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06th January 2023

bbc.co.uk/accessall

Access All 鈥� episode 34

Presented by Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey

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EMMA-听听听听听听听听 It鈥檚 World Braille Day, or it was on 4th January, so can I talk about Braille because I鈥檓 a geek and I really love it.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Go on Emma, it鈥檚 not like we haven鈥檛 spoken enough about blind stuff today.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 I know. I am a one-trick pony, a one-trick pony.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 No, you are not. Go on, talk about braille. Because you know audio description, I鈥檓 well on board with that now. So, get me excited about braille.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 I love braille because I can read in the dark. Also when I was a kid and I had chicken pox I used to see what braille letters and words I could find on my skin. So, if you鈥檝e got a load of hives or something you can pick out the braille stuff. That鈥檚 not really a fact; that鈥檚 just something.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 That鈥檚 like pot luck. That鈥檚 like when you鈥檙e in the shower and everything kind of de-steams and you see like Freddie Mercury in there. That鈥檚 just pot luck that.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 But braille is so huge, right. So, it鈥檚 six dots and a cell. Each letter is a combination of those dots. It鈥檚 really, really big. The Harry Potter books are at least six volumes of braille.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 I was going to ask you actually, Emma, so say one sort of square is that a whole sentence or is that just one word, or is it just one letter?

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 So, one rectangular cell of six dots, so it鈥檚 two lines of three, is one symbol. So, that can be a letter, or it can be something called a contraction, which is like a shortener for a word, so the has one symbol. But then the letter k on its own with a space each side, do you know what that means?

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 No.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 Knowledge.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Oh.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 So, it鈥檚 like random words represented by one symbol.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Interesting that, Em.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 See, I told you I was a bit of a geek.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 No, I like it. I like this side of you, Emma, come on. I used to date boys like you.

MUSIC-听听听听听听听听 Theme.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Welcome to Access All. 2023, can you believe it? The 大象传媒鈥檚 disability and mental health podcast. I鈥檓 Nikki Fox and I鈥檓 in London. And in Edinburgh it鈥檚 only Emma Tracey.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 Happy New Year.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Happy New Year.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 We post a new podcast every Friday, sometimes funny, sometimes awkward, sometimes serious, a bit like disability itself. So, if you haven鈥檛 done already, go on, go on, subscribe to us on 大象传媒 Sounds, or wherever you get your podcasts from.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Go on. Em, do you remember Mallet鈥檚 Mallet, Timmy Mallet?

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 Yes, I do.

CLIP-听听听听听听听听听听听听 Mallet鈥檚 Mallet, the word association game, you mustn鈥檛 pause, repeat a word or say a word or you get a bash in the head like this, or like this. Blah, blah.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 Blah, blah.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Yeah. So, if I was to play that kind of word association game with you what鈥檚 the first thing that would come to mind if I said to you January?

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 I would say sales, January sales; blues, January blues, singing the January blues; and resolutions, New Year鈥檚 resolutions.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Yeah, resolutions is a big one, isn鈥檛 it?

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 Yeah.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Have you made any this year, Emma?

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 I think just to get out with the kids more and to be in the moment a bit more, because I鈥檓 always fretting and planning and fretting and planning. And just to try and enjoy things as they happen I think.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Yes. I鈥檓 not a massive resolution person. I think it鈥檚 just added pressure that no one needs in this life. But I think, thinking ahead, I think I would probably say I would like to be a little bit more present, just like you Ems; not be on the phone so much, not work till 10 o鈥檆lock at night so much; be with the ones we love and all of that. I would like all that kind of nice stuff. But it鈥檚 very hard in this modern world we live in; we鈥檙e not great on resolutions. But I think this is the best way to be, to be honest Emma, no pressure.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 I don鈥檛 think anyone鈥檚 great at hard resolutions. Sometimes it鈥檚 better to start the year with good intentions or a goal, rather than trying to cut things out of your life like meat or alcohol.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Why anyone does Dry January I do not know. I鈥檓 a very optimistic, happy person, but I do not like January. I鈥檓 not a big drinker either, but why would you cut out alcohol?

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 Why would you take anything out for January when it鈥檚 a long, dark month?

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 You need added joy.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 Why deny yourself something that brings you joy? Exactly. But we are a pretty nosy bunch, aren鈥檛 we?

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Speak for yourself.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 Oh, you are nosy.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Yeah, I am. I鈥檓 really nosy.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 Really nosy. I鈥檓 really nosy. We鈥檙e nosy together, that鈥檚 why it works I think. But we鈥檝e asked some friends of the podcast and some famous disabled people what they鈥檙e going to be attempting this year in terms of resolutions.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Oh, this is exciting.

