Access All: Disability News and Mental Health

Another episode dedicated to election-related topics suggested by you, the audience.This time round, we look at mental health, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), housing and how, for many immunocompromised, disabled people, the COVID pandemic never ended.This week’s panel – Fazilet Hadi from Disability Rights UK, and veteran of our previous panel; Sam Carlisle from Disabled Children’s Partnership; and Nil Guzelgun from mental health charity Mind – look at what the seven main parties standing in the General Election on 4 July are offering on those issues.Presented by Emma Tracey Production by Daniel Gordon and Natasha Mayo Sound recording and editing by Dave O’Neill Edited by Farhana Haider

BBC Scotland political reporter Ian Hamilton joins Emma Tracey on this week’s podcast. Both of them are blind and they discuss why they and other blind people can’t confidently vote in secret.They talk about the pitfalls of tactile voting templates and share their experiences of polling station staff. They also consider whether technology might offer a solution in the future. Also on the show: Britain’s fastest deaf swimmer, 25-year-old Nathan Young, on his 1,000 day campaign to persuade politicians to fund his bid to compete in next year’s Deaflympics.Presented by Emma Tracey Production by Daniel Gordon and Alex Collins Recorded and mixed by Dave O’Neill The editor was Farhana HaiderIs there is an election issue affecting disabled people you think we should be talking about? Get in touch, we really want to hear from you. You can email us mailto:accessall@bbc.co.uk or message @bbcaccessall on Twitter/X or Instagram. Our WhatsApp number is 0330 123 9480, please begin your message with the word ACCESS.

We asked what was on your mind ahead of the General Election and you answered in your droves.Despite an estimated 16 million people being disabled in the UK many of you told us you feel invisible - why is that? People with learning disabilities are said to be the group least likely to own photographic ID, such as a driving licence, potentially adding an extra barrier to polling day. We fill you in on how to prepare.And our fabulous panel – Politco reporter Bethany Dawson, Mark Brookes from Dimensions UK and My Vote, My Voice and Fazilet Hadi from Disability Rights UK –give their insights and predictions on what might happen when it comes to key areas including social care and benefits.Presented by Emma Tracey Production by Daniel Gordon and Alex Collins Recorded and mixed by Dave O’Neill Edited by Beth RoseIs there is an election issue affecting disabled people you think we should be talking about? Get in touch, we really want to hear from you. You can email us mailto:accessall@bbc.co.uk or message @bbcaccessall on Twitter/X or Instagram. Our WhatsApp number is 0330 123 9480, please begin your message with the word ACCESS.

We hear what it’s like to live with a disability in a war zone.Boshra is an 18-year-old woman who lives in Gaza and has muscular dystrophy. She and Oleksii, a man with a learning disability from Ukraine, share their experiences with presenter Emma Tracey. Emma also speaks to George Graham, CEO of Humanity and Inclusion, a charity which supports disabled people living in conflict areas. Presenter Emma Tracey Production by Daniel Gordon and Alex Collins Recorded and mixed by Dave O’Neill Special thanks to Irena Taranyuk, BBC Ukrainian Service Edited by Farhana HaiderIs there an election issue affecting disabled people you think we should be talking about? Get in touch, we really want to hear from you. You can email us accessall@bbc.co.uk or message @bbcaccessall on Twitter/X or Instagram. Our WhatsApp number is 0330 123 9480, please begin your message with the word ACCESS.

The launch of Chat GPT-4o is already making it easier for blind and visually impaired people to live independent lives, and promises to open up accessibility for people with many other disabilities. Emma Tracey gathers a panel of experts, featuring technology journalist Paul Carter; the CEO of Be My Eyes Mike Buckley; and Professor Annalu Waller, Director of the Augmentative and Alternate Communication Research Group at the University of Dundee. They discuss what the technology might mean for disabled people – considering not only the advantages, but also the potential downsides. Also in this episode, Emma takes part in a workshop called Hair&Care, where visually impaired people learn to style their own hair.Presenter Emma Tracey Production by Daniel Gordon and Alex Collins Recorded and mixed by Dave O'Neill Edited by Ben Mundy

