Access All: Disability News and Mental Health

Pop Idol star Gareth Gates and former Labour politician-turned-TV star, Ed Balls drop by the Access All studio to chat to Emma Tracey about living with a stammer. More than 20 years after he shot to fame on Pop Idol in 2002 Gareth talks about the new musical he is penning which is all about stammering. He has an overt or exteriorised stammer which causes him to get stuck at the start of a word and...

Over the past five years, Elliot Caswell has let the BBC follow him as he searched for his first job after leaving college, but so far he’s faced nothing but barriers. That frustration has coincided with the publication of a House of Lords report into how the transition from education to work could be improved for young disabled people. Stephen Veevers, CEO of HFT, an organisation which helps disa...

Teen drama Heartstopper has gained a huge following on Netflix and the third series, which has just dropped, is no different. This time the love story between Nick and Charlie comes with the added complexity of Charlie’s eating disorder. It’s a challenge many LGBTQ+ people face. According to the charity Just Like Us, 20% of young LGBTQ+ teenagers experience an eating disorder compared to 7% of non...

This week, Access All lives up to its name - we’ve been granted permission to go inside MI5 and meet an autistic senior intelligence officer. Liam (not his real name and voiced by an actor) tells Emma Tracey what it’s like to work as a senior manager and the responsibility he feels for protecting public security. He reveals the moment he first experienced autistic burnout and the strategies he has...

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...

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...

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...

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 roa...

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. Pres...

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 Warringt...

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 re...

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 wi...

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 wh...

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...

Research published by the UK parliament has revealed that talking therapies provided by the NHS, including counselling, are less effective for people from ethnic minorities compared to people from a white background.   Emma Tracey hears the experience of Ayisha, a British Pakistani woman with mental health difficulties. Emma also talks to clinical psychologist Dr Hibah Hassan, who outlines some of...

We hear from activists from the 29 disability and inclusion groups who have written to the new Labour government to demand that all new housing be made accessible. The letter to 10 Downing Street was followed by a day of action. Adam Gabsi from Inclusion London, and wheelchair-user, Sam Cornelius-Light, tell presenter Paul Carter why they feel the issue needs ministers’ urgent attention. Plus, wit...

As the global shortage of ADHD medication continues, some people have told us they’re turning to unlicensed products being advertised to them online, in desperation. Amy Barbour tells us she felt she had no option but to spend money on products which didn’t work. While, Nicky Baker from the Advertising Standards Authority explains why the organisation has banned several adverts and how AI is helpi...

It is known as the land of the “fair go” but some disabled people hoping to move to Australia are having their visa applications rejected because of presumed costs around their health care. Emma Tracey speaks to the BBC’s Australia correspondent, Katy Watson, who experienced this policy first hand when filing paperwork for her son who has Down’s syndrome. And Jonathon Wales, who planned to move to...

It’s the summer of sport, with Wimbledon and the Euros underway and the Olympics and Paralympics to come. The charity Level Playing Field, which advocates for disabled sports fans, says the sporting action has brought with it an increase in disability hate speech online and in stadiums. Emma Tracey speaks to Tony Taylor from Level Playing Field and Willoughby Ellson, a player from Norwich City’s c...

In our final general election special we’re working through a few more topics you told us you wanted to hear about. Cost of living impacts everyone, but it can be particularly challenging if you’re disabled – how do our panel envision the situation could be improved? And while many people work, we also know lots of you care for someone you love, so how might the topics of employment and Carer’s Al...

Emma Tracey interviews representatives from all the major parties to find out what they are pledging when it comes to disability and mental health, ahead of the general election on 4 July. In this edition, we hear from Mags Lewis of the Green Party and Liz Saville Roberts from Plaid Cymru. Reform UK did not put forward a representative for this interview. Instead, BBC Political Correspondent, Davi...

Emma Tracey interviews representatives from all the major parties to find out what they are pledging when it comes to disability and mental health, ahead of the general election on 4 July. In this edition, we hear from Liberal Democrat leader, Sir Ed Davey, and Marion Fellows, disabilities spokesperson for the Scottish National Party. Kate Lamble, from More or Less, a Radio 4 programme all about n...

Emma Tracey interviews representatives from all the major parties to find out what they are pledging when it comes to disability and mental health, ahead of the general election on 4 July. In this edition, we hear from Angela Rayner, deputy leader of the Labour Party. Kate Lamble, from More or Less, a Radio 4 programme all about numbers, also offers some analysis on how the plans add up. Productio...

Emma Tracey interviews representatives from all the major parties to find out what they are pledging when it comes to disability and mental health, ahead of the general election on 4 July. In this edition, we hear from Mims Davies, the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work for the Conservative Party. Kate Lamble, from More or Less, a Radio 4 programme all about numbers, also offers some an...

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 Child...