麻豆社

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21st September 2023

bbc.co.uk/accessall

Access All 鈥� episode 71

Presented by Emma Tracey

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EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听 You know your worst nightmare? You know your anxiety dream about work, where you go in and you think everything is going to be as you expected and then absolutely everything changes, and you鈥檙e right in the middle of it and have to get on with it and do it all anyway, and everything鈥檚 going wrong around you? Well, that was a little bit like what happened to me when I came in to work this morning. I was all set to do the podcast with Nikki, everything had been finalised, we were all ready to rock and roll and then I got this message:

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听听 I just wanted to send a voice note to say I鈥檓 so sorry I鈥檓 not on the podcast this week. This wasn鈥檛 planned. I was due to be in. but as many people who are a bit like me, physically disabled And need PAs, carers, whatever language you prefer, know well when your PA is off sick it can be very difficult. And my lovely PA has not been very well for a couple of days, and she was due to come back today but I found out very early this morning that she isn鈥檛. And so I am just basically spending the day scrambling around trying to get the support that I need to do the bare basics and basically just get through the day.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听 So, there you have it, no Nikki this week. She鈥檒l be back next week. I hope everything sorts itself out for you, Nikki. In the meantime we鈥檝e got a bunch of Access All people today, so here we go.

MUSIC-听听听听听听听听听听 Theme music.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听 Hello, this is Access All, the 麻豆社鈥檚 disability and mental health podcast. I鈥檓 Emma Tracey coming to you from Edinburgh. And this week we鈥檙e going to be talking about one city council鈥檚 potential new policy which could see disabled people moving from their homes into residential care. We鈥檙e also going to be talking about Strictly and some audio description excitement happening there. So, stay tuned.

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Independent living and choosing how you want your care managed that鈥檚 a crucial part of living a fulfilling life. But one English council has proposed cost saving measures which some residents fear could see them relocated to care homes if it鈥檚 seen as best value for the wider community. We have producer and chief writer of Access All stories, Beth Rose. You鈥檝e seen her pop up all over the 麻豆社 News websites, often on stories like this one. Beth, you鈥檝e been working on this story, what鈥檚 been going on?

BETH-听听听听听听听听听听听听 I have been. Thanks Emma. So, we鈥檙e talking about Bristol City Council and its draft proposals for a fair and affordable care policy, which as you say is around independent living and care needs. So, like all local authorities money is really tight for Bristol at the moment, and the council, which is headed by a Labour mayor, wants to make savings. So, it鈥檚 currently looking at whether costs can be cut when it comes to funding people鈥檚 independent living costs. So, those measures being put forward could include things like installing ceiling hoists to help someone get up and dressed rather than providing carers, and in some cases providing supported living or shared accommodation in residential homes if at home care is considered too expensive. And this would be for anyone eligible who is over the age of 18.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听 So, Beth, is this legal? Is it something the council can do? I mean, aren鈥檛 there laws around this?

BETH-听听听听听听听听听听听听 There are laws. There is something called The Care Act 2014 which is all about ensuring an individual鈥檚 wellbeing, and any potential changes to care must fit within that. Now, Bristol City Council say their plans meet that criteria because the Act specifies that local authorities can take into account their own financial position if it鈥檚 about meeting the needs of the entire local population. However, Disability Rights UK, that鈥檚 DRUK, say these plans absolutely do not fit within that particular legislation.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听 Well, we will speak to Disability Rights UK in a moment. But first Mark Williams is a Bristol resident and part of the fabulously named BRIL, which is Bristol Reclaiming Independent Living group. Hi Mark, how are you?

MARK-听听听听听听听听听听 Very well.

LILY-听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Very well.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听 You鈥檝e just heard Mark鈥檚 PA, Lily there. Now, some of Mark鈥檚 answers are written down already and Lily is going to read them out. And for other off the cuff answers Mark will speak and Lily will repeat what he says. Let鈥檚 get on with it. Mark, what were your thoughts when you first heard about these plans?

