More than 250 deaf people are taking the UK government to court over the lack of British Sign Language (BSL) in televised Covid briefings at the start of the pandemic. Nikki is joined by campaigner Lynn Stewart-Taylor and deaf journalist Liam O'Dell to discuss why this case is so important.
 
We are joined by actor Leo Long, the star of the new Netflix film, I Used To Be Famous.
 
And the story of the blind Instagrammer who used her AI description software to discover that the pictures she had been sent by an interested male were not very flattering about the assets he is presumably rather proud of.
 
Producers: Keiligh Baker, Amy Elizabeth and Emma Tracey
Recording / mixing: Dave O'Neill
Editors: Damon Rose and Jonathan Aspinwall

The battle for BSL

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

News

The launch of Chat GPT-4o is already making it easier for blind and visually impaired people to live independent lives, and promises to open up accessibility for people with many other disabilities.  Emma Tracey gathers a panel of experts, featuring technology journalist Paul Carter; the CEO of Be My Eyes Mike Buckley; and Professor Annalu Waller, Director of the Augmentative and Alternate Communication Research Group at the University of Dundee. They discuss what the technology might mean for disabled people – considering not only the advantages, but also the potential downsides.  Also in this episode, Emma takes part in a workshop called Hair&Care;, where visually impaired people learn to style their own hair. Presenter Emma Tracey
Production by Daniel Gordon and Alex Collins
Recorded and mixed by Dave O'Neill
Edited by Ben Mundy

Will AI be helpful or ableist towards disabled people?

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.

The battle for BSL

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