The Access All team were shocked when Ellie Simmonds left this year’s season of Strictly Come Dancing  – the first person with dwarfism to compete on the show.
 
But the dancing competition’s loss is this episode’s gain, as Ellie chats all things representation, ballroom, skydiving and her plans for the future.
 
Why do we only ever hear about disabled dating, and never about long-term relationships? Presenters Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey talk about their experiences, plus provide some tips and advice.
 
Billionaire Elon Musk might have bought Twitter, but he also reportedly sacked half of its staff including the entire accessibility team. So what does this mean for disabled people? BBC Click’s Paul Carter and accessibility consultant Leonie Watson help us make sense of a wild week in social media.
 
Producers: Keiligh Baker, Amy Elizabeth and Emma Tracey
Recording / mixing: Dave O'Neill 
Series editor: Beth Rose
Senior News Editor: Jonathan Aspinwall

Ellie Simmonds: “Strictly gave me confidence”

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

News

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

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.

Liz Carr talks to us about her new documentary about assisted dying

The government has published its consultation on changes to the Personal Independence Payment benefit, PIP. Emma Tracey asks Scope's Head of Policy James Taylor for his analysis.
 
With GCSEs, A-levels and other exams starting this month, Emma speaks to one of the people responsible for working out exam access arrangements for students who need it. Here's where you get the lowdown on extended time, breaks, alternative quiet exam rooms, prompters etc that you or your child may be given, from someone on the ground right now fixing it all - Martine Chapman Special Literacy Teacher at Dorothy Stringer School in Brighton.
And, How To Do Life with a Chronic Illness is the title of Pippa Stacey's new book. Pippa has ME / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and she tells Emma that she
likes to focus on things you CAN do and how you can do them, rather than concentrating on medical matters.
 
"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: Niamh Hughes, Drew Hyndman and Alex Collins. 
The editor is Damon Rose, senior editor Sam Bonham, the presenter is Emma Tracey.
It was recorded and mixed by Dave O'Neill.

PIP Consultation: Vouchers instead of money?

Emma Tracey speaks to the mother of a 35 year old woman with learning disabilities who has been living in a mental health facility “unnecessarily” for
three years. She says there is no reason for her to be living there and that it's due to lack of appropriate housing and care in the community. We
also hear from autistic author Alexis Quinn who feels let down by the system but is living in her own home now.
Mencap's analysis shows over 2,000 learning disabled or autistic people are inappropriately leading restricted lives in hospital. Dan Scorer from the charity shines some light on the situation as the government again misses its own target to bring down the numbers.
 
Last week prime minister Rishi Sunak outlined the Conservative's plans to change work and Personal Independent Payments (PIP) benefits if they win the pending general election. Talk of benefits change is always concerning and Drew Hyndman from the Access All team combs through what he said and puts it in perspective.
 
Activist Shani Dhanda is presently the number one most influential disabled person in the UK according to Shaw Trust's Power 100 list. As the proud Brummy starts a new programme on the BBC's Asian Network, she talks to us about her journey to understanding what being disabled means.
 
Access All was made by Niamh Hughes, Alex Collins, Drew Hyndman, and edited by Damon Rose and Alex Lewis. Recorded and mixed by Dave O'Neill. The Senior Editor is Sam Bonham.
 
"Alexa, ask the BBC for Access All" to play the latest episode. Or subscribe on BBC Sounds app or website.

Ellie Simmonds: “Strictly gave me confidence”

Download our free app to listen on your phone