Phil and Simon were lucky enough to have Neil Crowther as a guest on this show. Neil is an independent expert on equality, human rights and social change with a particular interest in working to secure the rights of disabled people.Phil & Simon talk to him about his work, both past and present, including his time at the Equality & Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and the Disability Rights Commission (DRC). Neil questions if the disability equality and inclusion agenda was really better ten years ago? We explore how disability equality is seen as a human rights issue, not simply through anti-discrimination legislation and ask why the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with a Disability isn’t more dominant in the UK?Neil chips in to the ongoing discussion about those who would be defined as disabled but don’t identify as so and asks, is it necessary, helpful, let alone possible?Neil writes a blog which has highlighted the risks of framing a need for change in an alarming or ineffective way, and if worded poorly, does it do more harm? Should the narrative be about reminding people of shared citizenship?Finally, there’s a discussion of the perhaps surprising findings of how disabled people in the UK vote, be it in a general election or the recent EU referendum. Also how social class can be over looked in the equality agenda. Neil is a fan, most of the time, of Twitter and tells us about his recent shout out for positive stories around disability in the UK over the past 20 years.**Links to topics discussed. **[Neil’s blog page](https://makingrightsmakesense.wordpress.com).[Authors of our Lives](https://theindependentlivingdebate.wordpress.com) blog page[Inclusion Project](http://inclusionproject.org.uk)The [specific blog](https://makingrightsmakesense.wordpress.com/2016/03/21/the-choice-ahead-on-protecting-and-promoting-investment-in-disabled-peoples-lives/) mentioned in the show**Some of the people mentioned who have influenced Neil. **[Baroness Jane Campbell](http://baronesscampbellofsurbiton.uk)[Professor Gerard Quinn](http://www.nuigalway.ie/cdlp/staff/gerard_quinn.html)[Catherine Hale](http://www.catherinehale.net/p/other-publications.html)Click on these words for [Transcript available](https://www.dropbox.com/s/k7xoauybbs1lukl/Phil%20%26%20Simon%20Show%2018%20transcript.rtf?dl=0)See also our Facebook page and Twitter feeds

Hello, everyone, this show is our 17th and the last of 2017.Simon reviews his recent trip to America spent hanging out with some Googler's. He also had a ride in the Tesla!Recent changes to Access to Work are discussed. We debate Philip Hammond's recent assertion that Britain's falling productivity is in part due to the fact that more disabled people are in employment.The terms "suffering" and "inspirational" once again get an airing.On a sad note, we remember Sir Bert Massie whose death was recently announced.We close the programme with some listener feedback and Simon's trials and tribulation concerning getting some window blinds fitted.Finally, we hope you have a very happy time over the Christmas holiday and that 2018 brings peace and contentment to you and yours.

Phil and Simon discuss, debate with and be irreverent about the recent ruling on the law concerning Assisted Suicide, intersectionality, identity and the overlap of disability and other characteristics such as being gay. They ask if 'awareness' days or campaigns have any impact and describe the hoops you have to go through to book a ticket for the theatre when you use a wheelchair. We also discuss a recent event at Lloyds Banking Group which Phil and Simon co-hosted, from separate cities. We are available for parties, weddings and funerals. Tom Shakespeare websitehttps://farmerofthoughts.co.uk

As the Thin Lizzy song says " The Boys are back in Town" and they most definitely are! This month's Phil & Simon Show is all about travel and sport.Simon reflects on his trips to the World Dwarf Games in Guelph in Canada plus his visits to New York City and the Edinburgh Fringe. Phil remembers Lorraine Gradwell, a disability campaigner who recently died. He also shares his experiences of cruising to the Baltic States, his visit to St Petersburg and to Tallin in Estonia.There's the usual mix of discussion about where disability fits in to all of this plus a warm dose of humour. A show designed to welcome the Autumn! Enjoy

