The Way We Roll Simon Minty and Phil Friend
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- Society & Culture
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A seriously funny take on life from the disability driven duo... Simon Minty and Phil Friend.
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Being Noisy: Effective campaigning and Assisted Dying / Suicide latest
Bristol City Council recently reversed their planned cost-cutting strategy, which would have impacted independent living for disabled people. The UK government recently reversed the proposed closure of ticket offices at railway stations, which would have had an impact on disabled people. Sophie Morgan, the Rights on Flights campaigner, appears to be close to getting legal rights for disabled people on flights. Is campaigning stronger than ever? We talk through the possible renaissance and ask, is it all it seems?
At the end of February this year, the UK Government’s Health Select Committee published findings on Assisted Dying / Suicide. Phil picks through its findings and gives an update on the Not Dead Yet campaign.
We finish with good news from Europe, with Mar Galcerán making history as Spain’s first parliamentarian with Down’s syndrome. Another barrier knocked down.
Links:
Bristol City care plans
Transport for All - Ticket offices
Rights on Flights
Health Select Committee report on Assisted Dying / Suicide
Mar Galcerán in Spanish parliament -
Not once but twice: losing independent living.
How would you feel if your local authority suggested you move from your home of 30 years to a residential care home because they need to save money? It's something Bristol City Council were proposing for disabled people as they try to reduce their deficit. Although this proposal has been shelved, it might not be the last time we see it. We explore the reasoning, impact and resistance.
Becoming disabled can bring a complete change of outlook, and you might reflect on who you once were. The author, Hanif Kureishi (My Beautiful Launderette, The Buddha of Suburbia), lost the use of his arms and legs in late 2022. He makes headlines with his newfound frustrations and doesn't hold back, but is he, a year later, finally adjusting? We discuss how people adapt, how long it takes and how non-disabled people might ignore disability until it impacts them.
Phil and Simon are passionate about these subjects. You will hear us disagree agreeably, with added swearing and raised voices.
Links:
Hanif Kureishi: I've become a reluctant dictator
Hanif Kureishi on the 'hell' of life after his accident
The Kureishi Chronicles - Hanif's blog
Francis Ryan in the Guardian
Think of this: a plan to 'warehouse' disabled people. What kind of nation is Britain becoming? " -
Talking Loud and Clear: Accessible and Inclusive Communications
‘Know your audience and communicate to as many people as you can, including disabled people’, says Sarah Brown Fraser on effective, accessible communication. That Sarah can whittle information down to valuable nuggets might be a consequence of her role as Head of Communications and Policy at the Activity Alliance.
As our guest, Sarah is timely, with accessible and inclusive communications being a hot topic. How do we communicate effectively with a diverse audience via various methods: print, website, social media, video, web links, in-person and even emojis? Is there such a thing as a fully accessible comms? Sarah helps us with what we need to think about initially and how to adjust as we go along.
From Liverpool with aspirations to be a TV Presenter, Sarah has found her niche in communication. Before starting work, Sarah moved from Merseyside to London to study for a BA in Media Studies at the University of East London. It was the mid-90s, but she was the first student with a disability to do her course. She is also an Everton supporter.
Links
Activity Alliance
Sarah Brown Fraser LinkedIn
Business Disability Forum Inclusive Communications toolkit
Activity Alliance Effective Engagement Factsheets
UK Government Accessible Formats -
Under the Hood with Andrew Miller CEO: Navigating Motability's Road Ahead
Our guest is Andrew Miller, the Chief Executive Officer of Motability Operations (MO). Many of you will know of this unique organisation. Indeed, some of you will be customers.
The Motability Scheme leases cars, powered wheelchairs and scooters to more than 700,000 disabled people in the UK. It is the largest car fleet in the UK. Andrew heads up the scheme's delivery, ensuring customers have a range of affordable options to stay mobile and ensuring the company stays on the right financial road.
It’s not an easy job with many challenges. The switch to electric vehicles is well underway, and it disproportionately impacts disabled people in terms of access, charging accessibility and price. As MO buys and sells 200,000 cars a year, small price fluctuations can significantly impact the financial model. Still, they must also maintain a consistent offering to their customers. Stakeholders aren’t just scheme customers; there’s the oversight from the Motability Foundation, successive governments, and the press, which often take an interest.
In an open conversation, we explore with Andrew the biggest challenges in the recent past and what the future looks like. Although he may be highly experienced in finance and business, he’s new to disability, and we check in with him to see how he is getting on.