FRANK-听听听听听听听 Hi, I鈥檓 Frank Gardner, 大象传媒 Security correspondent and wheelchair user since 2004. My new New Year鈥檚 resolution is to get to Antarctica. We were supposed to go last year but it got cancelled; somebody on the boat had COVID. Hopefully not this year. And my resolution is to do ice kayaking in amongst the icebergs in the Antarctic and not fall in. I hope I survive.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Oh Frank, I knew it would be something amazing like that, something glorious. And he will do it as well.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 Absolutely.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 What even is it ice canoeing, kayaking?

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 Well, how do you kayak? Is it like ice skating in a boat?

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Well, go Frank. I鈥檒l be lucky to get a couple of lengths in at the old swimming pool, but go Frank.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 I鈥檒l be lucky to get my clothes out the night before so I don鈥檛 have to worry about what I鈥檓 going to wear the next day. That鈥檚 my version of being more organised. But Frank, that鈥檚 amazing, and I can鈥檛 wait to find out about how you got on.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Hear all about that definitely.

KATE-听听听听听听听听听听 Hi, Nikki and Emma, it鈥檚 Kate Monaghan here from Isolation Diaries. And also here with me is my old Isolation partner.

HOLLY-听听听听听听听听 And wife.

KATE-听听听听听听听听听听 Yes, and wife. Still married amazingly. What鈥檚 your name? Because I don鈥檛 think I said that.

HOLLY-听听听听听听听听 Holly.

KATE-听听听听听听听听听听 Yes, Holly.

HOLLY-听听听听听听听听 That sounded really awkward. Holly!

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 They sound like us, Em.

KATE-听听听听听听听听听听 Every year we, it鈥檚 not quite a resolution, but we kind of label the year with a word.

HOLLY-听听听听听听听听 So, we look ahead to the year and we think right, what鈥檚 this year going to be.

KATE-听听听听听听听听听听 What鈥檚 our theme. Obviously when Scout was born it was like the year of the baby.

HOLLY-听听听听听听听听 Year of the baby.

KATE-听听听听听听听听听听 We did, pre-children, have the year of the holidays.

HOLLY-听听听听听听听听 We had the year of health.

KATE-听听听听听听听听听听 When was that?

HOLLY-听听听听听听听听 Well, probably didn鈥檛 work.

KATE-听听听听听听听听听听 But this year we鈥檝e labelled it the year of better.

HOLLY-听听听听听听听听 Better at work.

KATE-听听听听听听听听听听 Better at keeping the house good. Being better for the children in terms of鈥�

HOLLY-听听听听听听听听 Better mums.

KATE-听听听听听听听听听听 鈥eah, being better parents to them. So, yeah, no resolutions really for me. We鈥檙e more trying to sort of have an overarching theme for the year, and the theme is just better.

REECE-听听听听听听听听 Hey, Nikki and Emma, it鈥檚 Reece Parkinson. My New Year鈥檚 resolution is to live way, way more outside my comfort zone. Looking back at 2022 I most definitely did things that I wasn鈥檛 necessarily scared of. So, that鈥檚 what I want to do this year. For example, swimming with sharks would be incredible. I genuinely would be so scared, but I know it鈥檚 an awesome experience that I would be thankful for for doing, because how many people get to do that. So, yeah, live outside my comfort zone in all areas of life. Much love and happy new year to you both.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Oh, I love Reece. I love Holly and Kate as well. There鈥檚 so much going on there. First of all Reece, like all this kind of like pushing yourself outside your comfort zone, I immediately think goodness me, I am boring.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 Reece from 1Xtra though, 1Xtra is cool, happening, young.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 I know, he鈥檚 young as well.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 Reece is going to swim with sharks?

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Yeah.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 So, if I was swimming with sharks I wouldn鈥檛 even know whether there were sharks there or not. I鈥檇 just be in my little tank.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 It鈥檚 like, we鈥檙e just dipping you in the water, Emma.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 There鈥檚 definitely sharks, definitely sharks.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 [Hums theme tune to Jaws].

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 You鈥檙e not just in your local reservoir or something.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Oh no, Emma, that would be a nasty prank.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 You know what, I could relate to Reece and getting out of his comfort zone because鈥�

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Well, you鈥檙e doing your wild swimming, aren鈥檛 you?

