The JD Dragon Disability Rights Podcast: Exploring how disability and diversity are connected

Today we're joined by my good friend Eloise Durante to talk about how understanding our disabilities led to greater empathy both within ourselves and each other. Listen to our original interview via the link below: https://open.spotify.com/episode/37syvVFs7zcvPdHVKqIQKZ?si=umTPtG2MT2aZX5N5LgGIN w If you would like to reach out feel free to send an email to: atelierfuralle@gmail.com. You can al...

In honour of the International Day Persons with Disabilities (3rd December) My good friend Matthew Turnock and I will discuss the most common myths and about Cerebral Palsy based on our lived experiences. Check out our original interview via the link below: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0gsRm52YX2zcz8LApUZ1RM?si=31JAyUUJRYWuxqilD3W_3g If you would like to reach out feel free to send an email to...

Melvyn Kuetgens is a bioengineer with a background in the energy sector and the Policy Lead for Volt Belgium since February 2025. His current goals are to establish a strong presence for Volt in Belgium, particularly in Wallonia, while setting up internal working teams and developing the Belgian chapter’s political programme. He's also worked on initiatives designed to support Blind People and...

Today we’re joined by Marina Di Duca, Inclusive Tourism Manager at VisitScotland is responsible for the development and management of an Inclusive Scotland programme aimed at engaging and assisting tourism businesses to provide more inclusive products and services and provide a quality visitor experience for all visitors to Scotland. Marina has spent over 40 years working in tourism industry in a...

Today we're joined by Abigail, Havannah and Eren from MindSpace Gibraltar, Gibraltar's leading mental health charity for children and teens. Today they will tell us about the various initiatives the organisation has undertaken to support the mental of young people on The Rock. Learn more about MindSpace via the link to their website below: https://www.themindspaceproject.org/our-team If yo...

Nicola Price is a retired Paralegal from the UK who has Myopic Degeneration, a degenerative condition which affects the retinas leaving her partially-sighted. She volunteers at both the Moorfields Eye Hospital in London and the charity Surrey Sight Savers. Learn more about these organisations via the links below: Surrey Sight Savers: https://www.facebook.com/share/16KdapZmGb/?mibextid=wwXIfr https...

Klaus Schulte ist Mitglied von Volt Österreich und Psychotherapeut wer hat verschiedene Initiativen zur Förderung von Menschen mit Behinderung in Österreich unterstützt. Erfahren Sie mehr über Volt Österreich über den unten stehenden Link zu ihrer Website: https://voltoesterreich.org/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/volt-oesterreich?originalSubdomain=at Instagram: https://www.instagram....

Ian Treherne is a photographer from England with visual and auditory impairments. Today he'll tell us about how his art helps him appreciate the world despite his challenges. Learn more about his work via the links below: Official Website: https://iantreherne.co.uk/about/ https:// Instagram: www.instagram.com/ian_treherne/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/itreherne/ YouTube: https://www.youtube....

Reinier Van Lanschot is a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for Volt Netherlands, the Dutch branch of Volt Europa Pan-European movement and has worked on various initiatives to support people with disabilities across both The Netherlands and Europe. Learn more about Reinier and Volt Netherlands via the links below: Volt Netherlands Official Website: https://voltnederland.org/ Instagram https...

Scarlett Humphreys is the founder of the Sunrise of Hope mental health walk to promote awareness of mental health in Gibraltar and has also worked with GibSam's Gibraltar's leading mental health charity. Learn more about the Sunrise of Hope Mental Health Walk via the link below: Facebook Event Information: https://facebook.com/events/s/sunrise-of-hope-2025/1333425201331286/ If you would li...

Christopher Wheeler is originally from Birmingham England and are SHIELD Manager in the Falkland Islands SHIELD is a multi faceted programme for individuals, over the age of 16, who have SEND. They offer opportunities for social enterprise, where members make and sell a variety of products to tourists and the local community. Additionally, they also have a support internship route where out ultima...

Mehnoor A is a medical student from West Yorkshire in the UK who has Multiple Sclerosis who is the founder of both Chronicallyamedic and ChronicallyConnected An online community for helping people with disabilities express themselves and share their stories. If you would like to share your story contact Mehnoor via Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chronicallyamedic?igsh=YnZzOXNnbmpocms3 If you...

