Dis-labled: Disabled Voices, Real Stories

Send us Fan Mail We welcome back friend of the show, Remi! She tells us all about the Be:Loved night, we catch up on how everyone’s doing, and we hear Carol’s Talking Tale . Remi also shares her struggle to get power-assisted wheels — proving once again that if you want something done properly, you’ve sometimes you’ve got to do it yourself! You can find info on the Be:Loved event Remi mentioned he...

Send us Fan Mail How do you go from studying chemistry to becoming a professional artist? In this episode of Dis-labled, we meet artist and Community Focus tutor Flo Perry. Flo shares her unusual journey from university chemistry labs to a successful career in art, explains why she chose to follow her passion, and offers advice for anyone dreaming of a creative future. We discuss painting, creativ...

Send us Fan Mail In today's episode, we are thrilled to be back with the CF choir, guided by our singing teacher Sarah. We'll be exploring some brilliant tunes, such as Sunshine on My Shoulders and Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go! while learning vocal techniques to help develop and support our voices. We also chat with some of our singers to discover why music means so much to them. Stay tun...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Dis-labled , we meet Hasel , an artist who shares her journey of living with Asperger's syndrome (AS) and how art has transformed her confidence, communication and wellbeing. Hasel explains how she discovered art during lockdown, why creativity helps her express herself, and how drawing and painting have helped her connect with others. We also hear Carol&ap...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we welcome our newest member, Maria, and get to know her story. We ask about her life experiences and discover how she navigates the world with restricted eyesight—always with resilience and an incredible sense of humour. Later, Gila shares an honest and heartfelt review of her experience using a Fitbit . She opens up about the anxiety it triggered and how being c...

Send us Fan Mail It’s Pride Week at Community Focus – and we’re throwing the spotlight on one of London’s most joyful, inclusive celebrations of all: Bubble Club! This week, we’re stepping away from our usual format to dive into the world of Bubble Club – an immersive nightclub in East London co-created by people with learning disabilities, and proudly celebrating its 20th anniversary. In the lead...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode Oak Lodge School is taking over the show – cue the cheers! 🎉 Meet our brilliant new pupil podcasters from Oak Lodge as they jump behind the mic for the very first time and share a bit about themselves and their interests. Then, the takeover continues with an exclusive interview with Head Teacher Miss Walker , we meet Carol and Yasmin for a behind-the-scenes visit...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we’ve been taken over by our brilliant young ARTiculate group—a creative collective of young people with additional needs who use the arts to express their views and experiences. This time, we’re talking all about employability . We share stories about our jobs, discuss some of the challenges we’ve faced in the workplace, and we’re delighted to welcome Stuart Down...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we dive into the world of live music to ask: are concerts and gigs truly accessible for people with disabilities? We share some of our own experiences to find out.  We also reflect on our visit to CJ’s Bakery —where delicious cakes are made with care, and meaningful employment is offered to a brilliant team of people with learning disabilities. And finally, Poetry...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to today’s episode, where we take you inside one of North London’s most inspiring hidden gems— CJ’s Bakery ! But this isn’t just any bakery. It’s a place where passion meets purpose, where every loaf, cake, and pastry has a story to tell. At CJ’s, all the bakers are adults with learning disabilities, working together in a safe, welcoming, and empowering environment. It’s m...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Dis-labled, we meet drama and creative writing tutor Ben Wilson to talk about theatre, storytelling, teaching and the creative process behind developing original ideas and characters.  We also hear Yvonne's imaginative tale of Lightbulb Man , a superhero on a mission to defeat darkness and recover a missing silver duck. Along the way we discuss drama, writi...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we talk about being patronised —how it makes us feel and what we would say to those who have patronised us in the past. Listen carefully—you might learn something! You could be patronising others without even realising it. We also bring you the third instalment of our drama, 45 Nowhere Street , and an incredible Talking Tale , written and performed by Tara . Proje...