LILY-听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Mark鈥檚 asked me to speak. We are very worried that putting cost effectiveness above what disabled people actually need will have a major impact on the independence and quality of life of thousands of disabled people. We don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 compatible with the Care Act or potentially the Human Rights Act. Forcing people into care homes takes away our rights to make our own choices about where and how we live. It鈥檚 also a false economy. There are already people being discharged from hospital to places that aren鈥檛 right for them with no choice. The council are now saying openly in some cases it鈥檚 cheaper to do this than support people at home. But what about the long-term human cost? The council are also saying if you don鈥檛 agree with what they say you might get eligible or you might have to pay to get the right level of support. Many disabled people in Bristol are already among the poorest. We worry that this will stop people from asking for help, and that is very worrying. At the same time there is a wider message that pressures social workers to think about the best value and not supporting people to live the best life possible. I am actually a qualified social worker; a policy like this goes against the basic principles of what a social worker is meant to be.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听 Wow Mark, you鈥檙e a qualified social worker so you really do know a lot about what鈥檚 going on.

MARK-听听听听听听听听听听 Yeah.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听 And have been able to manage your care. So, your care is through paid for personal assistants. What are your worries about your care management if this policy becomes a reality?

LILY-听听听听听听听听听听听听听 My worry is my care will be cut. And you will end up in a care home. So, when you had your last review they wanted you to have an hour on your own to make you more independent.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听 What would happen with you during that hour?

LILY-听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I can鈥檛 do anything on my own. What if I needed the toilet?

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听 Okay, so an hour on your own is just not appropriate for you.

MARK-听听听听听听听听听听 No.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听 So, you have 24-hour care at home at the moment, is that right?

MARK-听听听听听听听听听听 Yes.

LILY-听听听听听听听听听听听听听 I am very worried I will be made to have time without any help from my PAs, which means I would not be able to work and help other people. My needs are the same today, tomorrow and next month.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听 It was independent living that got the disability movement going in the 1970s when disabled people didn鈥檛 feel like they had control of their lives and they wanted to fight for an independent life with accessible homes and with assistance.

MARK-听听听听听听听听听听 Yes.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听 And many will actually be shocked that one of the planks of disability rights is being threatened they鈥檒l feel, I think. Mikey Erhardt is a campaigner with Disability Rights UK. Mikey, what does DRUK think of these proposals?

MIKEY-听听听听听听听听听 To put it simply we just don鈥檛 see any way that this matches up to the Care Act. The Care Act requires local authorities to promote their citizens鈥� wellbeing and meet eligible care and support needs in the way that best suits the person. There鈥檚 nothing in this fair and affordable policy that is strong enough in setting out Bristol City Council鈥檚 Care Act duties. It鈥檚 just not a workable policy. And I think to put it simply we just want to see it withdrawn. It鈥檚 not in anyone鈥檚 interests in Bristol. We all have the right to live in an inclusive society where everyone has a fulfilling life and feels connected and valued. And these proposed changes will cut people off from their communities, all in the service of a spreadsheet. And disability is a growing issue, right? The 2021 census showed that 1.2 million people between the ages of ten to 24 now declare themselves disabled. That鈥檚 double the amount of a decade earlier. And Unison, who are the country鈥檚 largest union, have warned that local authorities might not be able to offer disabled people the legal minimum of care as soon as next year. What鈥檚 happening in Bristol could easily be happening across the country as councils in back rooms are looking for ways to put a price tag on the care and support that disabled people need to be part of their community.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听 Now, we do need to remember that this is a proposal at this stage. And actually Beth, it wasn鈥檛 Bristol City Council鈥檚 original idea; they took some ideas from somewhere else, didn鈥檛 they?