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 鈥etting out with the kids more, like leaving my house with my kids or going somewhere new, that is actually going out of my comfort zone, or taking them to a busy place with my visually impaired husband because it鈥檚 an activity they want to do, that is out of my comfort zone. So, it might not be swimming with sharks, which frankly would just be me in a tank going, 鈥榃here are the sharks?鈥� It鈥檚 actually like going tubing at the local ski slope about an hour away where you sit in like a tyre and you go down a ski slope with the kids. That would be enough for me. Taking both of them on the bus into town for pancakes that is enough for me, because I don鈥檛 do it enough because it scares me, and I want to do it more. So, that is my comfort zone.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Trying to go clubbing in a scooter.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 Well, exactly, it is things that are hard.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Yeah.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 And maybe they just feel hard. Maybe they鈥檙e not actually that hard. So, I want to just push myself and see how much we can do together that鈥檚 safe and enjoyable and that we all get something out of, so that I don鈥檛 sit there and go oh no, that鈥檚 too hard, or oh no, that would just be too stressful, or maybe being with us the kids wouldn鈥檛 have as good a time because we鈥檇 be constantly trying to figure out where they are and annoying them. That is my comfort zone, going out of my comfort zone.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Ah. I want to just spend more time in the house to be honest, family home, bungalow whatever, I just want to spend more time indoors with a duvet watching a film with the people I love. That鈥檚 fine by me. Happy days.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 Equally brilliant.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Thank you, Em. We鈥檝e got one more resolution, haven鈥檛 we?

REECE-听听听听听听听听 Hello.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 Oh, here she is.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Rosie.

ROSIE-听听听听听听听听听 Rosie Jones here, feeling a little bit croaky because I drunk a lot, I mean a lot last night, which leads to my New Year鈥檚 resolution which is to be even more a [beep] legend. People say New Year, New Me. What I say, why would I want a new me when the old me is perfect? Absolutely perfect!

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 She鈥檚 not wrong.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 She is not wrong.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 She is not wrong, that Jones. She鈥檚 perfect.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 I love that. She鈥檚 not doing Dry January.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 No way!

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 She鈥檚 got her biggest tour yet this year.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 I know.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 All around the country. I am excited. I would go and see Rosie Jones very happily.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 We need to see her. Why have we not booked tickets actually?

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 Let鈥檚 go together.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Yes. Now, Emma, you鈥檝e previously had a guide dog, haven鈥檛 you?

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 Oh Verona, the best dog in the world. Yes, I have.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 [Singing to theme of My Ramona] My Verona.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 Ah, absolutely my favourite dog ever, yes.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 But have you ever, very thought about training another dog up yourself?

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 As a guide dog?

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 As a guide dog.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 Absolutely not. I mean, I do not have the patience that I suspect you would need. I don鈥檛 have the time. I don鈥檛 have the knowledge. I don鈥檛 have the inclination. I don鈥檛 have the motivation. I mean, I do really miss the quick walk, the blindy quick walk with your head in the air, your hand on the harness, thinking about what you鈥檙e going to have for dinner, just avoiding everything. It鈥檚 amazing. I do miss that so much. But I could never train another dog up to do that for me, no.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 The wind in your hair, Emma, hand on the harness.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 Honestly, the wind in my hair, the smile on my face.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Chin up, yeah.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 For me with a cane it鈥檚 more of an intense thing where all my energy is on it and it鈥檚 not as quick. But I still prefer the cane at the moment for my circumstances actually. But there are certain stuff with a dog, like finding a new place and that kind of thing that I found brilliant. But again, still not enough for me to train my own dog.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 We鈥檝e covered this before on the pod, haven鈥檛 we Emma, we know that the biggest assistance dog provider in the UK, which is Guide Dogs, have far fewer dogs than normal because they had to stop their usual work during COVID. Now, that means people are waiting on average for 18 months before a dog is available to them. But there is another way if you want a dog sooner, as we鈥檙e kind of alluding to now: basically, train your own. We鈥檙e joined today by Isabelle and Abigail. Now, Isabelle is blind and has previously trained her own guide dog. And Abigail runs, I love this, Pawtected.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 Pawtected?

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Like protected, Pawtected, I love it, which is an organisation which helps disabled people to train their own assistance dogs. Welcome, Isabelle and Abigail, thank you so much for joining us.

ISABELLE-听听 Hi.

ABIGAIL-听听听听听 Hi.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Now, Isabelle, let鈥檚 start with you. Why did you decide to go it alone and do it yourself?

ISABELLE-听听 So, I had had five dogs from guide dogs in the past. They were sort of good to excellent. And my dog died suddenly at six, and I had to go to work and college next day, and work was right across London and college was the other side of London. So, I was very stressed how was I going to get there, two tubes, a 40-minute walk, all the rest of it, with no dog.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 How did you do that?

ISABELLE-听听 I did it with a cane. But the guide dog people said they had, I don鈥檛 know, like a rehab person, and he said I shouldn鈥檛 go out without a lot of help to learn to use a cane. And I was like, well how am I going to go to work if I can鈥檛 go out, this is not feasible. So, I spent three months going across London with a cane, and then one day I was on Liverpool Street station and I almost fell in front of a tube. I thought I can鈥檛 do this anymore, so I started looking round the rescue centres to see if they had a lab or anything, something that would look like a guide dog and I could get into shops and things with. I found one after about a month. It had been in Battersea Dogs Home and another rescue centre, and it had been out with four different families and brought back, so you can imagine what its social issues were like.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Oh yeah.

