This episode was recorded at Rise4Disability.

Experience the world of accessible travel in aviation with Michael Connolly as we welcome him to the Sunflower Conversations podcast at the Rise4Disability event in Milton Keynes. Michael shares his vast knowledge of the hurdles faced by travellers with disabilities and how innovations like the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower are making a difference. 

The challenges and barriers faced by disabled passengers are varied. We discuss the varied levels of airport assistance available and how to access it to ensure a safe and accessible journey. 

We also hear about the Civil Aviation Authority's role in maintaining standards and the need for every aircraft to have onboard wheelchairs to ensure no passenger is left without support.
 
Michael explains the importance of the Sunflower's discreet ability to indicate that support is required. We highlight how the lanyard empowers individuals, allowing them to travel independently while maintaining privacy.
 
Please contact your healthcare practitioner if you are experiencing any issues discussed in this podcast.

For support

• Skywise Solutions

Hosted by Chantal Boyle, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower.
 
If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a rating and review.

Find out more about the Sunflower by visiting the website hdsunflower.com

Music by "The Emerald Ruby" Emerald Ruby Bandcamp and Emerald Ruby website

“…the mental, challenges are as great as perhaps the physical ones.“ 

Peta Hooke interviews Fran, an ambassador for MS Australia. Fran chats about confronting her late diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) and some of the individualised challenges that people with MS face, including heat sensitivity, fatigue, visual impairment and mobility issues.

MS is the most common acquired chronic neurological disease and, in Australia, affects three times more women than men. In MS, the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks and damages the fatty material – called myelin – around the nerves. This results in a range of symptoms, but no two people experience MS in the same way. 

For more information about MS, please visit https://hdsunflower.com/au/insights/post/multiple-sclerosis-ms

For support please visit https://www.msaustralia.org.au/ or https://www.msplus.org.au/


If you are experiencing any issues discussed in this podcast, please contact your healthcare practitioner.

The Sunflower Conversations is a Podcast where we explore the experiences of people living with hidden disabilities and what the Sunflower means to them. It’s a space to share your experience and to empower and encourage more people to support invisible disabilities. 
 
 

A big thank you to Peta Hooke for conducting the interviews with compassion and respect and to Sandee Facy for the beautiful Sunflower song. You can follow Peta's I can't stand podcast here and Sandee Facy's music here.

If you want to share your experience, get in touch with us by emailing us here.

If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a rating and review.

Find out more about the Sunflower by visiting the website hdsunflower.com

This podcast was recorded as an Instagram Live.

Meet Eva Abley, the unstoppable force behind the memoir "The Good, The Bad and The Wobbly." At only 16 years old, Eva takes us on a journey through her life, from managing her symptoms of cerebral palsy to her experiences in the educational system and the highs of performing on stage.

Eva is honest in our chat about her life, which hasn't been plain sailing. Through harmful attitudinal experiences at school with friendship groups and teachers, Eva's mental health has been severely affected. Now Eva has coping strategies and uses her experiences to advocate for disability awareness and acceptance through her schools programme, Spread the Kindness. At college, Eva is studying Health and Social Care.

Eva's story is about growth, acceptance, and the power of being true to oneself. It reminds us of the impact we can have when we stand together for inclusivity.

If you are experiencing any issues discussed in this podcast, please contact your healthcare practitioner.

For support

• The Good, The Bad and The Wobbly book by Eva Abley, all proceeds go to Birmingham Children's Hospital
• Spread the Kindness school programme by Eva Abley
• CP Teens
• Scope CP Network 18 years old and over.
• Cerebral Palsy Adult Advice UK

Hosted by Chantal Boyle, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower.
 
If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a rating and review.

Find out more about the Sunflower by visiting the website hdsunflower.com

Music by "The Emerald Ruby" Emerald Ruby Bandcamp and Emerald Ruby website

Gabrielle Hine shares her life-altering journey with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) and fibromyalgia. Gabby experiences symptoms such as paralysis, non-epileptic seizures and blindness daily. Gabby paints a vivid picture of how these misfired signals within her nervous system have reshaped her life, leading to a cascade of challenges like anxiety and not being able to work.

We talk about the societal misconceptions that often accompany non-visible disabilities. From the frustration of slurred speech to the heartbreak of having to step away from a career, our conversation delves into the complexities of living with FND and fibromyalgia. We also touch on the unique ways these conditions manifest in individuals, emphasising the importance of personalising support and understanding.

If you are experiencing any issues discussed in this podcast, please contact your healthcare practitioner.

For support

• FND Hope UK
• FND Hope International
• Fibromyalgia UK

Hosted by Chantal Boyle, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower.
 
If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a rating and review.

Find out more about the Sunflower by visiting the website hdsunflower.com

Music by "The Emerald Ruby" Emerald Ruby Bandcamp and Emerald Ruby website

“People say to me things like, oh, you can't be autistic. That's not right. You make eye contact, or you do public speaking for your job… I didn't disclose it until I was forced to due to work issues.”

Peta Hooke interviews Ashlee, an autistic woman and a mother of three amazing children who are also autistic. Ashlee talks about coping with unexpected change, the challenges of invisibility and the pressure to disclose. She also talks about how wearing the Sunflower can provide comfort and a feeling of security to people with Autism and would like to see more of it in Shopping environments.

For more information about Autism, please visit https://hdsunflower.com/au/insights/post/autism

If you are experiencing any issues discussed in this podcast, please contact your healthcare practitioner.

The Sunflower Conversations is a Podcast where we explore the experiences of people living with hidden disabilities and what the Sunflower means to them. It’s a space to share your experience and to empower and encourage more people to support invisible disabilities. 
 