BETH-听听听听听听听听听听听听 Yes. So, from our research we do know that Devon County Council was the first to implement these changes back in 2015, so eight years ago now. We did contact them to ask how many people in their area had moved from independent living to residential care as a result of the policy. And at the time of this recording we haven鈥檛 heard back from them on this point. But we do know that from other freedom of information requests submitted this year that the council says that it does not hold those figures. But it鈥檚 something that we鈥檙e hoping to keep pushing them on.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听 Bristol City Council were invited onto the show but they declined. But they did send us this statement:

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥楾his proposed policy was co-developed with the Bristol City Council adult social care equalities forum, which includes representation from disability advocacy groups and people who draw on care and support, as well as a number of third sector organisations across the city. We will consider all the comments and feedback received during the consultation period before any decisions are made, and would encourage people to share their views.鈥�

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Can I say thank so much to Mark and Mikey and to Beth and to Lily as well. thank you.

MUSIC-听听听听听听听听听听 Access All.

[Clip]听听听听听听听听听听听听听听

GEORGINA-听听听 They join in the applause and wave as they head off the dance floor. This is Strictly Come Dancing with live audio description [applause and cheering].

[End of clip]

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听 Yes. Honestly, I have been waiting for this for a very, very long time. If you had your audio description turned on on your telly Saturday night just gone you鈥檒l have heard our Georgina Rose, fave audio describer, describing the first Strictly episodes live. And I鈥檓 so excited about it. And as you know, Nikki鈥檚 not here, so I have dragged our Keiligh Baker in from outside to talk to me about this because I just want to talk about it, please. Hello!

KEILIGH-听听听听听听听 Hi Emma, thanks for having me. Also I feel like we can鈥檛 go on without mentioning the opening scene was to Snaps鈥� Rhythm is a Dancer, the 鈥�90s dance classic.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听 Let鈥檚 hear it Dave, let鈥檚 hear it.

[Clip]

GEORGINA-听听听 [Music Rhythm is a Dancer] Fireworks erupt behind the whole cast of professional dancers as they power up the Strictly Come Dancer ballroom floor. The dance floor is lit up with glimmering gold fans and art deco design mirrored on a spiral staircase just in front of the stage area.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听 I mean, dancing on a spiral staircase that would not go well for me.

GEORGINA-听听听 The men, including Nikita and Giovanni, leap and spin, landing down on one knee, as Vito swings Jowita round with her legs wrapped around his waist.

KEILIGH-听听听听听听听 Ooh, spicy. She just doesn鈥檛 stutter.

GEORGINA-听听听 In the centre of the floor Vito holds Jowita under her arms as she wildly sways her body from side to side.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听 Wildly!

GEORGINA-听听听 And the professional pairs dance in unison. The men do stag jumps then hold their partners鈥� wrists.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听 Stag jumps. I鈥檓 thinking of a deer. There are deer in the woods behind my house. Do they jump like that?

GEORGINA-听听听 The frantic pace slows and the dancers give the audience steamy looks as they gather on and around the spiral staircase to strike a dramatic final pose [applause].

[End of clip]

KEILIGH-听听听听听听听 Ems, for you does this make you feel like you鈥檙e experiencing more?

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听 Yes, it absolutely does. I mean, as I say, before it was just the band and the singers and the audience, and some idea in my head about what might be happening. Now I know they鈥檙e jumping and leaping and diving about each other and in amongst each other and under each other, on top of each other, and on the floor and up in the air and all sorts of stuff, and who鈥檚 with who and who鈥檚 not with who. You know what I mean? It鈥檚 like twirling and whirling and all this stuff. I didn鈥檛 know any of that was going on. I mean, I assumed it was going on, but of course I assumed it was going on. I鈥檓 not stupid. There was dancing, I knew there was dancing. But I had no access to the dancing.

KEILIGH-听听听听听听听 Did you realise quite how fast paced it was until you heard that?

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听 No. And I only started watching it to be honest, I always thought it was not for me, Strictly just was not for me, and I only started watching it last year when Nikki was a big fan and I realised that it was audio described on iPlayer. So, I had to wait. It was on the Saturday and I had to wait till a Wednesday. Why I had to wait until the Wednesday is because that is when the signed version went out on iPlayer, so a new version, and it gave Georgina and the other describers a chance to work on it and get it right.

KEILIGH-听听听听听听听 Is this the first time that they鈥檝e done audio description like this?

