In this episode of The Way We Roll, we’re joined by Dr Georges Petitjean, founder of WARM (Workplace Addiction Recovery Movement).

Georges set up WARM after years of seeing the same pattern play out: Employees struggling with substance use were too nervous to tell their employers because of the potential consequences, including discrimination or career damage, rather than support being offered.

Although in recent years there’s been a rise in openness about work-related mental health conversations, addiction has largely been left out. That silence matters, with around 8–10% of employees affected by substance use disorders. Only a small fraction ever receives treatment; most are at work and coping alone.

Our conversation explores why some organisations still insist “this isn’t happening here” – a familiar reaction to anyone who remembers when disability was hushed up. We talk about how stigma, language, and fear delay support, often until things reach a crisis point.

Georges explains why WARM focuses on psychological safety rather than diagnosis or discipline. The aim is simple but powerful: make it safer to talk, easier to seek help, and more normal to access support early. That benefits individuals, teams, and organisations alike.

We also dig into the overlaps – addiction, mental health, chronic pain, prescribed medication, disability, and work culture. Addiction itself isn’t recognised as a disability under the Equality Act, but the associated mental health conditions often are.

Georges outlines plans for a pilot with employers who want to lead rather than look away. This means small changes, better language, clearer signposting and a willingness to know what’s really going on.

It’s a thoughtful, honest conversation about something we don’t talk about enough – and why it needs to be discussed more.

Links

www.warmatwork.org

Our first podcast of 2026 has our usual mix of debate, provocation, humour, and, we like to think, important insight. 

We discuss how disability is reported in the media, and whether we, as disabled readers, have our own bias in seeing it one way. 

Do medical prognoses collide with our lived experience? If there is no disability voice is there balance? 

For a second topic, we highlight how one minute you can get a lot of support as a disabled person, and then suddenly it drops off. When we have little choice of service providers, we often have to put up with poor service. Why are these outsourced service providers getting it so wrong? 

Our topics were prompted by the BBC report about singer Jessy Nelson having twin baby daughters who both have SMA. Then there’s the Guardian article written by wheelchair user Paul Sagar, about his trials in getting a wheelchair after an accident. 

To finish up, we do our own Spotify Wrapped with our show numbers and a look ahead to 2026’s guests.

Links

Little Mix Jessy Nelson’s children

Other children talk of their diagnosis

Paul Sagar getting frustrated

Beyond Mobility 

I’m Not Your Inspiration - Stella Young TedTalk

How to report on disability responsibly in journalism 

Disability News Service

We look back on some highlights from The Way We Roll shows from 2025. We start with disability inclusion, featuring Celia Chatres-Aris, then move on to Making Inclusive Television with Henry Smith, and Adaptive Fashion with Victoria Jenkins. We check in with our most-listened-to show, Phil’s difficult trip to Spain, called Malaga Mayhem. We give honourable mentions to Euan’s Guide head, Kiki McDonald, and Jennie Williams, who are talking about sex and disability.

Finally, we revisit our February show on the twenty-year strategy for the Life Chances of Disabled People, which ended this year. There’s a bumper Listener’s Corner with your messages.

Links

Celia Chartres Aris show

Inclusively Made with Henry Smith show

Adaptive Fashion with Victoria Jenkins show

Malaga Mayhem show

20 Years Later, the Life Chances of disabled people show

People join an industry, and many adapt to its culture. Occasionally, someone challenges the culture, disrupts it and brings about a new way of thinking. Our guest, Victoria Jenkins, has done just that, and done it in the harsh, fickle world of fashion.

Victoria spent 16 years in the fashion industry, acquiring extensive knowledge of garment construction. Among others, she has worked with Victoria Beckham, Sweaty Betty, and Jack Wills. After disability affected her, she realised there was a need for adaptive fashion and a potential gap in the market.

We ask Victoria how she started her brand, Unhidden Clothing and what were the significant barriers. We challenge her on the business case, which for so long was seen as a barrier for so long. She tells us about her favourite solo runway shows and what’s next. 

Smart, articulate, driven as well as fallible as we all are, Victoria makes a compelling guest..

Links

Unhidden website

Victoria’s LinkedIn

Victoria’s website

The Lilac Review

The Little Book of Ableism

Smile by Mallavora

This month we’re talking about sex and disability — a topic that’s often ignored or treated as taboo. Our guest is Jennie Williams, CEO of Enhance the UK, who’s been a leading voice in breaking down the barriers around intimacy and disability.

Jennie talks about what drew her to this work and shares insights from Undressing Disability and The Love Lounge — a space where disabled people can talk openly about sex, relationships and everything that comes with them. From communication and consent to pain, fatigue and body image, we explore what it really means to ask for what you need without embarrassment.

We also look at the bigger picture — how stigma, poor sex education and medical assumptions still get in the way, and what can be done to make things more inclusive.

