Ouch: Disability Talk

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

Benefits are set to go up with inflation, according to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's Autumn Statement, but what's in it for you if you're disabled? Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey get the crucial lowdown from Fazilet Hadid from Disability Rights UK. If you are disabled and thinking of taking a break to New York, her recent experiences might just come in handy. And Martin Hibbert, a survivor of the Manchester Arena bombing, describes his recovery, how so-called disaster trolls have been questioning that the event ever happened at all, and how this has affected him. Producers: Beth Rose, Keiligh Baker, Amy Elizabeth and Emma Tracey Recording/mixing: Dave O'Neill Editors: Damon Rose and Jonathan Aspinwall

The Access All team were shocked when Ellie Simmonds left this year’s season of Strictly Come Dancing – the first person with dwarfism to compete on the show. But the dancing competition’s loss is this episode’s gain, as Ellie chats all things representation, ballroom, skydiving and her plans for the future. Why do we only ever hear about disabled dating, and never about long-term relationships? Presenters Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey talk about their experiences, plus provide some tips and advice. Billionaire Elon Musk might have bought Twitter, but he also reportedly sacked half of its staff including the entire accessibility team. So what does this mean for disabled people? BBC Click’s Paul Carter and accessibility consultant Leonie Watson help us make sense of a wild week in social media. Producers: Keiligh Baker, Amy Elizabeth and Emma Tracey Recording / mixing: Dave O'Neill Series editor: Beth Rose Senior News Editor: Jonathan Aspinwall

Dyscalculia is thought to affect 6% of the population but many people have never heard of it. The learning disability affects a person’s ability to understand numbers and is considered to be part of the same family as dyslexia. Eighteen-year-old Rose, a BBC Young Reporter, explains how dyscalculia affects her on a day-to-day basis from being unable to use the oven to how playing three Taylor Swift songs helps her mark 10 minutes . And Love Island’s Tasha Ghouri, pulls Nikki and Emma aside for a chat to give the lowdown on being the first deaf contestant on the reality TV show, dealing with trolls and what life with her Islander-boyfriend (now housemate) is like, now they’re back in the real world. Producers: Keiligh Baker, Amy Elizabeth and Emma Tracey Recording / mixing: Dave O'Neill Series Editor: Beth Rose Senior News Editor: Jonathan Aspinwall

Anna Tylor's life changed when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. The Chair of the RNIB, who is visually impaired, says she was "horrified" at not being offered accessible medical information, that she was able to read, while going through treatment - from important leaflets to medical notes and consent forms. Despite a law to ensure all medical information is accessible, we hear that Anna is far from alone in her worries.Nikki Fox talks about her discovery of tandem electric scooters while Emma Tracey confesses she hates Halloween fancy dress because she can't see what she's wearing (bin bags, it turns out).And TV pundit Asta Philpot, 40, reveals for the first time that in 2018 he had no choice but to move into a care home for 18 months after his care package failed. He's now living with his parents and has just found love.Hosts: Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey Producers: Amy Elizabeth and Emma Tracey Recording / mixing: Dave O'Neill Series Producer: Beth Rose Senior News Editor: Jonathan Aspinwall

Inflation went up by 10% over the last year, driven mostly by rising food prices, prompting disability charities to call on the government to avoid “disaster” and raise benefits in-line with it. Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey chat to Emma from Bristol, who is deafblind, and says she is in debt because her benefits no longer cover her bills. And James Taylor, director of strategy at the charity Scope, reveals he knows people who have started turning off their fridges to save money.Nikki and Emma talk about their appearance at the BBC’s Castfest event in the BBC’s historic Radio Theatre in Broadcasting House in London. Fans of Access All, Newscast, Americast and Ukrainecast watched live recordings of the BBC’s flagship news podcasts. It took place 100 years to the day since the British Broadcasting Company, as the BBC was originally called, was formed in 1922.Access All gets the latest on York's blue badge parking ban. York City Council used to allow blue badge holders to park in the foot streets but that changed la

In an Access All exclusive, we reveal that rising petrol prices are driving carers out of the profession. Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey chat to wheelchair user Natalie from Shropshire, who went from having three carers to none overnight, and to carer Louise who is considering leaving her job.Businesswoman Caroline Casey, who topped the Disability Power List in 2021, reveals why she didn’t realise she was blind until she took a driving lesson on her 17th birthday.And we find out what unusual job our presenters both used to do, plus why they both hate networking!Producers: Keiligh Baker, Amy Elizabeth and Emma Tracey Recording / mixing: Dave O'Neill Editors: Beth Rose and Sam Bonham