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听 Yes live. But before Georgina, our fave audio describer, would take the finished episode after it had gone out and then she would describe it. So, she would take it bit by bit, figure out what to say 鈥� we had her in to talk about this and she explained it all 鈥� and then she would add her voice over the top bit by bit. Whereas on this one she had to say it all as it was happening. So, if she needed to cough she just had to kind of hold it in or whatever. And she had to get the words out really fast because those dancers are really fast and so much happens. She鈥檒l obviously have seen videos beforehand so she will know what鈥檚 going to happen, but she has to say it out in a stream rather than bit by bit, which is some feat. Fair play to her I think.

KEILIGH-听听听听听听听 This is a nerdy question for you, Emma. I don鈥檛 know if you鈥檒l be able to answer it. When she is speaking over music, obviously the music dips down so you can hear her and then dips back up, is she the one in control of that during the live broadcast or will that be like a tech person?

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听 I believe Saturday gone she had her finger on a button.

KEILIGH-听听听听听听听 Oh my gosh.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听 She had the power button.

KEILIGH-听听听听听听听 The pressure! The stress!

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听 I know. And that controlled the brilliantly named dipping information. So, it sends a message to the track which is the main broadcast on the bit where people have their audio description turned on that it needs to turn down so she can get in on top of it. 鈥楲et me speak鈥� button.

KEILIGH-听听听听听听听 Oh my gosh. That is genuinely terrifying. I would not be able to deal with the pressure of that.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听 You鈥檇 end up putting your finger on the button when you鈥檙e not supposed to, and taking it off when you are. I know I would do that. So, I鈥檇 put my finger on the button and then sneeze, and then take it off it and then do some audio description [laughter].

KEILIGH-听听听听听听听 Yes. Honestly, I can鈥檛 believe she does it like that. That is truly terrifying.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听 Well, Saturday gone this was a new thing this live audio description. And if you want to know whether it鈥檚 going to continue we need to listen in this coming Saturday night to find out.

KEILIGH-听听听听听听听 This smells like a future episode of Access All. You鈥檙e going to have to get Georgina in again to talk about it.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听 I will because I still have a load of nerdy questions for her about that dipping information and that button and where she is and how it feels and what happens if she needs a wee and all that kind of stuff. It鈥檚 sort of the telly season has started, hasn鈥檛 it? It鈥檚 like autumn, it鈥檚 getting darker earlier, lots of new shows, the new seasons have started, the new series 鈥� I鈥檓 not in America. And one of the others that has just started, series 8 is Married At First Sight. Have you ever seen that?

KEILIGH-听听听听听听听 Oh yeah. it鈥檚 a real commitment though because those are long episodes and they鈥檙e long series, seasons.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听 And they鈥檙e nightly, right?

KEILIGH-听听听听听听听 Yeah, I think so. They鈥檙e great but it鈥檚 a commitment. It鈥檚 like a Love Island level of commitment. You have to watch every episode. And you get so invested in these couples. There鈥檚 an Australian version as well which is also very popular. But it鈥檚 good.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听 I can understand getting invested because I watched my very first episode, episode one of series 8 the other day, for a reason. Because there is a disabled woman in it. Get in. I like to watch everything with the disabled people in it. Don鈥檛 even ask me about Race Across the World.

KEILIGH-听听听听听听听 Disability rep.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听 Race Across the World, I鈥檒l talk about that later if you want as well.

KEILIGH-听听听听听听听 Oh lovely.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听 It鈥檚 absolutely brilliant. But anyway, I watched my first episode of Married at First Sight, totally invested in Jay and Luke. And Jay is missing her left arm. Here we鈥檝e got a clip:

[Clip]

JAY-听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 My arm has had an impact sometimes with dating. Some people might get a bit cringed out by it. Obviously it鈥檚 not for everyone, is it? It鈥檚 something you don鈥檛 see every day. But it鈥檚 odd because you think why do you not want to know who I am. Like it鈥檚 rejection to a different level. It鈥檚 really took a toll on me because I just think that it鈥檚 never going to happen for me. Oh god, I鈥檓 getting a bit鈥�yeah.