ISABELLE-听听 And she was just the best thing for me and I was the best thing for her.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 That must be quite difficult because I can鈥檛 imagine how you would train a dog sighted, let alone how you would train a rescue dog with social issues if you can鈥檛 see. How did you even begin to do it, Isabelle?

ISABELLE-听听 So, I took a week off work, and I took her round some shops and caf茅s and restaurants that I knew were dog friendly. I took her on the tube, on the buses, did a lot of stuff with her. And she was kind of bomb proof in that way; she wasn鈥檛 really threatened or anything. She was just wild. She didn鈥檛 know how to walk on a lead. She did a lot of screeching and yelling, not out of fear, just out of absolute excitement and joy. Everywhere she went she just wanted to be there, like ten times faster, and she just loved life. So, as soon as I got her able to not jump all over people in the tube and sit down for more than 10 seconds I stuck a harness on her, because I had to get back to work.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Where were you working at the time?

ISABELLE-听听 I was working in Kings Cross and living in Dagenham, which is quite a trip, it鈥檚 just over an hour.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 And how did they feel about you taking a rescue dog to work?

ISABELLE-听听 They were just amazing. I do not know why they let me in with that dog, I don鈥檛, but they were amazing. The first day she went into the office, you know those soft walls between the offices, she pulled one of those down. She chewed through the boss鈥檚 phone cable and network cable. And then, this is not very easy to believe but it鈥檚 true, about two weeks later she peed in her own ear in a meeting.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 How do you pee in your ear?

ISABELLE-听听 It鈥檚 when she was really small. Because I was stroking her and I was like, why is your ear wet. And my boss was like, don鈥檛 touch that, she peed in it.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Logistically how does a dog pee in its own ear? Oh, I love that. So, give me some examples, Isabelle, of what you did training wise?

ISABELLE-听听 So, the first day she had her harness on, I knew my street very well, I鈥檇 been going up and down it with a cane for three months, I knew where all the obstacles were, so I knew we were coming up to a lamppost and I got ready. And I smacked right into the lamppost face first. And I screamed and I jumped back. So, I went back with the dog, like you鈥檙e taught to do anyway by Guide Dogs, and re-approached this lamppost, and she did a great big wide circle round it.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 So, she knew that that caused you pain and then she swerved it?

ISABELLE-听听 She did, yeah.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 What鈥檚 that phrase, intelligent disobedience? Nikki, I like that phrase.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 I like that. What does that mean? That鈥檚 me, that, isn鈥檛 it?

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 Yeah, me too.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Oh actually no, not the intelligent part; just the disobedience.

ISABELLE-听听 Right, so it鈥檚 teaching the dog that if you ask it to do something that鈥檚 dangerous it has to disobey you. So, for example if I鈥檓 standing by a road and there鈥檚 a car coming down and I say, forward or walk on or whatever, I happen to say walk on, the dog had to learn that it was okay to disobey me at that point.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Oh okay.

ISABELLE-听听 And I thought this was going to be really difficult to train, but actually it wasn鈥檛.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 It just can鈥檛 be that easy. You鈥檙e making it sound really blinking easy.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 She really is.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 It鈥檚 not easy, is it?

ISABELLE-听听 Her social behaviour was a nightmare, it was horrible. And it took about two years, maybe a bit more. That was terrible; but the guiding thing I didn鈥檛 find it that difficult at all.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 You mentioned there the social issues. What were the difficulties for you with Lucy鈥檚 issues when it came to the social side of things?

ISABELLE-听听 I鈥檓 not sure she had walked on a lead really.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Okay.

ISABELLE-听听 Because I know the first nine months of her life she was in a flat. She was peeing on the balcony, so she wasn鈥檛 going out anywhere. And they were complaining that she was destructive. She wasn鈥檛 destructive for me at all. That was a dog just looking for a job.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Ah.

ISABELLE-听听 So, she wasn鈥檛 socialised with other dogs. She didn鈥檛 know how to play appropriately; she鈥檇 dive on them. She was like a big bully. That took a couple of years to sort out.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 Then was she genuinely a full-blown brilliant guide dog for a number of years?

ISABELLE-听听 She鈥檚 the best guide dog I鈥檝e ever had.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Really?

ISABELLE-听听 Yeah. Because we knew each other that well, because I had trained her and, I don鈥檛 know, we knew each other鈥檚 body language. And she knew like if I clicked my tongue a certain way or moved my head a certain way she knew what that meant. That was the closest bond ever.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Oh. This really is just me and you cooing, isn鈥檛 it, Em?