 

A big thank you to Peta Hooke for conducting the interviews with compassion and respect and to Sandee Facy for the beautiful Sunflower song. You can follow Peta's I can't stand podcast here and Sandee Facy's music here.

If you want to share your experience, get in touch with us by emailing us here.

If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a rating and review.

Find out more about the Sunflower by visiting the website hdsunflower.com

Richard Luke from Scope and Karen Watson from Cerebral Palsy (CP) Adult Advice Service UK joined the podcast to answer questions from the Sunflower community about CP.  

Cerebral Palsy develops before, during or soon after birth, and in this conversation, we discuss the fundamental issue of NHS care after childhood, leaving a gaping void in ongoing support. The episode also uncovers why CP, a complex condition, remains shrouded in misconceptions.

Richard and Karen generously share personal stories, shattering stereotypes and shedding light on the real experience of living with CP and examine the gaps in healthcare, education, and employment, we also discuss the socioeconomic disparities within the CP community.

If you are experiencing any issues discussed in this podcast, please contact your healthcare practitioner.

For support

• CP Teens
• Scope CP Network 18 years old and over.
• Cerebral Palsy Adult Advice UK

Hosted by Chantal Boyle, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower.
 
If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a rating and review.

Find out more about the Sunflower by visiting the website hdsunflower.com

Music by "The Emerald Ruby" Emerald Ruby Bandcamp and Emerald Ruby website

“You have mental health challenges, but you are still who you are.”

Peta Hooke interviews Joshua about Mental Health and Tourette’s Syndrome. Joshua discusses challenges in public places that cause severe anxiety, and how the Sunflower can help. Joshua would like to see stronger support across essential services such as public transport networks and supermarkets.

Mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community. If you’re going through a hard time right now, the Beyond Blue Support Service is available 24/7 for brief counselling. Call a counsellor on 1300 22 4636 or chat to a counsellor online here www.beyondblue.org.au


If you are experiencing any issues discussed in this podcast, please contact your healthcare practitioner.

The Sunflower Conversations is a Podcast where we explore the experiences of people living with hidden disabilities and what the Sunflower means to them. It’s a space to share your experience and to empower and encourage more people to support invisible disabilities. 

A big thank you to Peta Hooke for conducting the interviews with compassion and respect and to Sandee Facy for the beautiful Sunflower song. You can follow Peta's I can't stand podcast here and Sandee Facy's music here.

If you want to share your experience, get in touch with us by emailing us here.

If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a rating and review.

Find out more about the Sunflower by visiting the website hdsunflower.com

Unlock the secrets to thriving as a self-employed individual with disabilities in our latest episode featuring Lydia Wilkins, a freelance journalist and editor at Disability Review magazine. Hear Lydia's compelling personal journey as she navigates the workforce as an autistic person living with long COVID. We tackle the significant disability employment gap in the UK and explore why traditional nine-to-five office jobs often fall short in accessibility, making a strong case for the financial and personal benefits of freelancing.
 
Discover the essential support systems available for freelancers with disabilities, including Personal Independence Payment (PIP), and how they are crucial in managing day-to-day needs.


If you are experiencing any issues discussed in this podcast, please contact your healthcare practitioner.

For support

• Disability Review Magazine 
• PIP - Personal Independence Payment
• Access to Work
• AccessAble

Hosted by Chantal Boyle, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower.
 
If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a rating and review.

Find out more about the Sunflower by visiting the website hdsunflower.com

Music by "The Emerald Ruby" Emerald Ruby Bandcamp and Emerald Ruby website

“People judge before they stand back and think, you know, there might be another reason for, for a person behaving the way that they do.”

Peta Hooke interviews Helle about Pome disease and some of the everyday challenges Helle faces from getting dressed, to speaking to getting around.  

Pompe disease is a rare, inherited, and without treatment, often fatal muscular disorder. Pompe Disease is caused by a deficiency or total lack of the enzyme acid alpha glucosidase. This enzyme is responsible for breaking down excess glycogen which normally accumulates in the muscles.

For more information about Pompe disease, please visit https://australianpompe.org.au/find-out-more/

If you are experiencing any issues discussed in this podcast, please contact your healthcare practitioner.

The Sunflower Conversations is a Podcast where we explore the experiences of people living with hidden disabilities and what the Sunflower means to them. It’s a space to share your experience and to empower and encourage more people to support invisible disabilities. 

A big thank you to Peta Hooke for conducting the interviews with compassion and respect and to Sandee Facy for the beautiful Sunflower song. You can follow Peta's I can't stand podcast here and Sandee Facy's music here.

If you want to share your experience, get in touch with us by emailing us here.

If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a rating and review.

Find out more about the Sunflower by visiting the website hdsunflower.com
 

Discover the vital role of the pituitary gland and its impact on our health with Gretchen Jordan, Associate Director of the Cushing Support and Research Foundation. Gretchen shares her compelling personal journey with Cushing's disease from diagnosis to advocacy. This episode uncovers the critical functions of cortisol and the often-overlooked symptoms of this rare condition, emphasising the need for greater awareness and early diagnosis.

Learn how non-specific symptoms like weight gain, high blood pressure, and emotional instability complicate the diagnosis of Cushing's disease. We discuss the importance of recognising these symptoms early to improve quality of life and reduce the risk of severe complications.


If you are experiencing any issues discussed in this podcast, please contact your healthcare practitioner.

For support

• Cushing's Support and Research Foundation
• World Alliance of Pituitary Organisations
• The Pituitary Foundation UK 

Hosted by Chantal Boyle and Lynn Smith, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower.
 
If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a rating and review.

Find out more about the Sunflower by visiting the website hdsunflower.com

Music by "The Emerald Ruby" Emerald Ruby Bandcamp and Emerald Ruby website