A sharp look at the surge in EHCPs and the growing number of young people being placed in educated elsewhere settings as special school capacity runs out. The episode also unpacks statutory delays, postcode-level inequality, and the financial pressures pushing councils into deficit-bailout deals.

This episode examines a major funding boost that removes morning restrictions on the Disabled Person's Bus Pass, while highlighting the postcode gaps that still leave companion travel and rail access unresolved. It also digs into the Timms PIP review, concerns over consultation being reduced to a token exercise, and the growing crisis in Access to Work as delays and cancellations undermine disabled people’s ability to work.

Show Notes

• The Clock is Ticking for Real System Change: https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/government-removes-time-restrictions-disabled-person%E2%80%99s-bus-pass-clock-ticking-real-system?srsltid=AfmBOorAgYqoexVhA7godeUeftIVvs57LQy52sRwCCb49xaIDg-IGH4-

This episode digs into the UK’s Access to Work backlog, where disabled workers are waiting months for basic accommodations and support. It also explores how employers pass off their legal responsibility for reasonable adjustments, and why accessibility should be built into workplaces from the start.

David Carlisle and Ruby Sturt unpack the realities of moving from children’s to adult services for young people with additional needs, from EHCP planning in Year 9 to the shift from DLA to PIP and the legal changes at sixteen.

They also explore local offers, adult social care, direct payments, college funding, and supported internships, offering practical strategies for parents navigating a complex system.

This episode explores how disability can trigger instant pity, saint-making, and the painful “bad parent” glare in public spaces. The hosts unpack courtesy stigma, inspiration porn, and what real support looks like: ordinary conversation, practical inclusion, and genuine partnership.

We break down the crucial differences between refusal to assess and refusal to name a school appeals, including mediation deadlines, tribunal forms, and the legal thresholds families need to know. The episode also covers how to build a strong Working Document for Section F, use expert evidence effectively, and choose the right witnesses for hearing day.

David Carlisle and Harper Bennett unpack the rapid rise in EHCPs and disability benefits for children in the UK, and how underfunded schools, NHS delays, and overloaded councils are pushing families into a maze of bureaucracy. They also explore the costly transition to adult support at 16 and argue for a more holistic system that treats disability support as an investment in future independence.

We unpack the UK government’s plan to scrap the Work Capability Assessment and tie Universal Credit health support to PIP, exploring why the change could leave hundreds of thousands without help. The conversation also examines stricter eligibility rules, frozen support for new claimants, and the flawed idea that financial pressure can “incentivize” disabled people into work.

David and Harper unpack the UK’s new Experts at Hand service, which brings specialist SEND support into classrooms before a formal diagnosis is in place. They also explore why neurodivergent kids face greater online risks, and how co-regulation, digital street smarts, and emerging AI tools can make inclusion safer and more accessible.

This episode explores the power dynamics that can leave disabled and chronically ill patients feeling unheard in medical settings, from presumed incompetence to diagnostic overshadowing. The hosts share practical strategies for preparing for appointments, using communication profiles, setting caregiver boundaries, and pushing back when clinicians dismiss symptoms.