A month into Prime Minister Liz Truss’s premiership and there’s still no confirmation about who the new Minister of State for Disabled People will be…or is there? Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey do some super sleuthing and present their evidence to Access All listeners. Newly released disability hate crime figures reveal record numbers of incidents. Cassie Lovelock talks about her experience while Ali Gunn gives some tips on how to report such incidents. And actors Leon Harrop and Sarah Gordy talk about their brand new BBC sitcom, Ralph and Katie, which follows the highs and lows of two newlyweds who both have Down’s syndrome. Producers: Keiligh Baker, Amy Elizabeth and Emma Tracey Recording / mixing: Dave O'Neill Editors: Beth Rose and Louisa LewisHead to the BBC's Action Line if you need help or support with any of the issues raised in this edition of Access All https://www.bbc.co.uk/actionline

Known as The Governess on quiz show The Chase, Anne Hegerty regularly puts wannabe-quiz champions firmly in their place. But while quizzing comes easily, Anne reveals to Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey that she finds everyday tasks, like washing her clothes, extremely challenging as an autistic person. She also has a theory about why bailiffs are like vampires… And BBC News correspondent, Sean Dilley, describes the heartbreak he’s going through having retired his guide dog, Sammy, after 10 years together and the long wait he’s facing for a new assistance dog. Producers: Keiligh Baker, Amy Elizabeth and Emma Tracey Recording / mixing: Dave O'Neill Editors: Beth Rose and Louisa Lewis

More than 250 deaf people are taking the UK government to court over the lack of British Sign Language (BSL) in televised Covid briefings at the start of the pandemic. Nikki is joined by campaigner Lynn Stewart-Taylor and deaf journalist Liam O'Dell to discuss why this case is so important. We are joined by actor Leo Long, the star of the new Netflix film, I Used To Be Famous. And the story of the blind Instagrammer who used her AI description software to discover that the pictures she had been sent by an interested male were not very flattering about the assets he is presumably rather proud of. Producers: Keiligh Baker, Amy Elizabeth and Emma Tracey Recording / mixing: Dave O'Neill Editors: Damon Rose and Jonathan Aspinwall

The Verala family thought life was about to get better when they were offered a three-bedroom council house which would be suitable for their seven-year-old son, Joel, a wheelchair-user with quadraplegic cerebral palsy. But the family quickly decided they couldn't stay - there were no ramps into the property, the doors weren't wide enough for Joel's wheelchair and there were no hoists to help him around. Instead, the Verala's moved into Grandma's one-bed flat with her while the adaptations take place. The council has told the family it could be another 12 months before the work is completed. Paralympic skier Millie Knight tells us about her new sporting venture - making the England team in karate. She explains how she tackles both sports with 5% vision. And Nikki goes to the blue badge queue where disabled people are queuing to see the Queen lying in state. Most of this programme was recorded before the sad news of the Queen's passing. Producers: Beth Rose, Amy Elizabeth and Emma Tracey Sound recording / mi

Cross-party peer Baroness Jane Campbell reveals to Nikki Fox that a lack of personal assistants (PA) working in the UK makes her "fear" disabled people could end up living in institutions once more, if the problem isn't rectified. She's not alone. Anna tells us she hasn't been able to recruit a PA in three months and only has the energy to shower once a week while Katy, who runs PA Pool, a website which matches disabled people with suitable PAs, says a third of her PAs dropped off the books when Brexit happened. Nikki is settling into her new home, but reveals the astronomical cost of fitting out her new accessible bathroom - think £8,000 for a toilet seat, and we're not talking gold-plated. And comedian, writer and TV presenter Rosie Jones chats about her new children's book and the frustration she's felt at being turned away from gay nightclubs by bouncers who think she's too disabled to be gay or that her wobbliness means she's drunk. With Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey. Produced by Beth Rose, Keiligh

The charity, Sense, has made the unusual move of giving out cash directly to households who have a family member with complex disabilities and are struggling with the rising cost of living.Mum-of-two, Kelly, who has MS, tells Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey she and her family are already in debt and, right now spend half their income on energy. And comedian Laurence Clark talks about how the global pandemic finally gave him the time to do what he really loves - write. His debut sitcom, Perfect, is broadcast on Friday 26 August. Produced by Beth Rose, Keiligh Baker and Emma Tracey Recorded by Emma Crowe and mixed by James Beard The editors were Damon Rose and Jonathan Aspinwall

Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey chat through some of their favourite clips from the podcast so far and play an outtake from sit-in presenter Martin Dougan who reveals all the unlikely jobs he's held down, and why he thinks he can't burp. We indulge Nikki, once more, in her love for all things Kate Bush, which also features Keiligh Baker. And who are the famous voices in our theme tune? Produced by Damon Rose, Beth Rose, Keiligh Baker and Emma Tracey Editors: Damon Rose and Sam Bonham

The Commonwealth Games in Birmingham have seen more para-sport events than ever sharing the stage with non-disability sports. So back into the mainstream comes the debate about whether the Paralympics and Olympics could one day combine. Would that be the ultimate symbol of equality or lead to para-sports losing their spotlight? Ellie Simmonds and Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, two legends of Paralympics GB, share their thoughts, and Martin Dougan and the BBC’s para-sport reporter Kate Grey pin down the International Paralympic Committee on their plans for the future of the competition.Produced by Danny Wittenberg, Keiligh Baker and Miranda Slade Recorded and mixed by Emma Crowe The editor was Damon Rose With thanks to BBC Sport

Long before Russia invaded Ukraine, the country was dealing with a problem - the abandoning of disabled people to institutions that weren’t fit for purpose. In a collaboration with Ukrainecast, Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey hear from the BBC’s Dan Johnson and producer Ruth Clegg about the reality of these institutions and their investigation into them with Disability Rights International. With thanks to the Ukrainecast team Recorded and mixed by Dave O’Neill and Emma Crowe The editor was Jonathan Aspinwall

Para-swimmer Alice Tai elected to have a below-knee amputation in January, after her arms became so sore from using crutches to get around. Since then she’s re-learned to swim and is now competing at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Listen to her fascinating story.July is Disability Pride month – Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey chat about its history and we hear what it means to you.And debut author Chloe Timms talks about her dystopian novel, The Seawomen. She gives some top-tips to aspiring writers and talks about managing her writing career while juggling her care needs and all the disability life admin that goes with it.Produced by Keiligh Baker and Emma Tracey with thanks to Elizabeth Hudson Recorded and mixed by Dave O’Neill The editors were Beth Rose and Jonathan Aspinwall

With record temperatures bearing down on London, Adam Gabsi has been stuck in his flat for 12 days. The musician with multiple sclerosis (MS) uses a wheelchair but hasn’t been able to leave his sixth-floor flat because the lifts are broken. In an Access All exclusive, Scope reveals the extent disabled people experience negative attitudes when they’re out and about, in its biggest ever survey. Naomi tells Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey about the threat to tip her out of her wheelchair while Shani recounts how she deals with unwanted filming. And actress and TV presenter Samantha Renke reveals she is now a media triple-threat as she becomes a published author.Produced by Beth Rose, Keiligh Baker and Emma Tracey Recorded and mixed by Dave O’Neill The editors were Damon Rose and Jonathan Aspinwall

As the UK braces for record temperatures how do disabled people cool down in a heatwave? Jo Southall talks about the "body armour" she wears to keep her core cool while Dr Katherine Fletcher says the UK's infrastructure needs to be improved to cope with rising temperatures. Tim Renkow, comedian and writer of BBC Three's Jerk, talks to us about his character who likes nothing better than winding up non-disabled people - big time. With Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey Produced by Beth Rose, Keiligh Baker and Emma Tracey Recorded and mixed by Dave O'Neill The editors were Damon Rose and Jonathan Aspinwall

In a mindfully politics-free zone this week, disabled actress Melissa Johns talks about her "worst nightmare" coming to fruition when nude photos of her were leaked online. The Coronation Street star reveals how she managed to take ownership of that moment and turn it into a successful and funny one-woman show. Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey chat about their high street habits and why it's hard to be a shopaholic if shopping is inaccessible. Plus founder of SEND Coffee, Harry George, gives some simple solutions to help businesses find their way to wooing more disabled customers ... so they wil happily spend more money. Produced by Beth Rose and Keiligh Baker Recorded and mixed by Dave O'Neill The editors were Damon Rose and Jonathan Aspinwall