Gear, Gadgets and Gizmos

In the vibrant world of music, where melody knows no boundaries, Barrington Chambers is an inspiring figure. In our latest edition of "Gear Gadgets and Gizmos," we had the privilege to interview Barrington, a remarkable Afro Caribbean musician whose journey is nothing short of extraordinary.A short time after coming to the UK from Jamaica in 1999 Barrington's life took an unexpected turn when he became blind . But instead of letting this challenge define him, he embraced it and embarked on a musical odyssey that continues to entertain audiences worldwide.This talented musician is a multi-instrumentalist, mastering the bass guitar, drums, saxophone, harmonica, and more. His passion for music led him to co-found the Bristol Reggae Orchestra, a musical ensemble that blends diverse talents to create reggae music.  Accompanied by the Windrush choir, they have graced the stage at prestigious events, including the iconic Glastonbury Festival in 2023.Beyond the musical stage, Barrington's commitme

Welcome to this Gear, Gadgets and Gizmos episode, where we explore Rob Smith's innovative company, Active Hands.Today's episode focuses on Rob's experience following a spinal cord injury and his challenges in finding suitable gripping aids. Realizing the need for better solutions, Rob designed and developed prototypes in his home, eventually founding Active Hands in 2008.He has designed and manufactured a  variety of gripping aids and assistive products offered by Active Hands, which have been used by disabled people worldwide. Links:https://www.activehands.com/

Phil Friend the Chair of the Research Institute for Disabled Consumers (RiDC), talks to Gordon McCullough, the CEO of RIDC, about the launch of the National Centre for Accessible Transport. (NCAT)What is the purpose of the centre? Why does NCAT matter? What part will RIDC play? How do we ensure that disabled people are at the heart of the project?All these questions and many others are addressed in this entertaining conversation.

This episode features Molly O'Brien,  a Senior Research and Insight Advisor at Activity Alliance, a charity that promotes disability-inclusive sports and activities. Molly has hearing and visual impairments. She has first-class degrees in sociology and research methods. She is a qualified yoga teacher and a ballet dancer and enjoys outdoor activities. Molly's impairments mean that she uses a range of devices; hearing aids, portable microphones, magnification technology, and tactile watches, all designed to make her life easier. She's particularly excited about the Bluetooth technology on her new hearing aids, which means she can stream audio directly from her laptop. Molly also loves using Apple products because of their great accessibility features.  It's all a far cry from her early experiences with the clunky kit she had to use as a child.LinksHandheld and desktop electronic magnifiers I have from both these companies: https://www.humanware.com/en-united_kingdom/home https://www.enhance

Peter Goadby-Watt has been a photographer for over thirty years. He started his career as a photographic assistant and freelance photographer. He joined the BBC photographic studio (88-90)  before joining the Metropolitan Police Service in 1990 - 2014 as a forensic photographer and Head of Forensic Training. There, he honed his skills using multiple formats, film processing and printing; he joined the video team and used professional ENG broadcast HD video cameras and offline editing. In July 2018, Peter was treated for cancer, that has resulted in him becoming a wheelchair and crutch user.  Peter says, "Okay, I can't necessarily do what I used to love doing in that way. But you know, if I still love doing it, maybe there's another way to do it differently. His passion for photography has never dwindled, and you will see some of his personal favourite images on his website. Instagram: @pgwimagingWebsite: www.PGWimaging.com​

In this episode of Gear, Gadgets and Gizmos, Nigel Lewis talks about his passion for IT and how it can transform the lives of disabled and older people. He also reminds us there is still much to do to ensure that technology is accessible, inclusive and available to all. His career began in software development, and he has since worked in many aspects of IT services over the years.Nigel Lewis was the London regional director for Fujitsu Services before he joined AbilityNet as their CEO in 2007. AbilityNet is a charity specialising in assistive technology and making technology accessible for all, especially disabled and older people, and during his time at AbilityNet, he saw massive changes in IT and other enabling devices and software. He once described tech as "the great enabler", which should benefit excluded groups". Since leaving Ability Net in 2020, he has worked for another charity providing employment for disabled people.  Since May 2021, he supposedly retired but is now interim CEO for 2

Shelly Gaynor is Peer Mentor of Independent Living Movement Ireland (ILMI), with a passion for technology, particularly Assistive Technology (AT) and how it can be deployed to remove barriers that many disabled people encounter. Shelly sees technology as putting everyone on an even playing field, and human rights for disabled people are fundamental to her. Shelly directs a Personal Assistants Service through her company, shellyonwheels. Giving disabled people complete control over their own lives is very important to Shelly.In this podcast, Shelly describes the gadgets and software she uses on a daily basis to manage her independence.LinksiPhone Accessibility appsRam MountPro Tracker mouseAmazon Alexa