A new voice! Phil and Simon welcome PhD researcher and Business Disability Forum consultant Angela Matthews on to the show. Angela asks Phil and Simon what role they think emotion plays in activism in terms of policy making, particularly disability rights. It throws up all manner of thoughts from them both like: How accessible is activism? Can you be ideologically pure and be effective? Can activism alienate people as much as welcome? Is disability campaigning now about access to Glastonbury rather than segregated living? What about disability pride? What do leading commentators such as Jane Campbell. Neil Crowther and Tom Shakespeare say? Is there a flag pole all disabled people, visible and non-visible, old and young can all rally around or are we just too broad a church? We hope you enjoy it. Do let us know what you think. [email protected]

In this packed programme we sadly reflect on the death of a much-loved disability campaigner Sophie Partridge. Simon remembers her with affection and a funny anecdote!It seems a recent BBC programme focussing on the policing in London draws praise from Phil for the way it dealt with the attempted rape of a woman who has Downs Syndrome.The Power 100 list is up for discussion as is a play by Stephen Unwin which focuses on the Nazi atrocities committed on disabled people before the Second World War. Simon raises concerns about the theatre’s accessibility given the play’s subject matter.Airbnb gets a bit of a drubbing from a disability perspective and our post-election analysis will have you on the edge of your seat!To round it all off Simon offers up his Twitter jokes. Sit back and enjoy

Episode 12 of the Phil & Simon Show is ready to serve! Piping hot and sizzling with juicy issues. Our discussions include a trip round the Nürburgring Ring on an electric scooter, Motability's 40th birthday celebrations at Windsor Castle, Simon's jury service, the forthcoming election and how disabled people could affect the result, how should we talk about Disability and Human Rights and finally Simon's search for a new car! Varied or what? Take a listen you won't be disappointed.Here are the links to the independent living charter https://spectrumcil.wordpress.com/12-basic-needs/ and Neil Crowther's article on How to talk about Disability and Human rights https://makingrightsmakesense.wordpress.com/A full transcript of this podcast is available on our Facebook page.

Show no 11 is a belter! We grapple with complex subjects which will get you thinking or even shouting at your podcast player. Phil is concerned about the increase of #non-disabled people talking on behalf of #disabled people and should people share if they have an #impairment in these circumstances? That should be enough but no, we then dive head first in to the #employment of people with severe #learning disabilities and #neuro-diverse impairments. Politics, the minimum wage, idealism versus pragmatism all feature as well as some desk thumping. Simon's recent trip to #Thailand gets a mention as do a great band, Holy Moly & The Crackers who featured on the BBC Ouch show. You can listen to their new single via the YouTube link below.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTPDSb3EV0cWe'd love to know what you think - contact us via Facebook, Twitter or email [email protected]

This month's podcast has a distinct media feel to it. First, we take a look at wheelchair user Frank Gardner's film about his trip to Papua New Guinea in search of Birds of Paradise. We then discuss Notes on Blindness a powerful film about Professor John Hull's journey into and through blindness and then we focus on Andrew Marr's film My Brain and Me which looks at strokes and the search for a "cure".If that's not enough the recent Supreme Court ruling on buses and wheelchair spaces, and Andrew Neill's autobiography also get a mention. Finally, just to clarify something we discussed, Clause 4 was the socialist element of the Labour party constitution, i.e. nationalisation and workers own the means of production. We hope you enjoy the listen.A transcript is available on our Facebook page.Frank Gardner and Benedict Allen visit Papua New Guinea searching for the birds of paradise http://bit.ly/2kxlBD4 Touching the Rock book link http://amzn.to/2kxuI6NAndrew Marr My Brain and Me http://bbc.in/2kxrGzuDoug Paulley Supreme court ruling http://bit.ly/2kxFXw9Andrew Neill Full Disclosure http://amzn.to/2kxJWsy

Phil and Simon meet again to be chat about all things #disability and beyond. This month it’s planes, trains and websites… we ask why is access still hit and miss? Has campaigning lost it’s way? Are the issues of disability too broad? Did Meryl Streep help? Who is accountable for mistakes? What would galvanise people? If that wasn’t enough, we chat about our favourite item or gadget, disability related all with the usual blend of serious, silly, challenging and awkward.#disability #train #plane #website #activism #campaigning #protest #march #access #merylstreep #gadget