The boss of Paralympics GB joins us, with just over 100 days to go until this summer’s Games in Paris. From studying politics to a spell in banking – not to mention playing blind football for England -  we explore the work Dave Clarke’s done to help innovate the workforce – and the playing field. Plus, is Right Care, Right Person the right approach? The scheme used by several police forces in England and Wales means fewer officers attend mental health calls. Instead support is provided by the NHS and mental health services.
One top police boss believes it is a success, but as you’ll hear mental health charities have concerns.
 
Presenter Emma Tracey
The episode was made by Alex Collins and Daniel Gordon
Recorded and mixed by Dave O’Neill
 
The editor was Ben Mundy

Paralympics boss Dave Clarke: the unwitting trailblazer

Weekly podcast about mental health, wellbeing and disabled people.  
Life stories and solutions with a friendly touch – for listeners around the world.

News

We hear what it’s like to live with a disability in a war zone. Boshra is an 18-year-old woman who lives in Gaza and has muscular dystrophy. She and Oleksii, a man with a learning disability from Ukraine, share their experiences with presenter Emma Tracey.  Emma also speaks to George Graham, CEO of Humanity and Inclusion, a charity which supports disabled people living in conflict areas.  Presenter Emma Tracey
Production by Daniel Gordon and Alex Collins
Recorded and mixed by Dave O’Neill
Special thanks to Irena Taranyuk, BBC Ukrainian Service
Edited by Farhana Haider Is there an election issue affecting disabled people you think we should be talking about? Get in touch, we really want to hear from you. You can email us accessall@bbc.co.uk or message @bbcaccessall on Twitter/X or Instagram. Our WhatsApp number is 0330 123 9480, please begin your message with the word ACCESS.

Living with a disability in Gaza and Ukraine

The launch of Chat GPT-4o is already making it easier for blind and visually impaired people to live independent lives, and promises to open up accessibility for people with many other disabilities.  Emma Tracey gathers a panel of experts, featuring technology journalist Paul Carter; the CEO of Be My Eyes Mike Buckley; and Professor Annalu Waller, Director of the Augmentative and Alternate Communication Research Group at the University of Dundee. They discuss what the technology might mean for disabled people – considering not only the advantages, but also the potential downsides.  Also in this episode, Emma takes part in a workshop called Hair&Care;, where visually impaired people learn to style their own hair. Presenter Emma Tracey
Production by Daniel Gordon and Alex Collins
Recorded and mixed by Dave O'Neill
Edited by Ben Mundy

Will AI be helpful or ableist towards disabled people?

Mims Davies knows first-hand about disability having been a carer for her dad after he sustained a head injury. But how is the Minster for Disabled people, Health and Work faring in the job?  In an extended interview, Emma Tracey quizzes her on a variety of topics including the government's decision to make people on a modest income pay back money for over-claiming Carer's Allowance.  The minister responds to claims by a United Nations committee that the UK is failing in its duty to give disabled people dignity in life and work.  Plus it’s a year since the British Sign Language (BSL) Advisory Board first met to advise the government on key issues impacting BSL users in the deaf community. What has it achieved so far? Presenter Emma Tracey The episode was made by Alex Collins, Daniel Gordon and Drew Hyndman Recorded and mixed by Dave O’Neill The editors were Damon Rose and Alex Lewis

Mims Davies MP: “My dad was disabled for twenty-five years”

Activism has been a part of Liz Carr’s career since the start, particularly when it comes to assisted dying, also known as assisted suicide.
 
She’s made a documentary on the world service, and even a musical on the topic, and now she has a new BBC documentary, provocatively named Better Off Dead?
 
In this special episode, Liz chats to Emma about making the documentary including: seeing how it works in Canada, her fears about abuse and her sympathy for terminally ill people. 
 
"Alexa, ask the BBC for Access All" is one way of listening to us; subscribing on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts is another.
 
Access All was made by: Daniel Gordon, Drew Hyndman and Alex Collins.
The editor is Alex Lewis, senior editor Sam Bonham, the presenter is Emma Tracey.
It was recorded and mixed by Dave O'Neill.

Paralympics boss Dave Clarke: the unwitting trailblazer

Download our free app to listen on your phone