Send us Fan Mail Greetings to all our fans! In this episode, we present the second episode of our brand-new spooky soap opera, 45 Nowhere Street . We discuss the impact the internet has had on our lives, both good and bad. We also listen to the third of our Talking Tales –written and performed by Ruby. Project Managers: Andrea Rai & Phil Powell. Editor: Phil Powell Project Managers: Andrea Rai...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we premiere our brand-new spooky soap opera, 45 Nowhere Street . We explore what we would all do if we were queen or king for a day. We also feature an article on the growing phenomenon of ASMR and listen to the second instalment of our new Talking Tales —this time written and performed by Remi. We also hear about a new adaptive clothing range, specifically design...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we catch up with the fabulous Dis-labled crew and find out what we enjoy watching on TV. We chat about some unusual hobbies, Carol reviews an app called Block Puzzle , and we debut the first of our brand-new Talking Tales ! Project Managers: Andrea Rai & Phil Powell. Editor: Phil Powell Project Managers: Andrea Rai & Phil Powell Editor: Phil Powell Huge th...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we open up about anxiety, and share the tools and strategies we use to overcome it. We also dive into some of Carol's creative projects, including a poem about a wealthy man disguising himself as a poor man, and Gila updates her previous Finch App review - it's now a thumbs down. Don’t miss this thoughtful and inspiring conversation! Project Managers: An...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we talk about what we've been up to this week and find out if any of us have ever been on the stage. We also share our reactions to a recent newspaper article written about us and chat about our favourite places to go out. Tune in for all the latest from the Dis-labled crew! Project Managers: Andrea Rai & Phil Powell. Editor: Phil Powell Project Managers:...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we talk about how we're feeling at the start of the New Year, chat about the Superloop bus, share some good news, and interview project manager Flo about her job. It's a mix of motivation, conversation, and creativity, so let's dive in! Project Managers: Andrea Rai & Phil Powell. Editor: Phil Powell Project Managers: Andrea Rai & Phil Powell...

Send us Fan Mail This week, we took a break from our usual show to visit the amazing Chickenshed Theatre Company , which is celebrating its 50th anniversary. We got a special tour, went behind the scenes, and met some of the fantastic team who make it all happen. Our guide for the afternoon was Matthew Lyons , head of Young Company, and we also had the pleasure of meeting Maya and Shiloh , who sha...

Send us Fan Mail In Part 2 of these very special episodes, the girls are taking over the podcast! In this episode, we're joined by our special guest, Dr Dhavale, to discuss women's health. If you're affected by anything you hear today or would like to explore any relevant topics further, please don't hesitate to get in touch on the email below. **Warning! A quick note before we...

Send us Fan Mail In Part 1 of these very special episodes, the girls are taking over the podcast! We hear from those of us who work and explore the kinds of jobs we'd love to have when we're ready to start our careers. We discuss new slang, the exhaustion of masking our disabilities, and how we have fun -  including our favourite fidget toys! 00:01:30 - Intro 00:02:01 - What's going...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Jonathan talks about his LOTNA group, which stands for The League of the Non-Aligned – a social group of sci-fi fans based in London who enjoy all forms of sci-fi and cult TV. He also discusses the LOTNA board games evening he attended and reviews the game Ticket to Ride . Gila reviews an app called Finch, designed to help reduce anxiety, we chat about our favouri...

Send us Fan Mail Are self-checkouts making shopping harder for disabled people? In this episode of Dis-labled, the team share their experiences of navigating supermarkets, self-checkouts and everyday accessibility challenges. From confusing technology to long waits for assistance, we discuss how modern shopping can sometimes create unexpected barriers. We also enjoy two original poems, including H...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we discuss how we feel about labels (and being labeled), talk about keeping fit, and share tips on finding the perfect gym to get you moving. And finally, Carol is back to share another one of her incredible poems. It’s a mix of motivation, chat, and creativity, so let’s dive in! Project Managers: Andrea Rai & Phil Powell Editor: Phil Powell Project Managers:...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we interview our newest member, Carol, and chat about National Days—plus, we choose what we would make into a national celebration! Phill tells some jokes, and we share our experiences, both good and bad, from our shopping trips. Gila bravely opens up about her recent autism diagnosis. So stay tuned! Project Managers: Andrea Rai & Phil Powell Editor: Phil Powe...