Ouch: Disability Talk

BAFTA award winning magician Fergus Flanagan talks to Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey about OCD and how his intrusive thoughts disappear when he performs. And is he able to guess what word Nikki is thinking of? Listen to find out... Covid hastened the dash towards a cashless society after we were told to use contactless cards to stop germs circulating. It might be a bonus for businesses who no longer have to cash up, but, for some of us, cash and coins make far more sense. We speak to Myf who has learning disabilities, Mencap Cymru director Wayne Crocker, and Natalie Seeney who chaired the Access to Cash Review. Plus, the city of York is still in the firing line with disabled campaigners and Channel 4 throws a bunch of celebrities into a darkened warehouse to see how they cope blind (Chris McCausland is in there too). PRODUCERS: George Dabby, Emma Tracey ASSISTANT EDITOR: Keiligh Baker EDITOR: Damon Rose Install the BBC Sounds skill and then say "Alexa, ask the BBC for Access All" Or use your phone to subsc

Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey look at the lack of accessibility when it comes to getting smear tests if you have a physical disability, with the help of Samantha Dixon, the CEO of Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust. The duo decide whether ChatGPT is a disability ally or not after the artificial intelligence chatbot claimed it was "visually impaired" to get a human to help it with an image-related task. Don't worry, we also have BBC Click's Paul Carter on board to explain exactly what ChatGPT is.And author Jenny Ireland talks about how she combined love, chess and arthritis in her Young Adult book, The First Move, which hits the bookshelves next week.Presenters: Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey Producers: Keiligh Baker and Beth Rose Technical producer: Mike Regaard Assistant editor: Beth Rose Editor: Sam Bonham

Claire has been waiting for three years for her council to make adaptations to her home so that she can live in comfort, have a family life and keep danger to a minimum. She talks to Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey about the frustration and how it affects her wellbeing as a wheelchair-using person with MS. Last week, Loose Women's Sophie Morgan shared her thought that Blue Badges could surely become digitised after her car was broken into and her badge stolen. It provoked an unexpectedly unpleasant response and Sophie returns to talk about online hate aimed at disabled women. And fearless documentary-maker, Livvy Haydock, talks to us about disabled gangsters and her own diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, MS. Presenters: Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey Producers: Keiligh Baker, Beth Rose and Emma Tracey Recorded and mixed by: By Dave O'Neill Assistant editor: Beth Rose Editor: Damon Rose Since the recording, the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead have responded to the question of why adaptions to Claire's hous

TV presenter Sophie Morgan has been left frustrated and has lost that all-important passport to parking that disabled people cherish. We find out how digital badges are helping some drivers avoid this predicament. The latest Covid vaccine roll-out has been announced, but not everyone who expected to get it, will receive it. BBC News’ Ruth Clegg gives the lowdown on why people with learning disabilities won’t be immunised this spring. Adaptive clothes designer Victoria Jenkins and model Caprice-Kwai visit Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey in the studio to chat about the world of fashion. Producers: Beth Rose, Keiligh Baker and Emma Tracey Recorded and mixed by: Dave O’Neill Assistant editor: Beth Rose Editor: Damon Rose

The chancellor announced the controversial Work capability Assessment is to be scrapped by 2026-27 in favour of a new test based largely on PIP – and it has raised many questions. Emma Tracey speaks to Disability Minister Tom Pursglove and BBC Social Affairs Correspondent Michael Buchanan to try and shine some light on the plans. Abby Cook is Blue Peter's first wheelchair-using presenter. We chat to her about her love of sport, her first assignment abseiling and what it's like to be on BP. A new documentary, Christine McGuinness: Unmasking My Autism, aired this week on BBC One. Carly Jones, who has had similar experiences, walks us through late diagnosis in women and girls, masking and the difficult subject of sexual abuse, all of which were explored by Christine. Presenter: Emma Tracey Producers: Keiligh Baker, Natasha Fernandes and Emma Tracey Assistant Editor: Keiligh Baker Editor: Damon Rose We're on Twitter @BBCAccessAll, on your smart speaker and we’re on Radio 5live. We also have a transcri

World-renowned US disability rights campaigner, Judith Heumann, died last weekend aged 75. Her friend Lawrence Carter-Long - co-director of DisArt - joins Nikkki and Emma from California to celebrate her remarkable achievements. The Office for National Statistics released figures this week which show disabled people are many times more likely to take their lives than non-disabled people - the figures are for England and Wales. To analyse this very sad and concerning data, Fazilet Hadi, head of policy at Disability Rights UK, speaks with us. Suicide is preventable and, if you need to talk, there are many suicide prevention charities listed on the BBC's website, go to bbc.co.uk/actionline Plus, Ebony Rose Dark, a leading blind drag queen from London, tells us about how they put on make-up, dance on narrow crowded stages in clubs and what inspired them to follow this career. Presenters: Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey Produced by: Keiligh Baker, Emma Tracey and Beth Rose Assistant Editor: Beth Rose Editor: Damon Ros

Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden reveals she was always seen as a "risk" by choreographers and dance partners who feared her Crohn's disease would impact their careers and insurance plans. And, as the government unveils its plan to reform support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in England, Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey speak to parents with years experience of the system, Tania Tirraoro and Lucy Bartley, to see how the new plan shapes up. Produced by: Beth Rose, Amy Elizabeth, Emma Tracey and Damon Rose Recorded and mixed: By Dave O'Neill Series editor: Beth Rose Editor: Damon Rose

Comedian Rosie Jones is about to begin her first solo tour called Triple Threat but reveals life in the limelight can be pretty tricky with ableism and imposter syndrome to deal with. She also has Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey in fits of giggles and advises getting into comedy as it helped her buy a lovely house. After announcing a new 10 Year Mental Health Plan and seeking the views of 5,000 people to help shape it, the government scrapped the idea a few weeks ago. Jeremy Bernhaut from Rethink Mental Illness talks about the charity's Keep Your Promise campaign to get the government to reconsider its decision while Rick Burgess from Recovery In The Bin talks about what he'd like to see. Holly Garrow from Transport for All weighs up the pros and cons of street furniture - is it an inconvenient trip hazard or the perfect place to rest? Produced by: Emma Tracey and Amy Elizabeth Recorded and mixed by: Dave O'Neill Series editor: Beth Rose Editor: Damon Rose

Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey, who are standing in for Adam, speak to actor and SNP member Brian Cox about Nicola Sturgeon’s departure, and who he would like to see in charge of the party.And as Rishi Sunak travels to Belfast to discuss the Northern Ireland Protocol, they get the latest on developments from Ireland correspondent Chris Page.More NHS strikes have been announced for March. Baron Victor Adebowale, Chair of the NHS Confederation, talks about how they could be resolved.Today's episode was presented by Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey and was made by Chris Flynn with Rufus Gray, Cordelia Hemming and Miranda Slade. The technical producer is Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Verity Wilde.

With more than 20 billion views of the hashtag #ADHD, some people have turned to TikTok to self-diagnose the condition rather than wait for a formal assessment. BBC journalist, Ben Moore, investigates for Access All having started his own pathway to diagnosis on the social media platform. Henry Shelford from ADHD UK gives advice on what to do if all this sounds very familiar. And why he thinks the name of the condition doesn't accurately reflect what it is. And British Comedian of the Year, Dan Tiernan, joins Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey to talk about his dyspraxia, life on the comedy circuit and the number of jobs he was sacked from. Produced by: Keiligh Baker, Amy Elizabeth and Emma Tracey Recorded and mixed by: Dave O'Neill Series editor: Beth Rose Editor: Damon Rose

Loneliness is part of life and can be difficult to overcome, but Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey come armed with solutions, recognising those solutions are sometimes different for disabled people. Howard Thorpe reveals he flipped his loneliness on its head by setting up events, while Stephen Morris volunteered as a Buddy to help other lonely people with the Sense charity and got a Buddy for himself too. When author Thomas Leeds wrote his first children's book, ten publishing houses fought for it. His fantasy-adventure follows Jayben, a young hero who must save the Elf world despite the fact he has lost his memory. It's a case of art mimicking life as Thomas lost all of his childhood memories when he was hit by a car. Produced by: Keiligh Baker, Amy Elizabeth and Emma Tracey Recorded and mixed by: Dave O'Neill Series editor: Beth Rose Editors: Damon Rose and Sam Bonham

The Office for National Statistics have released some disability stats that some are finding a little surprising. The number of people who declared themselves disabled in the 2021 Census didn’t go up in the way people expected, while the number of unpaid carers, unexpectedly, also went down. Carer and founder of the We Care Campaign, Katy Styles, and academic Miro Griffiths, from the famous Centre for Disability Studies at Leeds University, try to work out why. Dr. Amit Patel's recent autobiography revealed how he scoured the world for a solution to his pending sight loss but eventually failed. Amit and guide dog, Kika, visit the studio to talk about how employers couldn't see past his disability when he was applying for jobs. He also chats about his recent CBeebies hit, Dog Squad. And Access All's presenters, Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey get caught up on suits – we’re talking exoskeletons and an electrical zapping suit which can help some people with cerebral palsy minimise their muscle spasms.Produced by:

Anna Morell visits Nikki Fox to discuss her bad experiences in A&E, which have been magnified by being disabled. While wheelchair-using GP, Hannah Barham-Brown, gives a useful overview of how over-crowding and a lack of staffing affects the health care of people with different impairments.BBC News Health editor Hugh Pym is in the studio to explain the latest NHS England figures. Ron is the new disabled contestant on this year's Love Island, according to the press. But is he actually disabled, wonders Emma Tracey. Plus Lauren Mahon from You Me and the Big C chats about cancer and bringing the award-winning podcast to an end. Produced by: Amy Elizabeth, Keiligh Baker and Emma Tracey Recording / mixing: Dave O'Neill  Editors: Damon Rose, Sam Bonham.