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 Yeah.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 I wanted to bring in Abigail now. Abigail you help people train their own assistance dogs, don鈥檛 you?

ABIGAIL-听听听听听 I do.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 What kinds of dogs maketh good assistance dogs? And what do they do?

ABIGAIL-听听听听听 They can help in so many different ways, depending on the needs of the person. So, some dogs will help with things like medical conditions by telling them that there鈥檚 a problem so they can take action in advance. As we鈥檝e touched on, there鈥檚 the guide dogs, which are the general well-known type of dog. But you鈥檝e also got lesser known dogs, like allergen detection dogs, so that you don鈥檛 come into contact with something you鈥檙e severely allergic to. There are dogs that can help with PTSD and other traumatic circumstances like that. They really can do such a wide breadth of jobs, depending on what you need.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 And what do they do? What kinds of jobs do they do, Abigail?

ABIGAIL-听听听听听 So, a lot of the work that assistance dogs for people with physical disabilities involved is things like opening doors, fetching things off the floor, passing things between people, helping with navigating the world and getting around places, such as fetching a crutch for you if it鈥檚 fallen over. Lots and lots of tasks like that, which might be able to be done by another person, but actually sometimes the tenth time you鈥檝e asked them to pick your keys up in a row it gets a little bit awkward, a bit frustrating. Whereas the more you do it with a dog the more excited they get because for them it鈥檚 just a game.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 I didn鈥檛 know this until I was doing all the reading about this story that assistance dogs don鈥檛 come pre-trained.

ABIGAIL-听听听听听 Not all of them, no. There鈥檚 generally three kinds of options that you can follow with regards to getting an assistance dog: you can get a dog that鈥檚 been pre-trained or you can send a dog off to be trained for you by someone else. You can train a dog with the support of an organisation or a trainer; that could be online, it could be meeting them on a daily basis, weekly basis, whatever your circumstances are. And, as we鈥檝e touched on with Isabelle, we can also train them completely on our own with no further involvement from anyone else. And each option has pros and cons. If you鈥檝e trained your own dog, as we鈥檝e touched on, it gives you such a better connection with your dog because you鈥檝e worked with them for so long, they know your cues, you know their cues.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Anyone who needs an assistance dog, are they instantly recognised by others as assistance dogs, and recognised and protected under the law as well, the Equality Act?

ABIGAIL-听听听听听 Under the law it鈥檚 the person that鈥檚 protected, not the dog. So, the person with an auxiliary aid, which an assistance dog is, has an entitlement to reasonable adjustments under the law. So, as long as your dog fulfils the requirements of being an auxiliary aid, and the requirements of being a reasonable adjustment in that they know how to mitigate your disability, and they know how to behave appropriately, they become an auxiliary aid, and the person is able to get those reasonable adjustments.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Oh thank you both. This has been so fascinating. And I keep saying it, but it鈥檚 if you want a job done do it yourself. It really is that. I just think this is brilliant. And it enabled you to keep on working and keep on living a life that you wanted to carry on living.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 Now on the bus people, they鈥檙e not going to say, why do you not have a dog, they鈥檙e going to say, 鈥榃hy are you not training up your own guide dog, Emma?鈥�

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Brilliant. Well, listen, thank you so both so, so much. And we鈥檝e got a statement here, Guide Dog says, 鈥楾he waiting list is one and a half years on average, and have recently been joining up with sister organisations in America, Finland and Japan to source more dogs. Previously the waiting time was typically under a year鈥�. On training your own dog, Guide Dog says it, 鈥楻ecognises the incredible benefits a dog can bring to a person鈥檚 life. We welcome initiatives which enable the legitimate use of an appropriately trained dog to support听 a person with a disability or medical condition to access public services and lead an independent life鈥�. They go on to suggest that, 鈥業n theory pet dogs or poorly trained dogs could erode the reputation that many assistance dogs have worked hard to build over the years鈥�. But certainly not in Lucy鈥檚 case.

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Now, this week鈥檚 guest is Radio One, 1Xtra presenter, deejay and TV personality, Reece Parkinson. Now, the reason why we鈥檙e chatting to Reece today is because Reece was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. That was in 2021, wasn鈥檛 it, while training for an ultra-marathon that was 55 miles long.

REECE-听听听听听听听听 Yeah.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Holy smoke. Now, cameras were following Reece at the time for a running documentary and caught the moment you actually became ill. He was sent straight to hospital and diagnosed that day. So, it鈥檚 been pretty public right from the start actually for you, hasn鈥檛 it?

REECE-听听听听听听听听 It has. And I kind of like look on it and it was like, hmm, I think if you have a platform, I think at that time I felt I was obliged to be like, right I鈥檓 in hospital, I鈥檝e got this thing called type 1 diabetes. And then I kind of got inundated with so many messages of support and people being like, join this WhatsApp group, join this space as well. So, I believe this is the actual moment that it happened.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Yeah, we鈥檝e got a clip.

