The Way We Roll

Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson is a national figure, a person who has moved from a highly successful athletics career to being a prominent political figure in Westminster, as if this was always the plan. How did she manage that? 

Born in Cardiff, she picked up the ‘Tanni’ name from her sister’s mispronunciation. She also picked up a strong work ethic from her parents, especially her dad. This meant she would be out training on Christmas Day or now, asks her team of helpers to brief her as thoroughly as is humanly possible so she can win her arguments. 

Professionally how do we see her now, and how does she see herself? Is it about her genre-defining career on the track, or wearing the robes of the establishment, or is she now the ‘woman who Tweets’ about rail journeys?

We got to spend time with Tanni over a Zoom call to ask her this and lots of other questions including, does she still speak to Alan Shearer after that moment? Who has helped her the most? What exactly is ‘Snog Marry or Kill’? The biggest issue she’s dealing with related to disability right now? Do Paralympians get short thrift compared to Olympians? Are disabled women included in new current women’s political movements? What’s the significance of her necklace when she’s in the House of Lords?

Links:-
Twitter:   @Tanni_GT
Website:  www.tanni.co.uk

Why would anyone voluntarily say they have a disability, impairment or long term health condition? Might a reason be when there’s a global pandemic and you feel you’re susceptible? Or bluntly, if you need your supermarket shopping delivered?Trainer, consultant and former lawyer Joanna Wootten asks if more older people are coming out of the ‘disability closet’ acknowledging they have a condition. When the Basic needs in Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs (https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html) like food, warmth, a roof become important, this changes things. If you’re a medical professional who has until now had an underlying (but irrelevant) condition, what’s it like to now tell your colleagues? Looking to the future, what happens when the pandemic passes though? Will the same people slip back in to the closet and close the door? Might they have to if things turn dark and society views them as a burden or restriction? More brightly, might we now all find community with others and reject stereotyping? Could older people and disabled people unite and get society to change? Can the stigma of using a walking stick, a hearing aid, a mobility scooter or alarm pendant finally be overcome?In this one-off special, Joanna speaks with Phil and Simon about these issues. Phil and Simon then continue to mull over the question, recognising the societal and self-imposed barriers they had to overcome to try and reach a better acceptance of themselves. This second part is also a YouTube video on our channel. Transcript (https://www.dropbox.com/s/zf1fprcnxq7wnqa/Transcript%20Phil%20%26%20Simon%20Show%20Special-%20What%E2%80%99s%20in%20it%20for%20me%3F.pdf?dl=0)LinksVideo of Phil and Simon (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQD4xYl3W30&t=105s) discuss acknowledging their impairment, and saying they are disabled. Joanna Wootten   https://www.joannawootten.co.uk    @JoannaSolutions

The comedy path for stand ups who have a disability has gotten easier in the last few years. That’s what Rosie Jones thinks. We think you also need a bundle of talent, skill and confidence and that’s what she has. She tells us about life back with her family, what she’s eating and what exercise she’s doing as well as her writing in her conference centre aka conservatory.

Some say becoming a comedian is a calling, something you can’t resist. Being a gardener is clearly  John Wallace’s calling. He oozes excitement and knowledge, well he is a Horticultural Lecturer and a Landscape Gardener. He answers our listeners questions, gives some ideas of what plants to look for now. He has some ideas for how you can enjoy green fingers if you don’t have a garden or are on a limited budget.

Since we started the news around Covid 19 and disability has been such a mixed bag. Geoff this week tells us of a form disabled people can fill in to give a hospital notice about their wishes. It’s both great and terrifying. There’s news from the US about an accessible format legal case which the UK government need to listen to, if their new track and trace app isn’t accessible to all.

Track & Trace

Landmark agreement on accessible online materials from US educational establishments

GMCDP Covid form

Rosie Jones Twitter  @josierones
Rosie's website
John Wallace - get in contact with us if you want to contact John.