Links:
Andrew Miller background
Motability Scheme website
How the scheme works
Motability Operations corporate website
Motability Foundation -
Losing Autonomy + It Takes More Than Adjustments + Purple Pound
Simon was at the airport recently. He was on his mobility scooter, and his mum was using an airport wheelchair. Looking at the long line in the disabled passport queue, his walkie-talkie sister and cousin decided to move to the non-disabled line. We explore what happened and how it made Simon feel.
The Business Disability Forum has produced a second adjustments in the workplace piece of research. Both managers and individuals who are Deaf, disabled or neurodivergent responded. Phil picks through the key findings.
History is littered with new businesses created to serve disabled consumers that weren’t viable. It feels different now. Simon asks, with the growth in service providers, including bespoke clothes makers, the hotel and leisure industry and accessible car and van hire, has the Purple Pound finally landed, and how do you cater to the diversity of disabled people?
Oh, and Bake Off want to hear from you.
Links
Business Disability Forum has produced another piece of research on adjustments in the workplace
Blue Badge Awards Leisure Industry
Proximo accessible vehicle hire
Able2Wear clothing
WAVs. Motability and Callum
UnHidden clothing
Apply for Bake Off UK
Pic Credit
A wheelchair user in the airport https://spintheglobe.net -
Disability Confident but Don’t Assume
They say you shouldn’t kick a person when they’re down. It feels right now the UK Government are down. And unfortunately for them, Phil and Simon have found more reasons why they deserve maybe not a kick but a strong toe poke.
Launched in late September 2023, Ask Don’t Assume is the government’s disability awareness-raising campaign. It asks everyone to avoid making assumptions about disabled people as well as asking non-disabled people to become allies. Many disabled-led organisations and influential people dismissed it. We explore why it feels outdated and inappropriate and ask why, if it was created with disabled people, it doesn’t have more validity.
Another government initiative is the Disability Confident employer scheme. Quoting from the Disability New Service, Phil suggests the results show it’s not working. Simon flips the statistics around and shows it can be argued that it is doing very well. We know statistics can be manipulated, so leaving that aside, is the campaign any good?
Phil gives an update on his recent cancer treatment, and Simon tells of his recent talk at the Royal Television Society on 20 years of disability representation on television.
Ask Don’t Assume
Disability Confident article
Simon’s talk with Steph Lacey at the Royal Television Society
Customer Reviews
Excellent Honest & Open Disability Content & Discussions
Simon & Phil have decades of experience in the world of disability rights and in working with large groups of people in businesses around the world to help raise their awareness of disability and help them to understand the best way to approach someone who may have a disability; like a person is usually a good start!
Their conversation together is easy yet they can equally get into quite the battle when one or other takes a stand on a topic, even if it’s only Simon enjoying playing the role of devil’s advocate for the sake of the debate. They also have a series of guests liked to disability, with the episodes with Judy Heuman who was a part of Crip Camp and a the episode on Albleism with an academic who specialises in the subject who is teaching in Scotland, being two that really stand out as being some of their best.
Ultimately, this podcast is a great listen for anyone who is disabled, believes in the social model, and wants to know more about disability history and politics as well as disability community in general. The Way We Roll has a similar tone to that of BBC Ouch! in the early days when Ouch! was made by disabled people for disabled people, before it became part of BBC news and suddenly had to play by certain rules and stopped being about making a podcast for disabled people and it’s now called ‘Access All: Disability News and Talk” which is a podcast about disability which is an entirely different concept.
If you liked the early days of BBC Ouch! Or even the times when Kate & Simon were at the reins then you’ll thoroughly enjoy this podcast too 🙂.
Warm discussion between two good friends highlights current issues
Phil and Simon are lovely to listen to, from having a laugh about life or an in-depth debate about the most troublesome ethical issues about accessibility and inclusion. They're the reason I subscribed to Netflix (to watch Crip Camp) and I'm really enjoying Geoff's cultural recommendations. Thank you!
Declaration of Interest
I should declare an interest at the very beginning of this review – this is one amazing podcast, by two people who are very well known to me and who I consider to be very good friends. Mind you, lots of my friends make podcasts and very few of them get a review out of me.
Phil and Simon bring their combined years of experience in the disability field to bear on current events and debates. Sometimes the two of them chew the fat and other times they interview someone. In both instances, the result is an extremely thoughtful and an essential hour’s listening for anyone with even a passing interest in the world of disability.
If you want disability demystified, you come to the right place.