Josephine Rink ist Mitglied bei Volt Deutschland (Volt Bonn) und sitzt im Beirat für den Teilhabeplan Behinderung und im Beirat für Kinder- und Jugendbeteiligung. Das sind die Themen, die mich sowohl privat als auch beruflich beschäftigen. Für die nächste Legislaturperiode steht sie auf der Reserveliste für den Rat an fünfter Stelle und für die Bezirksvertretung Bad Godesberg an zweiter Stelle. Si...

Günay Kibrit is the President of the Cyprus Turkish Orthopaedically Disabled Association (Kıbrıs Türk Ortopedik Özürlüler Derneği) which aims to support people with physical disabilities in the northern predominantly Turkish region of Cyprus (known as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus/TRNC) The TRNC is only officially recognised by the Republic of Türkiye. Today Günay will tell us about his...

Nichole Fink is an educator and mother from Pennsylvania who has a passion for children supporting who struggle with various forms of disability. She's worked with children autism and other forms of disabilities in America and Belize, specifically with "The Inspiration Center" Learn more about Nichole and her work via the links below: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/176bt5ju...

Matvey Celecia is a member of the Gibraltar Social Democrats (GSD) who has undertaken various initiatives advocating for various causes in Gibraltar including environmental and human rights. Today he’ll tell us about the various initiatives he’s supported focusing on disability and mental health. Learn more about Matvey and his work via the link below. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/16ft...

Early last year my podcast had barely any listeners in Gibraltar however upon publishing my first episode about disability in Gibraltar the show went VIRAL!!! and now The Rock is my show's third largest audience on the planet and is rapidly eclipsing every other country on earth in terms of overall viewership. Mucho thank you everyone! Listen to my interview on Gibraltar Today if you'd like to lea...

Maryam Fakhar has dedicated 23 years to the cause of Iran's freedom and being the voice of its oppressed people, particularly women. She is a leading human rights advocate with over two decades of experience in international policy, women's empowerment, advocating for a democratic Iran, and Congressional outreach. A member of the Women's Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCR...

Marina Rrika , the Co-President of Volt Albania, part of the pan-European political movement Volt Europa. With a background in Political Science and experience across several European countries, she brings a global perspective to Albanian and regional politics. Passionate about democracy, civic participation, and social justice, she has authored several papers and continues to work toward a more t...

Piérre ter Horst leitet den Safe Space Lead von Volt Deutschland für Menschen mit Behinderungen. Heute wird er seine Geschichte erzählen und uns von den Initiativen berichten, die der Safe Space Lead zur Unterstützung von Menschen mit Behinderungen in Deutschland ergriffen hat. Erfahren Sie mehr über Volt Deutschland über den unten stehenden Link zu ihrer Website: https://voltdeutschland.org/ Wenn...

Annie Risso is the CEO and National Director of Special Olympics Gibraltar which represents Gibraltar in the International Special Olympic movement. Today she'll share her backstory and tell us about how the organisation gives athletes with Intellectual Disabilities an opportunity to shine on the world stage through international sport. Learn more about Special Olympics Gibraltar via the links...

Antonia Trikalioti is a Greek disabled activist, a board member of ENIL, and a co-founder as well as the secretary general of the Independent Living Organization of Greece “i-living” Today she’ll tell us about her story and work. Learn more about Antonia’s work via the links below: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FmyJewbaN/ If you would like to reach out feel free to send an email to:...

Collyn McLaughlin is the Lead for Volt Scotland at Volt UK. Today he’ll share his story growing up with autism and his desires for an inclusive future in both Scotland and Europe. Learn more about Collyn and Volt Scotland via the links below: Official Volt UK Website: https://voltuk.org/people/regional-community-lead-for-scotland Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/16NoYQMdoh/?mibextid=wwXIfr...

Ronan Kerleo is a member of Pan-European Party Volt Europa and Leader of the Volt Disability Network and is also one of the Board Members for Volt France, the French branch of Volt Europa. Ronan helped draft the Moonshot Programme for the last European elections, a unique programme supported by all our lists across Europe, which includes a number of important specific points on disability rights i...

José Rosario is an activist, clinician, and researcher who focuses on the mental health journeys of people and communities with intersectional identities. He is the Founder of The Phoenix  Empowered, a nonprofit that gives voice to the mental health stories of queer, BIPOC, disabled and other communities traditionally left out of the conversation. Learn more about José and his work via the links b...