Following an opinion poll of heroes which was topped by three disabled people, Paul Carter and Victoria Wright discuss what lies behind the concept of heroic disabled people.

They also discuss the accessibility of public transport and the collective consciousness of disabled people.


Paul and Victoria are joined by the activist Zara Todd, who has a keen interest in transport issues, Actor, presenter and composer of The Download's theme music Mik Scarlet, and Julie Howell, who has campaigned for better access to technology and who is now a public speaking trainer.

Disabled heroes and public transport accessibility

 Presenter Paul Carter is joined by business coach Robin Hindle-Fisher and disability consultant Phil Friend. They discuss unexpected positive consequences from an examination of the extra costs disabled people face which was carried out by Scope, the charity which funds Disability Now. Also on the agenda some research from Nottingham University’s business school which suggests that people in the workplace are not necessarily thrilled at the prospect of having disabled people as colleagues. Producer: Ian Macrae

The Download: Chasing disabled customers and bad news from the workplace

In the latest conversation in our Head-To-Head podcast series, Ian Macrae meets Baroness Campbell of Surbiton. She talks about her suburban childhood and poor early schooling, the death of her first husband and its impact on her disability politics, her hopes for Teresa May’s government and how members of the House of Lords react to her as a disabled person.

The Download Head to Head: Baroness Jane Campbell

Lawyer Raquel Siganporia, disability consultant Maria Zedda and actor, writer and feminist Athena Stevens join Paul Carter. They discuss defining ourselves as disabled, life beyond the Paralympic circus and feminism and disabled women. Producer Ian Macrae.

The Download: Feminism, self-definition and life after the Paralympics

Kicking off Disability Now’s Paralympic season is this interview with T42 sprinter Julie Rogers. At 17 she’s competing in the 100m in Rio but this is not her first Paralympic Games. In 2012 at the age of 13 she was a member of Britain’s seated volleyball team at the London games. She talks to Ian Macrae about her move to track and field, her desire to succeed in disability sport and her realistic hopes and expectations for Rio.  Producer/Presenter IAN MACRAE Technical support: RICHARD ARMSTRONG

The Download: Head to Head - Julie Rogers

Ian Macrae sits in for regular host Paul Carter and is joined by guests Mik Scarlet, Jane Hatton and performance poet Callum Brazzo who presents one of his poems towards the end of the show. Also under discussion, the woes it disabled flyers and a company which aims to bring together disabled job seekers and the employers who need their skills. Producer/Presenter Ian Macrae Technical support Joe Galbraith

Disabled heroes and public transport accessibility

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