[End of clip]

KEILIGH-听听听听听听听 Oh, I mean I鈥檝e got the feels.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听 We spoke to Victoria Canal who鈥檚 missing part of an arm recently and she spoke also about feelings around that and around relationships. It really annoys me that people have these experiences. It really, really, really, really annoys me that these beautiful, fabulous, amazing, successful, interesting, clever women have these experiences and feelings about themselves. Grrr!

KEILIGH-听听听听听听听 Yeah, absolutely. And also everything you鈥檝e just said about Jay, like she is amazing, and it鈥檚 so heartbreaking that she鈥檚 ever felt that her limb difference could stop her in any way. Em, I don鈥檛 know if you鈥檙e aware, I don鈥檛 know if they have audio description on Married At First Sight鈥�

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听 They don鈥檛.

KEILIGH-听听听听听听听 鈥�but Jay has limb difference, she鈥檚 missing the lower part of her arm, but her upper arm is covered in these beautiful black and white tattoos.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听 Oh, really?

KEILIGH-听听听听听听听 Yeah. But wait for it, when she got up onto the podium, stage, I鈥檓 not married, I don鈥檛 know what you call it, to meet her future groom [laughter] he also has black and white tattoos poking out of his suit. And I was like, oh fate, fate. I mean, it鈥檚 a small thing but I鈥檓 like they鈥檙e meant to be.

But she鈥檚 had amazing reaction from the community as well. I had a little look on her Instagram earlier and the amount of people who are saying 鈥� I mean, obviously we don鈥檛 like inspiration porn on this podcast 鈥� but people who also have limb difference or also have visible disabilities are saying we feel so seen because of you appearing on this show.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听 Keiligh Baker this has been a pleasure. Thank you so much.

KEILIGH-听听听听听听听 Thank you for having me. It鈥檚 nice to speak to you.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听 If you want to contact Access All you can email us accessall@bbc.co.uk. Or you can get in touch with us on X @麻豆社AccessAll. We absolutely love to hear from you.

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 It鈥檚 interview time now. And this one was recorded a few weeks ago with myself and Nikki Fox.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听听 It has been five years in the making, but a brand new whodunnit called Imposter 22 is about to premier at the Royal Court Theatre in London.

[Clip]

CHARLENE-听听 They will talk fast and say long words and they will come quick and they will be the right words.

ACTOR-听听听听听听听听听 I know how you feel but it鈥檚 okay. You can use all those people who have said you are slow. You can take your revenge on them now.

[End of clip]

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听听 It鈥檚 been co-created by learning disabled and autistic actors. And one of those co-creators is Charlene Salter. And she鈥檚 been involved since the very beginning, and is playing the lead role of Chloe. And she鈥檚 with me in the studio. Hello Charlene.

CHARLENE-听听 Hello.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听听 Thank you so much for coming all the way in.

CHARLENE-听听 Oh you鈥檙e welcome, thank you for having me.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听听 Also, I鈥檓 going to mention, we鈥檙e joined by Heather Johnson. She鈥檚 on my right-hand side today, aren鈥檛 you, Heather? Now, Heather is a creative support worker at Access All Areas, which is the company that鈥檚 putting on this show.

HEATHER-听听听听听 Yeah, that鈥檚 right. It鈥檚 a co-production with the Royal Court and Access All Areas.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听听 Beautiful. And Heather, you鈥檙e here to support Charlene if she needs anything at all, aren鈥檛 you?

HEATHER-听听听听听 Yeah, that鈥檚 right.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听听 She came in and she was like, I鈥檓 not going to say anything, I鈥檓 not saying a thing. Well, Charlene, first off, how are rehearsals going? Tell me what you鈥檙e feeling.

CHARLENE-听听 The rehearsals are going really well. We鈥檙e getting there. It鈥檚 challenging, it鈥檚 exciting. But we鈥檙e all looking after each other and that and supporting one another, so it鈥檚 really, really great.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听听 When you鈥檙e going through the whole kind of rehearsal process what鈥檚 that main emotion that you feel?