Andy Garrett has a retinal partial sight condition [Macular Dystrophy] affecting his central field of vision. He worked as a police officer with the Metropolitan Police before moving to GSK.Andy's role with GSK is as Global Programme Director of their Workplace Adjustments Service. The service supports employees in securing the adjustments and accessibility solutions they need at work and remotely. Andy believes in the value that employee networks bring to building our disability confidence. He co-leads the GSK global Disability Confidence Network (DCN) and is an ambassador for Purple Space.  Andy lives with his family near Ascot in Berkshire and loves watching rugby with his boys. It presents some interesting challenges for someone with a sight impairment, as you'll hear!Andy's gadgetsIPad ProSamsung Galaxy phoneMagnifier app for AndroidPortable Magnifier Example

Fiona worked as a sales manager, successfully selling multi-million-pound software systems yet becoming progressively more disabled. When taking clients to the latest cool restaurant or bar, she made sure that venues had the appropriate accessibility & facilities. Realising this information was of use to other disabled people, it became the basis of the website www.BlueBadgeStyle.com and the BBS App.This is now her full-time occupation and passion and is ‘redefining disability with style’ and provides information on a range of issues from stylish venues (their access & facilities) to trendy equipment. She also developed BBS Galleries that displayed access information on a venue website and were awarded the EIB Social Innovation Award. BBS also won the SPARK Award from the Design Council to develop a range of stylish accessories for people who ‘have their hands full – from wheelchairs to baby buggies’. Known as the ADDITI+ON Collection, the first product being DRINK, the universal glass holder, More re

Simone was born with shortened arms and legs as a consequence of the drug Thalidomide.  She lives in Reading, Berkshire.   After attending mainstream school, she worked for many years as a Secretary at Berkshire County Council and for Blue Circle Cement and later as an administrator for the Thalidomide Society. Following the birth of her daughter in 1996 and spurred on by the lack of support for parents with disabilities, Simone helped to set up a national charity providing support to disabled people who were or who aspired to become parents.  She served as a Trustee for the charity for ten years.Now retired, Simone exercises on a daily basis to help minimise pain, maintain fitness and improve emotional wellbeing.  She chronicles her ongoing journey of weight loss and shares her ideas for improving her mobility and fitness in her Blog www.flidfit.com.   She serves in a number of voluntary roles including Chair of her local neighbourhood association, trustee and community journalist for Reading Voluntary Actio

Dr Rachael Grimaldi is an anaesthetist based at The Royal Sussex County Hospital.  She decided to try and solve a major problem when she heard the story of a critically ill patient who talked about his terror when he couldn’t understand what healthcare staff were saying to him through their personal protective equipment (face masks, visors and hoods).Rachael was on maternity leave and stranded in the US because of COVID restrictions so she decided to put her time and energy into coming up with a solution that would benefit her frontline NHS colleagues and their patients.  Rachael set to work on a series of flashcards with key messages. Within 72 hours, she had developed a free online resource in 10 languages and a read-aloud option for partially sighted or blind patients. In this podcast, Rachael discusses Card Medic's development and her aspirations to remove communication barriers across all healthcare provision. https://www.cardmedic.com/our-story/

The coronavirus has had a massive impact on everyone, and the Research Institute for Disabled Consumers (RIDC)  had to change and adapt to get through the crisis.In this podcast, Gordon McCullough, the CEO of RIDC, discusses the important role the organisation has played in bringing disabled people's voices into the COVID conversation.  With over 2000 disabled members, the RIDC Consumer Panel has provided vital insights that have helped inform and shape government policy during the pandemic. Gordon explains why the RIDC with its Consumer Panel is uniquely placed to assist manufacturers and service providers in ensuring that their products and services take account of the needs of disabled people.The vaccination programme now means that life should begin to get back to some kind of "normal".  Gordon is optimistic about life after the coronavirus restrictions are lifted.  He believes that transport, technology, and ageing well present challenges and opportunities for disabled people.  RIDC  will

Hazel Dudley is retired having worked for many years in the Civil Service as a personal secretary. She went blind in her childhood and now puts her considerable skills as a blind person to good use as a panel member for RIDC testing apps and websites.  She says she'll try her hand at most things so long as "it's legal."Hazel has developed (pun intended) a keen interest in photography. Using her iPhone she has amassed over 4000 photographs. In this podcast, she explains how she does it.Hazel clearly likes to keep busy she's demonstrated specialised equipment to blind users, she's been a broadcaster, taught reading in Jordon, and traveled the world on cruise ships including the Queens; Elizabeth Mary, and Victoria. Her other interests include reading, buying jewelry, music, and learning German.In her "free time" she's a season ticket holder at her beloved Liverpool FC and says she can't wait for the coronavirus restrictions to end.  She and her guide dog have re

