Young voices. Big issues. Welcome to Youth Rising by NCS! The podcast for young people, made by young people. 

This week our team chats to some great guests about how we can all work at making society less ableist. Our Youth Rising Team member Lottie kicks us off with an interview with Lucy Edwards. The wonderful Lucy is known for popularising the hashtag #BlindNotBroken and talks to Lottie about losing her sight as a teenager, relearning to pour a cup of tea, and how her guide dogs Olga (aka Bogsy) and Molly (aka Miss Molly Moo) support her.

Plus, a discussion with our Youth Rising team, as contributing editors Haleem and Paige talk about Paige’s experiences of living with autism. Paige shares how living with their autism intersects with their social anxiety, how autism is frequently misunderstood and how we can all be more aware.

Paige also chats to actor and comedian Tim Renkow about laughing at himself, disabled representation in the media and how ignorance creates more obstacles than malice. Tim moved to the UK to study creative writing after being born in Mexico City, growing up in North Carolina, attending art school in Memphis and building his career as a comedian in New York. He is the star of his own show, Jerk, on the BBC (it’s hilarious).

Youth Rising team member Nelly also speaks to the amazing Isabella Evans, aka Isabella Signs. Sixteen year old Isabella, along with her brother Lucus with Down syndrome, her brother Alexander with Cerebral Palsy and her mini-me little sister Indiana, are on a mission to teach the world to sign. She and Nelly deep dive into the difference between BSL (British Sign Language) and Makaton, signing along to songs and how she wants to make the world a better place one sign at a time.

Later, Kiera from the NCS Youth Voice Forum has a twin sister with complex needs and shares some excellent insights into how able-bodied people can consider accessibility.

Remember: never distract a guide dog, there is SO MUCH ability in disability and the goal is not equality but equity.

Reading List:

Kika & Me by Amit Patel

Break The Mould by Sinéad Burke

Demystifying Disability: What to Know, What to Say, and How to Be an Ally by Emily Ladau

Follow us @ncs

Follow Lucy Edwards @lucyedwardsofficial

Follow Isabella Evans @Isabellasigns

Follow Tim Renkow @TimRenkowcomedy

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