CLIP-听听听听听听听听听听听听 I just got diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, which flipping sucks all round.

REECE-听听听听听听听听 That鈥檚 my deep Barry White voice there, I just got diagnosed.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 That鈥檚 your hospital not very well voice I would say.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 I thought it was quite sexy actually!

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 And massively like, oh my gosh, I鈥檝e got this massive new thing to deal with.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 That was the moment you got diagnosed, wasn鈥檛 it?

REECE-听听听听听听听听 Yeah.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 So, tell us what is type 1 diabetes, for people that don鈥檛 know? Because there are type 1 and type 2, aren鈥檛 there?

REECE-听听听听听听听听 Yeah, there are both. I don鈥檛 think many people do understand the difference, because I didn鈥檛 before I got diagnosed. I would make the same jokes like, oh I鈥檝e eaten two chocolate bars, I鈥檓 going to get diabetes; where that鈥檚 nothing to do with type 1. Type 1 is actually to do with your pancreas where it stops producing insulin. And we need insulin to manage our glucose levels, because if they go too high then long term you can get a leg amputated or you can have issues with your retina as well, the blood vessels around your eyes. There are a lot of long-term issues that can happen. And if it goes too low then you get dizzy and you feel like you鈥檙e going to faint because your brain hasn鈥檛 got any sugar to reach for to actually function. It鈥檚 essentially your pancreas stops producing insulin. Whereas type 2 diabetes is your glucose levels are rising, but that鈥檚 usually set on from maybe dietary problems or over-use of alcohol.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 You presented a travel show film, didn鈥檛 you, and you were deejaying in Ibiza, and it was about having type 1. And I found that really fascinating how you have to manage it. Because I knew that there would be some management involved of course, there is with most things like either diabetes or disabilities or whatever, but you really have to balance everything and think about everything, like what you eat before your set, when you inject, all of that.

REECE-听听听听听听听听 Yeah, all the time. That was amazing. We literally had a meeting with the travel team here at the 大象传媒 and we were just talking about ideas. I love travel, and I had never even thought about how does type 1, how does a disability affect your actual travel. Because you just think of oh, take me to a beach, and I want to see a new city. So, yeah, they were like, 鈥榃ell, have you got anything coming up?鈥� And I was like, 鈥業鈥檝e got this deejay set with Craig David for his event in Ibiza鈥�.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Rewind.

REECE-听听听听听听听听 What a classic it was.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 [Sings] Sorry, I鈥檓 mildly obsessed with Craig David. I saw him at Pinkfest. Carry on.

REECE-听听听听听听听听 We all are I think. So, yeah I had that. And they were like, 鈥榃ell why don鈥檛 we send you over there to do the set, but do like a diary of what it鈥檚 like having type 1 and getting thrown into that kind of crazy experience?鈥�. It made me think more, because I hadn鈥檛 been as prepared as I should have been. I went to Ibiza twice this summer, I was lucky enough to do that, both on his events. And the first time the insulin pen that I had out there I left it in the cab after a night out. And like an idiot I didn鈥檛 bring more than one. I was like, oh I鈥檝e got my one, I鈥檒l be all right, I鈥檒l only be there for three days.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 So, what did you do?

REECE-听听听听听听听听 I鈥檓 part of a WhatsApp group and I asked those guys. I was like, 鈥業 don鈥檛 suppose, nobody鈥檚 in Ibiza by chance?鈥� One person was in Ibiza, I get a pen. I go to the event the next day, I see someone with a glucose sensor in their arm, and I go, 鈥楬ave you got type 1?鈥� 鈥楾hey鈥檙e like, yeah鈥�. 鈥業 don鈥檛 suppose you have a spare insulin pen, just so I can get two, just in case I lose another one in a cab?鈥� So, yeah, that鈥檚 the good thing, type 1 is strange because you can鈥檛 see it, it鈥檚 not a visible disability, but because we now we have monitoring systems the monitoring system becomes the visible thing for the disability. Do you know what I mean?

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 Yeah. So, the monitor checks your glucose levels, and then to manage those levels one of the things you do is inject yourself with an insulin pen. What else did you show on the documentary that you do to manage it, and you did to manage it in that unusual situation?