As always, Simon and Phil share some of their own experiences — the funny, awkward and very real parts of love and sex when disability is involved. It’s an honest, practical and sometimes surprising conversation about pleasure, connection and the right to be seen as a sexual being. There’s even a discussion about sex on a bus.

Links:

Enhance the UK

Jennie Williams CEO LinkedIn 

Instagram Love Lounge

Undressing Disability 

Sexuality and Disability website 

Books

The Sexual Politics of Disability: Untold Desires Tom Shakespeare 1996

Ultimate Guide To Sex And Disability: For All of Us Who Live With Disabilities, Chronic Pain and Illness 2020

Sex and Disability 2012

In case it’s a new term to you, let us start with a definition of Benevolent Bias in relation to disability. The Wiley Dictionary says “usually manifests as pity or charity, paternalistic protection, and condescending or exaggerated praise for common activities.” A new term perhaps, but not a new behaviour. We discuss. 

Coldplay came to Wembley in August and we went to see them. We discuss the show and comment on accessibility, attending gigs as a wheelchair user and scooter user. 

Phil gives us a health update after surgeons have been poking around, and just how unsettling this can be when you’re older. 

Finally, we respond to the emails we have received from you recently and give you a preview of next month’s show. 

Links 

Wiley Research Dictionary 

Vitruvi - The Problem With Benevolent Ableism

Coldplay and Access

Wembley Stadium and disability access

Depending on where you read it, there could be 13 million or 16 million disabled people in the UK. Some statistics suggest 1 in 4 of us, while others indicate 1 in 5. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch recently suggested the term ‘disabled’ is in danger of losing all meaning. Is she on to something? What is the point of a definition, and what measure do we use? 

Some who are disabled under the Equality Act 2010 definition are having a terrible time working for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The DWP has lost more disability discrimination tribunal cases than any other UK employer. They have paid out nearly £1 million in awards. The pot calling the kettle black… The DWP administers the "Disability Confident" scheme to help employers recruit and retain disabled people.

Finally, Government ministers are saying they want to "get Britain working," including disabled people, whilst simultaneously cutting Access to Work (AtW). AtW is the scheme that pays for the more expensive adjustments that enable disabled people to obtain employment and stay in it.

Show Links:

Kemmi Badenoch has no useful meaning of disability now 

DWP tribunal losses 

Access to Work cuts

Employers ‘have rational fear of hiring disabled workers’

Jess Thom aka Tourette's Hero

Access to Work Collective Dr Shani Dhanda

Channel 4 Access to Work report 

Gary Stevenson YouTube

As a disabled person, when you first start talking to a non-disabled person about the barriers to your participation, you can be met with the response, ‘I thought that’s all sorted now. ’ If you suggest they take a look at 20 shops locally, chances are they’ll find many are not physically accessible. And that’s just a high street. 

Euan’s Guide carry out a survey asking disabled people in the UK about their experiences. Their latest research shows there’s a long way to go, as many of us know. For example:

• 70% said the lack of disabled access has directly affected plans or aspirations
• 78% are not confident when visiting new places in terms of accessibility
• Only 7% felt positive about the new government making things better.

Our guest this month, Kiki McDonald, co-founder of Euan’s Guide with her late brother Euan, says, “disabled people are still having to fight for disabled access information and access to everyday places, be it a train or a restaurant. Accessibility should be a right, not a privilege.” 

With Kiki, we talk about the survey results in detail. We also reflect with Kiki about the impact and joy of Euan McDonald.

Links  

 EuansGuide.com

Survey Results 

BBC Reporting on Euan’s death

Isn’t it great when you speak with someone and they are on your wavelength, but are also so wise that they make you think a little harder?

Our guest this month is one of these people. Celia Chartes-Aris is all about policy, research and law. Her impressive impact led to her being crowned No. 1 on the Disability Power 100 list in 2025. However, her real power lies behind the scenes, being well-connected and acting as an advisor to UK and international governments and organisations, where she advocates for the improvement of Disability equity.

Celia is still relatively young and has a lower life expectancy due to a complex health condition. Whilst she doesn’t appear in a hurry, she is working at a furious pace. We get to explore what drives her, including when she discovered what ableism was and how it became a fundamental driver for her.  We delve into the difficult topics, asking whether the stigma attached to disability will ever be removed and why intersectionality is so far behind in disability advocacy. Celia also tells us how she became a campaigner to restore the Minister for Disability in the UK Government after the post was axed. 

Links

Power 100 Celia

BBC Celia becoming Power 100 no.1

LinkedIn Celia

Access2Funding 

Disabled by Society

Celia Linktr.ee 

The second part of this month’s show is all about Phil’s recent trip to Malaga.

After meticulous planning, Phil and Sue, his wife, set off for some winter sunshine. On landing, a broken powered wheelchair meant limitation, frustration, moments of kindness and a lot of stress and cost.

How did Phil and Sue manage?

So, will they ever fly again? Let's just say the train to Spain is suddenly looking very attractive.

Links:

Ilunion Hotel