With long delays for people needing guide dogs we speak with Isobel in Belfast who trained her own guide dog and also to Pawtected, an organisation which helps people train their own assistance dogs. Reece Parkinson, from Radio 1Xtra chats about his recent diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes and how he manages his blood sugar while DJ-ing in Ibiza. And, love or hate new year's resolutions, presenters Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey hear from five disabled celebs with motivational ideas. Find out what Rosie Jones, Frank Gardner and others are resolving to do in 2023.Producers: Keiligh Baker, Amy Elizabeth and Emma Tracey Recording/mixing: Dave O'Neill Series Editor: Beth Rose Senior News Editor: Damon Rose

We've had a ball since we launched back in April. Nikki and Emma were strangers at the beginning of the year and now have become great friends through some very open conversations and a bit of over-sharing. They introduce favourite moments on subjects like relationships, first jobs, karaoke choices - nothing has been off limits. Remember when Nikki disliked Emma's Halloween costume? Why Nikki admitted her boyfriend Dave made her cry happy tears or when the team lost control over trousersnake-gate? Plus visits from some of our favourite guests: comedian Rosie Jones, Actors Leon Harrop and Sarah Gordy, and Stricly star Ellie Simmonds. Warning, prepare for plenty of laughs.

Our catch-up with Anne Hegerty was such a success, we decided as a Christmas treat we’d bring you the full, extended conversation! Refreshingly honest and hilarious, Anne revels how Autism impacted her childhood, career and ability to manage benefits – leading to bailiffs turning up on her doorstep. From ‘The Chase’ auditioning process to becoming a household name, prepare for some unfiltered, extended Christmas fun!Producer: Amy Elizabeth Recording/mixing: Dave O'Neill Senior News Editor: Damon Rose

The festive season can be a tough time for many people, from financial worries and loneliness to the pressures of making everything perfect. Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey are joined by broadcaster Seaneen Molloy, who works in the mental health sector and lives with bipolar disorder and anxiety. She gives tips on how best to protect your mental health over the festive period and what you can do to help yourself the moment you’ve finished listening to this podcast.And investigative journalist, Marjorie Wallace, who founded mental health charity SANE, talks about The Silent Twins, a new Hollywood film based on a book she wrote about June and Jennifer Gibbons - two sisters from Wales who spoke to no one but each other. Producers: Keiligh Baker, Amy Elizabeth and Emma Tracey Recording/mixing: Dave O'Neill Series Editor: Beth Rose Senior News Editor: Damon Rose

The families of seven teenagers with complex needs have just one week to find a new school after they were asked to leave Purbeck View School in Dorset following an “inadequate” rating by Ofsted.Mum, Sarah London, whose son Harrison, is one of those being forced to leave, shares her fears he will end up in an emergency placement on the other side of the country at Christmas.After 20 years of listening to her dulcet tones, Emma Tracey gets to meet her favourite TV audio describer - Georgina Rose, - who has worked on everything from kids TV shows to Naked Attraction. Georgina explains the art of describing television programmes and reveals her fantasy of one day describing a particular scene in Indiana Jones.And James Leadbitter, aka The Vacuum Cleaner, and two young people talk about their experiences of being inpatients at adolescent mental health units and making art there during the pandemic.Producers: Keiligh Baker, Amy Elizabeth and Emma Tracey Recording/mixing: Dave O'Neill Series Editor: Beth Rose Ne

He might be the third Minister of State for Disabled People in as many months, but MP Tom Pursglove has plans to stick around. Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey take Access All on the road to the Global Disability Innovation Hub in East London to put the Conservative MP through his paces and ask about his plans as the long-awaited new Minister of State for Disabled People, Health and Work. And the world’s first disabled astronaut, John McFall, chats to the duo about weightlessness, cramming for his surgeon exams and how his kids reacted when the European Space Agency announced him as the world’s first “parastronaut”. Producers: Keiligh Baker, Amy Elizabeth and Emma Tracey Recording/mixing: Dave O'Neill Series Editor: Beth Rose Assistant Editor: Sam Bonham

It’s been one small step for man, one giant leap for disabled people this week as the European Space Agency announced the world’s first disabled astronaut. Paralympian John McFall was revealed as the first ever parastronaut at a glitzy ceremony in Paris. The BBC’s Jonathan Amos was there and gave Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey the lowdown on the event and John’s new career. Did you know England won the world cup? Nikki and Emma celebrate the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup winners after they defeated France, and attempt ‘The Finlay’ celebratory dance, made famous by footballer Jack Grealish. Producers: Keiligh Baker, Amy Elizabeth and Emma Tracey Recording/mixing: Dave O'Neill Series Editor: Beth Rose Senior News Editor: Jonathan Aspinwall