PTSD with Darren Carew

Darren Carew was a career solider in the Army until an accident occurred which would change his life forever. In this conversation Darren explains how his whole world was turned upside down by the accident which has left him an amputee with a mild brain trauma, dyscalculia and PTSD. We talk about the impact his conditions have had on him and his family.

Darren has since gone on to forge a new career as Disability Rugby Coordinator with the Welsh Rugby Union Group. He works with all ages in the community and puts inclusion at the heart of everything he does. 

In Darren’s own words “I’m 100% a better person for my experiences.”

You can find out more disability projects that Darren by contacting him on Twitter @DisRugbyDC

For support
Charity:
PTSD UK

The NHS advise that if you or your child are experiencing problems after a traumatic experience, or if the symptoms are particularly troublesome you should contact your GP.

Hosted by Paul Shriever and Chantal Boyle, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower.

Visit the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower website.

Autism and Alcohol with Matthew Tinsley
Matthew Tinsley has a degree in Modern Languages and had a long career as a bookseller in independent bookshops. 

In this conversation Matthew explains how his alcohol addiction and his diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome Condition are linked.

After many years struggling with alcoholism and two failed marriages, he overcame his addiction - largely due to his self-awareness of his autistic spectrum condition, together with a long period in rehab using cognitive behavioural therapy.

Matthew has co-written a book with autism specialist, Sarah Hendrickx called Asperger Syndrome and Alcohol, Drinking to Cope.

If you are affected by addiction please speak to your GP or approach a local treatment service.

Hosted by Paul Shriever and Chantal Boyle, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower

Visit the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower website.

Autistic, Dyspraxic and Microdeletion on a chromosome with Lorina

Lorina is 18 years old is autistic and dyspraxic, and also has a rare condition called microdeletion on a chromosome. These conditions mean that she has learning difficulties and has struggled to socialise and understand social cues from people.

After being told that it was unlikely that she would be able to ride a bike due to balance and gross motor skills, Lorina started skiing 3 ½ years ago and joined the Special Olympics Great Britain (SOGB) in 2018. 
 
As well as winning Gold in Slalom, Bronze in Super G and Gold in Giant Slalom, in her category, it has improved her confidence and sense of belonging. Lorina now has a community of friends that are athletes based all over the country.

Find out more about the Special Olympics

Hosted by Paul Shriever, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower

Visit the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower website.

Inclusive shopping experience at The Trafford Centre

Zoe Inman, the Centre Director at one the UK’s largest shopping centres, The Trafford Centre, talks to us about why disability inclusion is so important to them. The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is integral to their wide-reaching accessibility program that includes staff training and development across a range of disabilities to support their customers and one another. 

The government guidelines during the pandemic put huge pressure on retail staff to protect their customers but also themselves which is why they have adopted social distance awareness campaign, Please give me space.

They have listened to customer feedback and are pulling out all the stops welcoming everyone back through their doors.  You can obtain a Sunflower lanyard from their customer service desk. 

Hosted by Paul Shriever and Chantal Boyle, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower

Visit the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower website.

Visit the Please give me space website.

ADHD, Epilepsy, PTSD and Autism with Mark Charlesworth

Mark Charlesworth has a multitude of health conditions including, autism, ADHD, epilepsy and PTSD that were diagnosed later in life.

In this conversation we hear how Mark has altered his working pattern to his advantage. He now advises businesses to recognise the talents that exist in neuro diverse employees and how to support them.

Mark also describes his experiences with wearing the Sunflower and how it has given him a sense of security when going out.

Hosted by Paul Shriever and Chantal Boyle, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower

Visit the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower website.

Dyspraxia, ADHD, Dyscalculia and Damp with Bailey

Bailey is in a mainstream secondary school and has the following health conditions, dyspraxia, attention deficit disorder, dyscalculia and DAMP which means Deficits in Attention, Motor Control and Perception.
 
Parents, Steven and Aneeta, tell us how Bailey has exceeded the limitations of her diagnosis with support from them. Bailey’s experiences at school made her decide to use her artistic talent to raise awareness and acceptance of hidden disabilities. She has designed some clothing using impactful language related to how she feels.

Hosted by Paul Shriever and Chantal Boyle, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower

Visit the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower website.

The Brighton COVID NHS Mass Vaccination Centre, Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust 

With up to 3,000 vaccines administered a day, The Brighton Vaccination Centre is the largest hub in Sussex. Staff have received the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower training and have been welcoming people through their doors.

With that many appointments every day it is a slick operation. The pandemic has been incredibly difficult for everyone and the NHS want to protect as many people as they can. Clinical Nurse Manager, Susie, explains why it is important that people with hidden disabilities feel at ease, recognizing the Sunflower means that they can offer that extra time and understanding.

Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is working with the NHS to support people with hidden disabilities during the vaccine roll-out by providing free Hidden Disabilities Sunflower training and products to NHS vaccination centres.

Hosted by Chantal Boyle, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower

Visit the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower website.

How does the Sunflower help families with autisitc spectrum disorder? with Sarah Hughes

In her final dissertation for a Master of Science in Psychology, Sarah Hughes researched the experiences of eight families with autistic members to explore the barriers that exist to everyday life and how choosing to wear the Sunflower could potentially help. Sarah found that the parents valued the Sunflower as it reduced unwanted comments from strangers as well as feeling that they needed to explain the behaviour of their children. The parents in Sarah’s study also discovered that once people recognised the Sunflower, they would stop judging and instead of expecting the child to change, they adjust their own behaviour and expectations.

Hosted by Paul Shriever, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower

Visit the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower website.

Not every autistic person is the same, everyone is different, as are the variety of occupations available to all of us. So, we ask “why is the employment gap for autistic people so vast?”

In this podcast we are joined by Mike Adams of Purple, Matt Putts of Employment Horizons and Paul White, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower, to discuss what barriers currently exist to employment, not just for autistic people but disabled people in general, and how easy it is to remove them.

Embracing diversity and different thinking brings huge value to an organisation and its talent pool that will only make it richer.

Hosted by Chantal Boyle, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower

Visit the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower website.

Autism and comordities with Maria Cook
Maria Cook is very candid about the multitude of hidden disabilities that her son, Ryan, has. They include autism, development delay, significant learning disabilities, sensory processing disorder, sensory modulation difficulties, hyperacusis and synesthesia. 

Maria is Ryan’s champion and voice as she has had to navigate the various diagnosis’ and adapt to the challenges of Ryan’s conditions. Nothing is insurmountable for this family and we get a real insight to what their life is like and what they have overcome together.

Hosted by Paul Shriever and Ruth Rabet, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower.

Visit the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower website.