The boss of Paralympics GB joins us, with just over 100 days to go until this summer’s Games in Paris. From studying politics to a spell in banking – not to mention playing blind football for England - we explore the work Dave Clarke’s done to help innovate the workforce – and the playing field.Plus, is Right Care, Right Person the right approach? The scheme used by several police forces in England and Wales means fewer officers attend mental health calls. Instead support is provided by the NHS and mental health services. One top police boss believes it is a success, but as you’ll hear mental health charities have concerns. Presenter Emma Tracey The episode was made by Alex Collins and Daniel Gordon Recorded and mixed by Dave O’Neill The editor was Ben Mundy

Former carer turned Minister for Disabled People, Mims Davies, discusses government's decisions on Carer's Allowance, UK's duty to disabled people, and progress of the BSL Advisory Board. Topics include media inclusion, empowering disabled individuals, debate on assisted dying, and a current bill impacting disabled people and health conditions.

Activism has been a part of Liz Carr’s career since the start, particularly when it comes to assisted dying, also known as assisted suicide. She’s made a documentary on the world service, and even a musical on the topic, and now she has a new BBC documentary, provocatively named Better Off Dead? In this special episode, Liz chats to Emma about making the documentary including: seeing how it works in Canada, her fears about abuse and her sympathy for terminally ill people. "Alexa, ask the BBC for Access All" is one way of listening to us; subscribing on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts is another. Access All was made by: Daniel Gordon, Drew Hyndman and Alex Collins. The editor is Alex Lewis, senior editor Sam Bonham, the presenter is Emma Tracey. It was recorded and mixed by Dave O'Neill.

The government has published its consultation on changes to the Personal Independence Payment benefit, PIP. Emma Tracey asks Scope's Head of Policy James Taylor for his analysis. With GCSEs, A-levels and other exams starting this month, Emma speaks to one of the people responsible for working out exam access arrangements for students who need it. Here's where you get the lowdown on extended time, breaks, alternative quiet exam rooms, prompters etc that you or your child may be given, from someone on the ground right now fixing it all - Martine Chapman Special Literacy Teacher at Dorothy Stringer School in Brighton. And, How To Do Life with a Chronic Illness is the title of Pippa Stacey's new book. Pippa has ME / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and she tells Emma that she likes to focus on things you CAN do and how you can do them, rather than concentrating on medical matters. "Alexa, ask the BBC for Access All" is one way of listening to us; subscribing on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts is another. Access All was made by: Niamh Hughes, Drew Hyndman and Alex Collins. The editor is Damon Rose, senior editor Sam Bonham, the presenter is Emma Tracey. It was recorded and mixed by Dave O'Neill.

Emma Tracey speaks to the mother of a 35 year old woman with learning disabilities who has been living in a mental health facility “unnecessarily” for three years. She says there is no reason for her to be living there and that it's due to lack of appropriate housing and care in the community. We also hear from autistic author Alexis Quinn who feels let down by the system but is living in her own home now. Mencap's analysis shows over 2,000 learning disabled or autistic people are inappropriately leading restricted lives in hospital. Dan Scorer from the charity shines some light on the situation as the government again misses its own target to bring down the numbers. Last week prime minister Rishi Sunak outlined the Conservative's plans to change work and Personal Independent Payments (PIP) benefits if they win the pending general election. Talk of benefits change is always concerning and Drew Hyndman from the Access All team combs through what he said and puts it in perspective. Activist Shani Dhanda is presently the number one most influential disabled person in the UK according to Shaw Trust's Power 100 list. As the proud Brummy starts a new programme on the BBC's Asian Network, she talks to us about her journey to understanding what being disabled means. Access All was made by Niamh Hughes, Alex Collins, Drew Hyndman, and edited by Damon Rose and Alex Lewis. Recorded and mixed by Dave O'Neill. The Senior Editor is Sam Bonham. "Alexa, ask the BBC for Access All" to play the latest episode. Or subscribe on BBC Sounds app or website.