Season 2 Ep 4

Summary

Ruth Hunter is joined by disability inclusion and accessibility consultant Luis Canto E Castro for a powerful and deeply personal conversation about the reality of inaccessible housing in the UK.

Living with spinal muscular atrophy, Luis shares firsthand experience of navigating unsuitable homes, inaccessible bathrooms, restrictive care policies, and the challenges of trying to access support through the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) system after moving to the UK from South Africa.

Together, Ruth and Luis explore why retrofitting homes is often far more expensive and traumatic than building accessible homes from the start, why current housing standards still fail many disabled people, and how outdated policies continue to leave thousands trapped in unsuitable housing. They also discuss societal attitudes towards disability, the importance of lived experience in decision-making, and why accessible housing should be viewed as essential infrastructure, not an optional extra.

Chapters

00:00 — Welcome + introduction to Luis Canto E Castro

01:00 — Luis’ lived experience with spinal muscular atrophy

02:58 — Moving to the UK and working in accessibility and inclusion

04:35 — The Inside Housing article and the need for accessible homes from the start

06:01 — Why current accessibility standards still fail disabled people

07:53 — Unsafe housing, inaccessible thresholds, and losing independence

11:23 — Trying to navigate the DFG system and online discrimination

14:34 — The government’s £50 million DFG funding announcement

17:38 — Why accessible homes should be designed for lifetime living

19:44 — Developers, “value engineering,” and accessibility being removed from schemes

22:18 — Why most people still don’t understand the accessible housing crisis

23:16 — Representation, politics, and the lack of disabled voices in decision-making

29:27 — Disability awareness, schools, and societal change

31:13 — Luis’ personal experience applying for a Disabled Facilities Grant

35:18 — Being refused DFG funding despite needing adaptations

38:38 — Self-funding home adaptations and creating independence

42:00 — Leaving agency care and taking control through direct payments

45:33 — What needs to change in the DFG system

47:23 — Why the UK must rethink accessible housing policy

48:18 — Where to find Luis and connect online

Keywords

Accessible housing, universal design, disability inclusion, spinal muscular atrophy, Disabled Facilities Grant, DFG, accessible homes, wheelchair users, M4(2), M4(3), housing policy, inclusive housing, disability advocacy, accessible bathrooms, adaptations, retrofitting homes, housing crisis, disability discrimination, accessible design, independent living, planning policy, social care, universal housing, ageing in place, lifetime homes, inclusive environments, disability awareness

Contact details

Luis Canto E Castro

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