REECE-听听听听听听听听 It鈥檚 like a life of needles basically. You have background insulin. I鈥檒l just talk you through a day, because I feel like I won鈥檛 forget anything then.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 Yes, please.听

REECE-听听听听听听听听 Background insulin, I inject 15 units. That background insulin is kind of like your underlining insulin back-up reserve for the whole day. It lasts like 24 hours. Then I have my rapid insulin pen which is a more fast-acting insulin. So, I have that 15, 20 minutes before I eat something if it鈥檚 a big meal that has carbs, or anything that has carbs. So, say I have salmon pasta, and it鈥檚 like that鈥檚 going to be 70 carbs or something 鈥� I鈥檓 making that up 鈥� I鈥檒l inject seven units of insulin so it balances. The insulin hits 15 to 20 minutes in. I then eat the food, perfect in line balance. So, you鈥檙e tricking your body basically. And then I鈥檒l scan my sensor, it鈥檚 called a Libra the one I use, but there鈥檚 Dexcom and other brands and whatnot, so I scan that sensor all the time throughout the day to see where I鈥檓 at. If I know I need to eat something just to boost me up, if I know I鈥檓 going to walk from somewhere to the train station home, because that鈥檚 going to burn off energy and sugar.听

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 How did your diagnosis, did it impact your mental health, your relationships, all of that? You seem quite 鈥� I鈥檝e only just met you 鈥� but you do seem quite a strong fella. But did you struggle at all in any areas?

REECE-听听听听听听听听 Yeah, definitely. I think the first thing was it felt emasculating is the one I always think of.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Really?

REECE-听听听听听听听听 Yeah, because I had to rely on something else to get me through life. I have to rely on injecting myself, and if I don鈥檛 I die eventually. Which I felt I got stripped away from something. And the nurse would come over and be like, 鈥楬ere鈥檚 all your equipment and that鈥檚 what you have to use now for the rest of your life鈥� and I was like, oh.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Bummer.

REECE-听听听听听听听听 Yeah, really weird. That lasted for about a month really. I felt like my manliness got took down a few per cent.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 And like your independence to a degree?

REECE-听听听听听听听听 Yeah.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Which I guess a lot of physically disabled people can relate to in a degree. I need someone to help me do things, and I didn鈥檛 always, and it鈥檚 kind of a bit of an adjustment period.

REECE-听听听听听听听听 Yeah.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 But I kind of get what you鈥檙e saying there, that you have to rely on something. And that must be a change for you having not really had anything in the past.

REECE-听听听听听听听听 And I don鈥檛 like that. I don鈥檛 know about you two, but I don鈥檛 actually like relying on somebody for anything.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 No.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 Oh, we鈥檙e so used to it now.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Honestly, it鈥檚 so fascinating this because I鈥檝e got a lovely PA called Libby, she鈥檚 not here at the moment, but I adore her and I wouldn鈥檛 be without her now. But would I, if I could take away that part of being disabled, I鈥檓 quite happy being in the scooter, I鈥檓 quite happy with my lot, I have to work really hard to get where I am and all that kind of stuff, I鈥檝e got a lovely family, so I don鈥檛 feel sorry for myself one bit. Could I do away with having to have somebody to give me a hand to get up in the morning to go to work and do all of this and that? Absolutely 100 per cent within a heartbeat. Not Libby, let鈥檚 make that clear.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 I think you鈥檙e okay. I think we know Libby鈥檚 a huge important part.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 But people have sick days, and you鈥檙e ready to go into a meeting, and you can鈥檛 go. It鈥檚 like, especially when you have to work and you have to earn money and there are lots of pressures on you and stuff. But it鈥檚 all of those things. I just think it鈥檚 so fascinating, and I think actually hearing it from your perspective as well.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 What does it feel like when your glucose levels are high? And what does it feel like when they鈥檙e low?

REECE-听听听听听听听听 For me when it鈥檚 high, which again it鈥檚 different for different people, for me I could become a bit more kind of agitated around things, a bit grumpy, tired definitely, headachy. I know something doesn鈥檛 feel right, the most basic thing, but something is off, I don鈥檛 feel how I should be. And that鈥檚 usually when it goes high at like 10mmol to like 13. 13 and above I can really feel it. I just kind of wait on the app, it goes danger zone where yeah, I鈥檓 getting a real headache now and I鈥檓 feeling a bit sluggish and I鈥檓 like whoa, something is up here, I need to shake it.

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 When I鈥檓 low it鈥檚 light-headed, dizzy, confused, I feel like I鈥檓 going to faint, not as responsive, mumble words sometimes if it goes really low, really, really low sweating profusely.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 That鈥檚 interesting. Because on your documentary you were at 11, weren鈥檛 you?

CLIP-听听听听听听听听听听听听 So, we鈥檙e about to go out on stage. We鈥檝e literally got five minutes until the start of the set. I鈥檓 just checking my levels, 11.7, which is pretty high. But the risk is if you inject yourself now there鈥檚 a high chance that it could go too low during the set, and then I鈥檒l have to down all of that juice. It isn鈥檛 the end of the world. I鈥檓 not going to die. But just from a perspective of always being in control of it this is one of those moments that it鈥檚 kind of got control of me.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 It sounds like it鈥檚 such a balancing act.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 There is method to it.

