Podcasts allow us to hear people’s experiences, develop new interests and become invested in others’ stories. Here, Laura Marcus shares some of her favourite podcasts for people living with disabilities – perfect for a road trip in your Motability Scheme vehicle!
Podcasts are a wonderful way of tailor-making your own radio station. With so many great podcasts available, you can select a range of shows to perfectly suit your interests, needs and lifestyle. But it can be hard to know where to start.
That’s why I’ve curated a list of relatable and diverse podcasts that are made by, and for, people with disabilities. Here are some of my top podcast recommendations, perfect for you to download or live stream during your next car journey.
Where to find these podcasts
You can access podcasts from various platforms, depending on your device. On Apple, you can download podcasts from iTunes or the Podcasts apps. They are also available on Google Play Music, Spotify, Soundcloud, Stitcher, and Player FM.
The Midland Mencap Citizen Chat
The Midland Mencap’s Citizen Chat is a new monthly podcast run by people with Learning Disabilities. They talk about their personal experiences and offer support for those who also have similar disabilities or long-term health conditions.
In their first episode, Ashleigh and Curtis talk about the Netflix show ‘Atypical’, which follows a high-schooler called Sam who has autism, along with his family and friends. The episode also talks about what listeners can expect from the rest of their podcast series.
The Tilt Parenting Podcast
This US-based podcast is for parents of neurodiverse children. It covers a wide range of topics from ADHD, anxiety disorders, autism, and learning differences. The topics covered include what it’s like to be dyspraxic, communications disorders, coping with neurodivergence as adults, and occupational therapy.
Airing Pain
Airing Pain brings together people with chronic pain and top specialists to talk about the resources that can help them. It’s informed by patients, healthcare professionals and internationally recognised experts.
Episodes are available to listen to on-demand via their website, as well as the usual streaming platforms. Transcripts are also available for all previous programmes and can be downloaded.
Access All: Disability News and Talk
This is a weekly podcast from the BBC about mental health, wellbeing and disability news. It covers a range of things, from topical issues and life stories to practical everyday solutions with a friendly touch.
Presented by Nikki Fox, this podcast has an extensive catalogue of over 300 episodes to listen to, each with its own modern, informative and sometimes funny slant.
Disability Horizons
In this podcast, vlogger and product reviewer Zec Richardson is joined by Mik Scarlet, Dan White and a host of great guests to discuss all aspects of disability and life. The topics range from mental health to arranging care and disability fashion to supportive tech.
RNIB podcasts
The RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People) is a charity supporting people living with sight loss in the UK. It has a number of podcasts, covering a wide range of issues from sport, technology, connecting with others and negotiating life without or with limited sight.
They have an audiobook show called Read On, as well as a Tech Talk podcast that looks at new and exciting accessibility tech. Updated weekly, these podcasts are great for all audiences.
The Accessible Stall
From America, The Accessible Stall is a disability podcast hosted by Kyle Khachadurian and Emily Ladau. Their aim is to ‘keep it real’ on their podcast, as they dig deep into various issues within the disability community.
Kyle and Emily have different disabilities and mobility levels, and often talk about topics from two different viewpoints. This back-and-forth offers listeners a fresh insight into how differences in disability can colour experiences and perspectives. Their podcasts are also available as transcripts.
Disability Matters
In this show, the host Joyce Bender focuses on competitive employment and empowerment for people with disabilities. Episodes are broadcast live and captioned in real-time for people who are deaf and hard of hearing, with lots of guest stars ranging from authors and activists to business leaders.
This US-based podcast focuses on how people with disabilities can secure career opportunities. Joyce also shares insight on how employers, organisations and individuals can support the employment and empowerment of people with disabilities.
Disability Talks: Don’t Dis My Ability
Tune in to hear real conversations from disabled people living their most independent, everyday lives. This podcast is hosted by Ed Granger, who is dedicated to supporting those with disabilities to live independent, self-determined lives. Featuring interviews with both everyday people and Paralympians, you’ll hear lots of experiences from people living with all kinds of different disabilities.
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