National Disability & Carers Card Scheme Podcast

Heather Mills joins the National Disability & Carers Card Scheme Podcast to talk about losing her leg in 1993, her rehabilitation, and how she went on to help develop modern prosthetic limbs, from limbs for high heels to ice skating.

In this podcast you’ll learn about:

• Life after limb loss: Heather’s experience of rehab in the 1990s, what healthcare professionals got right and wrong, and how she helped develop the specialist prosthetics available today.

• Practical tips for new amputees: what has helped her manage phantom limb pain, and why peer support from other amputees makes such a difference.

• How to challenge assumptions with warmth: real-life strategies for dealing with people who ignore, misjudge or speak over disabled people, including advice for wheelchair users.

• Living with a hidden disability: how a gut condition changed Heather’s life, and explaining what FODMAPs are and who is affected.

• Building confidence and resilience: Heather’s mindset on tough days, and turning setbacks into purpose.

• Plus Q&A with our card holders.

Views expressed in this video do not necessarily represent the views of National Disability Card as an organisation. This content reflects the guest's personal experience and is not medical advice. Please speak to your GP or a registered dietitian before changing your diet or treatment. Heather was not compensated to appear on this podcast, and we were not paid to feature or promote No Bloat in this episode.

🥗 NO BLOAT

Learn more and order today: nobloat.com

National Disability Card is a partner of No Bloat.

🪪 NATIONAL DISABILITY CARD

Learn more and apply: disabilityid.co.uk

❤️ NATIONAL CARERS CARD

Learn more and apply: nationalcarerscard.org.uk

📱 FOLLOW US

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/disabilityandcarerscard

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/disability.id/

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@nationaldisabilitycard

About the National Disability & Carers Card Scheme

The National Disability & Carers Card Scheme was set up in 2019 by carers, to make everyday life and access easier for people with disabilities and those who care for them. The scheme supports 300,000 card holders and provides easy-to-carry visual identification that helps users avoid repeatedly explaining their disability or caring role. The National Disability Card is accepted as proof of disability at 600+ venues across the UK and abroad.

Director Edward Herbert shares the personal story that inspired the creation of the scheme. From supporting his sister Millie, who has cystic fibrosis, to building a national initiative helping hundreds of thousands of people, Edward talks about the everyday challenges carers and disabled people face, and how something as simple as a card can make a real difference. We discuss...

- How the experience of hidden disability and caregiving led to the creation of the scheme

- The stressful situations where a simple card can make all the difference

- Why we worked with a banknote designer

- Exciting developments we're working on to make everyday life even easier for card holders

❤️ Apply for the National Carers Card: nationalcarerscard.org.uk

💙 Apply for the National Disability Card: disabilityid.co.uk

Today we’re interviewing Eddie and Suzie, who are raising awareness of PAF (Pure Autonomic Failure), a rare condition that only around 180 people in the UK live with.

In this episode we discuss…

- What it’s like to live with a rare condition

- Setting up their own support group and the importance of a supportive network

- Going from caregiving to being cared for

- Travel insurance when you have a rare condition

- How the National Disability Card helps on days out and at theatres

- How the National Carers Card helps carers get recognition and assistance

💜 Join Suzie & Ed's PAF Support Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/869025589357423

💙 Apply for the National Disability Card: disabilityid.co.uk

❤️ Apply for the National Carers Card: nationalcarerscard.org.uk

Cici became a carer for her dad in her teens, and is now working to support other young carers. In this episode, we discuss...

- Cici’s journey to becoming a young carer after her dad’s rare dementia diagnosis

- The hidden challenges of identity, guilt, and growing up while caring at home

- Why recognising yourself as a carer can change everything - including access to support

- The lasting impact of caregiving on boundaries, relationships, and mental health

- How to support other young carers.

Learn more about Cici’s work: www.seeingdementiadifferently.com

Apply for the National Disability Card: disabilityid.co.uk

Apply for the National Carers Card: nationalcarerscard.org.uk

Holly Fleet, who you might know as @stomababe, is an online creator who has built a following around sharing her experiences of living with ulcerative colitis. In this episode we discuss…

- Why a stoma bag isn’t the worst case scenario

- What most people don’t understand about hidden disability

- Finding community when you have disabilities

- How to let your employer know you're disabled

- How Holly uses her National Disability Card

💙 Apply for the National Disability Card: disabilityid.co.uk ❤️

Apply for the National Carers Card: nationalcarerscard.org.uk

💖 Follow Holly on YouTube, Instagram & Tiktok: @stomababe

Jason Busby was a private carer for 17 years before joining the National Disability and Carers Card Scheme. In this episode Jason discusses…

- The one thing Jason wishes he had known about at the start of his caregiving journey

- Calling the fire brigade to help a client and his mobility scooter out of a ditch! - The little-known rewards of being a carer

- Boundaries and saying ‘no’ as a caregiver

- Self-care and getting support as a carer

💙 Apply for the National Disability Card: disabilityid.co.uk

❤️ Apply for the National Carers Card: nationalcarerscard.org.uk

Dominic gives his honest perspective on caregiving...

- The challenges of getting through an airport as a disabled person

- Living with ADHD and chronic pain

- How the National Disability Card helps him while travelling

💙 Apply for the National Disability Card: disabilityid.co.uk

❤️ Apply for the National Carers Card: nationalcarerscard.org.uk