REECE-听听听听听听听听 Yeah, it was. And you鈥檙e in an adrenaline mode where you鈥檙e like, I just don鈥檛 need to feel, high is bad, but if I can stay in that for an hour and get myself down, cool. And hour low and getting yourself back up I wouldn鈥檛 even be able to mix two songs into each other or say anything; it would go viral on TikTok, the idiot that鈥�

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 So, it was a bit naughty, but it got you through.

REECE-听听听听听听听听 Yeah.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 You know what you鈥檙e doing.

REECE-听听听听听听听听 Yeah, exactly. It was like I looked and I went, okay cool, it鈥檚 not a 6 or a 5 or 4.9 or 7 maybe. But for an hour I can do this.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Reece, I could talk to you all day.

REECE-听听听听听听听听 Same, that was a lot of fun.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 Oh, I forgot to ask, does it affect your sex life, like your schlong?

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Oh my goodness, Emma Tracey.

REECE-听听听听听听听听 You managed to sneak in the schlong!

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 I snuck in the schlong.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 I can鈥檛鈥hat鈥�

REECE-听听听听听听听听 Twice it has.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 Schlong.

REECE-听听听听听听听听 Since we鈥檙e going there.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Twice?

REECE-听听听听听听听听 Twice.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 What affects it, the schlong?

REECE-听听听听听听听听 Oh no, the schlong, that works. The thing that affects it is if I go low during, you know, because you want to put in a shift sometimes, and it鈥檚 burning a lot of energy. So, my poor body is going low in sugar and鈥�

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 [Singing] Ride it my pony.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 Have you perfected the inject with one arm sort of mid鈥�?

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 This is Emma talking!

REECE-听听听听听听听听 My poor girlfriend would be scared if I got a needle out during intercourse I think so鈥�

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 So, no.

REECE-听听听听听听听听 Yeah, no to that. I鈥檒l try. I鈥檒l let you know how it goes when we do it, yeah.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 Please report back, that would be great. Thank you very much indeed.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 This Emma told me, I don鈥檛 like talking about rudey-dudy things, and then she goes. That was brilliant.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 He said, 鈥楽ee if you can get it in鈥� so鈥he, get the word in. Okay, let鈥檚 finish now.

REECE-听听听听听听听听 Great that.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Thank you. You are brilliant.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 It鈥檚 been a joy.

REECE-听听听听听听听听 Thanks so much, girls. I appreciate that.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Now, you can catch Reece鈥檚 episode on the Travel Show on 大象传媒 iPlayer. And I鈥檇 definitely, definitely go and check that out.

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Well, it鈥檚 the end of the show. Now, why not drop us a message on WhatsApp. Our number is 0330 123 9480. And please could you start your message with the word Access. Or you could leave us a voice note if you like, we鈥檇 really love that.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 You can follow us on Twitter @bbcAccessAll. Or you can old style email us, accessall@bbc.co.uk.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Old school.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 Old school, old style.

NIKKI-听听听听听听听听听听 Old birds on the radio. Right, we should go. Goodbye.

EMMA-听听听听听听听听 Bye.

[Trailer]

PRESENTER- You know when you鈥檙e worried about something, but then you talk to your friend who knows more about the subject than you do, and straightaway you start to feel better? That鈥檚 what we try and do every day on Newscast.

CLIP-听听听听听听听听听听听听 Now, they鈥檙e saying that that would be simple to do, it would give everyone certainty.

PRESENTER- We talk to people who are in the news:

CLIP-听听听听听听听听听听听听 You were chasing me round with a plate of cheese.

PRESENTER- We talk to people who know what鈥檚 going on in the news:

CLIP-听听听听听听听听听听听听 At least I didn鈥檛 get up and slap anybody.

PRESENTER- We talk to people who understand what the news means:

CLIP-听听听听听听听听听听听听 I think that he鈥檚 decided he鈥檚 going to listen, and then he might just intervene.

PRESENTER- And we talk to the best 大象传媒 journalists, asking the most important questions:

CHRIS-听听听听听听听听听 What鈥檚 wrong with chinos? You don鈥檛 want them, people to start wearing chinos?

CLIP-听听听听听听听听听听听听 Don鈥檛 start me, Chris.

PRESENTER- That鈥檚 Newscast from 大象传媒 News, the podcast that knows a lot of people who know a lot about the news.

CLIP-听听听听听听听听听听听听 And I was like, go on Kate, put some more welly into it!

CLIP-听听听听听听听听听听听听 Listen to Newscast every day on 大象传媒 Sounds.

CLIP-听听听听听听听听听听听听 I鈥檓 glad I asked that.

CLIP-听听听听听听听听听听听听 I鈥檓 very glad that you asked that!

听