete securely in their chair - the repair shop staff keep the show on the road.Also in this episode - Paris-based wheelchair user and disability activist Deza Nguembock tells Emma what life's like for disabled people living in France - and whether hosting the Paralympics is likely to be a catalyst for change. And ParalympicsGB CEO David Clarke gives his verdict on the Games. Presenter Emma Tracey, assisted by Karen Golightly Paris Producer Beth Rose London Producer Daniel Gordon Mixed by Dave O’Neill Edited by Ben Mundy

In the second episode from Paris, Emma meets with three gold medallists. Para-cyclist Kadeena Cox shares her highs and lows from the Games after winning the team sprint - but crashing out of the time trial. Grace Harvey reveals her joy at upgrading her silver in the pool from Tokyo 2020 to a gold. Plus, Ellie Challis shows off the gold she won in the women's S3 50m backstroke final with Emma. Presenter Emma Tracey Paris Producer Beth Rose London Producer Daniel Gordon Mixed by Dave O’Neill Edited by Ben Mundy

In the first of a series of special episodes recorded in Paris, Emma visits ParalympicsGB House. BBC Sport Presenter, Martin Dougan, provides a tour of the building described as a “home from home” for the British competitors and their families. Emma also takes a trip to La Défense Arena, where she meets fans and experiences some of the swimming events. Plus, she catches up with Callie-Ann Warrington, who won silver in the S10 100m women's butterfly final.Presenter Emma Tracey Paris Producer Beth Rose London Producer Daniel Gordon Mixed by Dave O’Neill Edited by Ben Mundy

As the 17th summer Paralympic Games start in Paris, some of Great Britain’s athletes have been going the extra mile when it comes to training by working out in a heat chamber set to 40C. But it’s about more than just heat. Athletes with spinal cord injuries or limb differences don’t have the same surface area through which to sweat, so the chamber is also about seeing how their bodies adapt and recover. After every session, the sweat Hoover is brought out… Plus, Canadian filmmaker and activist, Kyla Harris, discusses her new BBC comedy, We Might Regret This. It follows Freya (played by Kyla) as she attempts to navigate moving to London and a romance with a silver fox lawyer. What could possibly go wrong…? Just a heads up, there is some stronger language than usual in this episode. Presented by Emma Tracey and Paul Carter Produced by Daniel Gordon, Claire Bates and Alex Collins Sound design and mixed by Dave O’Neill The editors were Beth Rose and Ben Mundy Get in touch with the team by emailing accessall@bbc.co.uk or find us on the socials @bbcaccessall

Broadcaster and writer Stephen Fry has travelled to Ukraine to see how war is impacting the country’s mental health. He joins Lyse Doucet and Vitaly Shevchenko, from Access All’s sister podcast Ukrainecast, to discuss his new documentary ‘Stephen Fry into Ukraine’, in which he speaks to those affected and asks whether there is sufficient government support. He also reflects on his own struggles with mental health and why Ukraine matters to him. The producers were Arsenii Sokolov, Cordelia Hemming, Hatty Nash and Ivana Davidovic. The technical producers were Mike Regaard and Rohan Madison. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The senior news editor is Richard Fenton-Smith. Access All’s Emma Tracey also makes an appearance with team support from Dave O’Neill and Beth Rose. You can watch ‘Stephen Fry into Ukraine’ here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FO6ZJL26eM If you have been affected by any of the issues discussed in this episode you can visit BBC Action Line on www.bbc.co.uk/actionline Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can join the Ukrainecast discussion on Newscast’s Discord server here: tinyurl.com/ukrainecastdiscord

As Edinburgh’s world famous arts festival continues, Emma Tracey takes to the stage at Dynamic Earth to host an episode in front of an audience. Adam Hills has presented The Last Leg for 12 years and has his face on an Australian postage stamp, but it’s only now he’s realising life is better when your “shoes are half full”. The comedian, who has a prosthetic foot, also gives the inside track on what he’ll be doing at the Paris Paralympics. Dan Tiernan has been winning all sorts of comedy awards and is making a huge name for himself as a dyspraxic comedian. But with constant mishaps – tripping over and losing items – he wonders whether there should be tax breaks for neurodivergent people. Plus they both reveal that receiving bad news is often good news for a comedian who has a show to write…something Dan discovered when he was recently diagnosed with gout at the tender age of 28… Recorded by, and with thanks, to the BBC Edinburgh Festivals team Mixed by Dave O’Neill Produced by Claire Bates and Alex Collins The Editors were Beth Rose and Ben Mundy Email: accessall@bbc.co.uk, find us on BBC Sounds and your smart speakers and follow us on X and Instagram as @bbcaccessall

Edinburgh’s world famous arts festival is in full swing with Emma Tracey in the Scottish capital to put on a show at Dynamic Earth in front of an audience. Comedian and host of The Political Party podcast, Matt Forde, reflects on joining the disability club just 12 months ago after receiving life-changing news at last year’s Fringe. He also throws in a few impressions of politicians you’ll be very familiar with… And Blue Peter’s 42nd presenter, Abby Cook, gives us the lowdown on life as the first physically disabled presenter and the terrifying challenge she had to complete to get her badge... Recorded by, and with thanks to the BBC Edinburgh Festivals team. Mixed by Dave O’Neill Produced by Claire Bates and Alex Collins The Editors were Beth Rose and Ben Mundy Email: Accessall@bbc.co.uk and Google us for the latest transcript. Find us on BBC Sounds and smart speakers and follow us on X and Instagram - @bbcaccessall .