CHARLENE-听听 Just really feel empowerment because it鈥檚 like we鈥檙e kind of owning the Royal Court stage at the minute, so it鈥檚 really empowering, yeah.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听听 I love that. You must be very proud of yourself because you co-created this.

CHARLENE-听听 Yeah, it all came from us, from me and my other work colleagues. We created it with Hamish, the director, Molly the writer.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听听 Dead impressive. And of course you鈥檙e playing the lead as well, Charlene. Now, you鈥檙e playing Chloe. What鈥檚 Chloe like?

CHARLENE-听听 Chloe is a caring person, so she cares about the group. She knows if they鈥檙e feeling low, if they鈥檙e feeling down, she鈥檚 like there on the spot for them. And sometimes she self-doubts herself, so it鈥檚 like if she gets anything wrong she thinks it鈥檚 her fault. But throughout as you see Chloe鈥檚 journey, going through that journey her confidence really builds up.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听 Charlene, the official line is that Imposter 22 is a 鈥榩layful account of barrier navigation, the politics of neurodiversity, and the power of sharing a platform鈥�. What does that mean?

HEATHER-听听听听听 We broke this down, didn鈥檛 we?

CHARLENE-听听 Yeah.

HEATHER-听听听听听 Maybe we can talk first about the word playful. What does playful mean in Imposter 22?

CHARLENE-听听 Well, let鈥檚 just say that you鈥檙e going to be in for a treat. There鈥檚 going to be raps, there鈥檚 going to be karaoke.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听听 Raps did you say?

CHARLENE-听听 There鈥檚 going to be raps, yeah.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听听 Stop it. I鈥檝e been learning raps lately.

CHARLENE-听听 Oh wow.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听听 I鈥檝e just learnt Millionaire by Kelis and Andre 3000.

CHARLENE-听听 Wow.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听听 Where there鈥檚 cheese there are rats. I鈥檓 not going to go into it but that鈥檚 my rap. Carry on, there鈥檚 raps and what else have you got?

CHARLENE-听听 Karaoke. Some of the actors will be playing two different characters as well.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听听 Character swaps.

CHARLENE-听听 Yeah. I think of people鈥檚 sentences in one of the lines. For me, for Chloe it is that she needs time. And with some people they talk really fast, really fast, and they don鈥檛 really let you finish the sentences. It鈥檚 like da, da, da, da. I wasn鈥檛 finished, you need to have time.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听听 Give me time.

CHARLENE-听听 Give me time, yeah. And me as a person we don鈥檛 have the courage to stand up and say, hold on, I wasn鈥檛 finished.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听 Are there any other barriers, Charlene, for you as someone with a learning disability that you face in this job or in your life?

CHARLENE-听听 I think it鈥檚 like that communication, and I think language barrier as well sometimes. And because for me I find really spelling and reading a bit too difficult, so that鈥檚 why I need help scribing and that. So, that鈥檚 kind of a struggle. I鈥檝e actually had someone told me once that my writing wasn鈥檛 good enough, you need to do better doing the writing. It鈥檚 like hello, I鈥檝e got a learning disability, come on.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听 Do you feel particularly well supported then at Access All Areas, so at the theatre company that you work for?

CHARLENE-听听 Oh yes, definitely. I think without Access All Areas I don鈥檛 think I鈥檇 be here doing what I do, doing what I love. Because at Access All Areas I鈥檝e learnt to embrace what I鈥檝e got with my disability. And I use that in my work. That鈥檚 what we do: we tell our life stories to open it and diverse, and to get across to people that we would like to work in the arts industry. Give us a chance and we鈥檒l show you. We鈥檝e got talent; you don鈥檛 always have to put us into certain boxes.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听听 What do you want the audience to get out of this play, Charlene?

CHARLENE-听听 I just want them to acknowledge and just see that as a learning disabled autistic cast that we can do these roles that a non-disabled actor can do.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听听 You need to see more, don鈥檛 you?

CHARLENE-听听 Yes.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听听 So, you hope that. And also I imagine you want the audience to have a jolly good time. Can you tease me, like what song are you singing on karaoke? I鈥檓 obsessed. Are you allowed to tell me or do we have to keep it鈥�?

CHARLENE-听听 No, we have to keep that under wraps.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听听 Oh Charlene!

CHARLENE-听听 I鈥檓 sorry. I鈥檝e got a good smile, but we want to keep you guessing and come and see the show.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听听 You can charm me all you like Nikki Fox but I ain鈥檛 giving it away. Oh, I tell you what, that sounds amazing it really does. And you鈥檝e been such a treat to talk to. Hasn鈥檛 she been a treat, Ems?

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听 An absolute delight. I think you鈥檙e really very passionate about people not stealing your sentences and allowing you to communicate in the way that you do, which is beautifully.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听听 Beautifully.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听 And so fair play, and thank you for telling us like it is.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听听 Yes, and keep telling it like it is, eh, Charlene?

CHARLENE-听听 Yeah I will.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听听 Oh yeah.

CHARLENE-听听 If they don鈥檛 I鈥檒l send them your way, Nikki.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听听 Yeah, and I鈥檒l run them over in my scooter.

CHARLENE-听听 Yeah [laughs].

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听听 I mean, maybe not. That鈥檚 a little bit鈥�obviously I didn鈥檛 mean that. Good luck for the opening night. I鈥檓 excited for you. Imposter 22 will be at the Royal Court Theatre on 23rd September and it鈥檚 going to run until 14th October.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听听听 What a superstar Charlene is, and what an interesting play to go and see over the next few weeks if you鈥檙e in London.

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 That鈥檚 it for another week on Access All. Thank you for sticking with me and my ragtag bunch. You can get in touch with us, please do. Email us accessall@bbc.co.uk, and we鈥檙e on X, Twittery X, we鈥檙e 麻豆社AccessAll on there. And you can even ask your speaker, you can say to the A Lady 鈥� that鈥檚 the one that sounds a little bit like dyslexia but doesn鈥檛 really 鈥� you can say 鈥楢sk the 麻豆社 for Access All鈥� and it will play the latest episode of this podcast. What wizardry is that? See you next week. Goodbye.

[Trailer for Americast]

JUSTIN-听听听听听听听听听 So, Sarah, we鈥檝e been asked to put together a trailer for Americast. What do you think we should put in?

SARAH-听听听听听听听听听 Well is it too obvious to just say we鈥檒l be covering all the bigger stories that are coming out of America?

MALE-听听听听听听听听听听听 There鈥檚 a phrase which has been bouncing around since the Trump presidency, which is LOL, Nothing Matters. And the things that would matter don鈥檛 seem to matter anymore.

JUSTIN-听听听听听听听听听 I think that works but it鈥檚, well it鈥檚 not just that, is it? We need to talk as well about the undercover voters investigation, what鈥檚 happening online, what everyone鈥檚 getting in their social media feeds.

FEMALE-听听听听听听听 What they allow us to see is what someone who has a specific set of views or is from a specific demographic or a specific place might be seeing on their feeds.

SARAH-听听听听听听听听听 And of course we鈥檝e also got to mention all the amazing guests and experts that we have on the show helping us understand the stories.

FEMALE-听听听听听听听 This is a great talking point for him in the court of public opinion, but it is not going to go very far in a court of law.

JUSTIN-听听听听听听听听听 And Americast of course isn鈥檛 just about politics and news, is it? Can we get something in about the more cultural, the social stuff too?

FEMALE-听听听听听听听 It kind of is in keeping with the conversations that we鈥檙e having in this country about race and colonialism and the legacy of those things.

SARAH-听听听听听听听听听 Yeah, as long as you include that I think that about covers what we do.

JUSTIN-听听听听听听听听听 And then all I need to say at the end is: Americast is a podcast from 麻豆社 News, and you can find it on 麻豆社 Sounds.

SARAH-听听听听听听听听听 Yeah, well you have just said that.

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