After leaving school Gavin Neate joined the armed forces and served in the military police as a dog handler. He was based up at RAF Lucas, and just north of Lucas was a Guide Dogs for the Blind training centre and he used to go along and do voluntary work.On finishing his military career and not unnaturally he applied for and then became a guide dog instructor. He saw first hand the difficulties that sight-impaired people faced in their daily lives and determined to do something about it.He became involved in a project to explore how GPS might be used to help visually impaired people navigate the world around them. With the arrival of the smartphone, Gavin saw an opportunity to link smartphone apps and hardware and Neatebox was born.In this podcast, Gavin talks about the applications he developed that are making a real difference to the lives of many disabled people throughout the UK.Links: -Neatebox Button https://bit.ly/3kka0SwNeatebox Welcome https://bit.ly/2SZyrZINeatebox Website https://www.neatebox.com/

After a successful career in IT working in the finance industry, Patrick Burke was forced to take medical retirement as a result of Multiple Sclerosis. After initially struggling to adjust to his new "normal" he now spends much of his time exploring the impact of his condition and how it affects others. He continues his search for things that will either make life easier or that will specifically address the barriers MS puts his way.Patrick has been a panel member for Research Institute for Disabled Consumers (RiDC) for over five years. He clearly enjoys the world of "gadgetry" and his website aid4disabled  https://bit.ly/3no2zfo often features devices that he has used.In this podcast, he shares his thoughts about two gadgets which live in his kitchen and two devices that help him stay mobile.Links:OXO Measuring jugKnorkTopra Troja RollatorTravel scoot.

Resolute, determined, funny, innovative and creative Mary Duffy is all of these things. As a Thalidomide survivor, she has invented all sorts of ingenious ways of managing her daily life and her artistic career without arms. Mary lives by the sea in Wicklow in Ireland and is an accomplished and honoured artist. Aside from her painting, she's tried pottery and photography. She loves gardening and is particularly adept at weeding onions using a spoon gripped between her toes.Listen to Mary talking about portable grab rails, book page-turners, and gardening footwear. Links:Suction Grab Rails https://bit.ly/2OXwfQeShoe Trowel https://bit.ly/2WSyVmwReading Frame https://bit.ly/3hyXYTz

Steph's career started in the fashion industry where she designed for high street labels, such as Ted Baker and M&S. She had always wanted to be a fashion designer and says she was working hard, playing hard and keen to make her mark. As her career began to take off disability came into her life when she unexpectedly experienced sight loss.Her company, Making Lemonade was initially born from her lived experience of acquiring her impairment. This quickly led to an interest in the lived experiences of a wide range of other disabled people and interest in disability equality generally. She became an advocate of disability issues and a champion of diversity and inclusion which remains the foundation of Making Lemonade. In this podcast, Steph tells us about the things she uses on a regular basis which help her get passed or around the barriers her sight loss presents.Here are links to the Gear, Gadgets and Gizmos she mentioned.iPhoneOcadoPanasonic TV voice guidance Alexa 

Sue Kent is a massage therapist who uses her feet to massage. She pioneered this technique due to an upper limb disability caused by the drug thalidomide. She has 8-inch-long arms and seven fingers and no thumbs. She has a little strength or grip ability in her hands. Sue uses both her feet and her arms to do daily tasks, and she sometimes uses her teeth although she isn't sure this is always a good idea.Sue’s favourite pastimes include sea swimming, gardening and painting, all of which she does using a combination of her feet and hands. Sue runs a Facebook page called Gadgets to make life easier, disabling disability. Here people can share gadgets they found that are useful or ask if anybody has a gadget for a problem that they have. https://www.facebook.com/groups/83214963722/?ref=shareSue mentioned the following products/items in the podcastA rocker chopper, here's an example https://amzn.to/2WGbQUFAutomatic tweezers https://bit.ly/2TjjWAxSplit toe socks. https://etsy.me/2TdFSg7

Rudi has been a wheelchair user since 1971 following an accident which paralysed his legs, arms and hands, although he can still use his hands to some extent despite having no finger movement. He says he was fortunate to have been able to receive a university education, albeit in an ancient, entirely un-adapted environment.  He has worked in various industries including the charitable sector, television, the arts and sport both in the UK and the United States.  He was very active in disability politics in the 80s and 90s which was a very fruitful and happy period for him.  He is now semi-retired and lives in an adapted housing association flat in West London and uses a number of support workers to assist him with daily living tasks. Rudi’s gadget list ·      Adapted spoon (https://www.nrshealthcare.co.uk/eating-drinking-aids/cutlery-aids) ·      Speech Recognition on iPad and iPhone ·      Wheelchair accessible vehicle from Motability (https://www.motability.co.uk/products/wheelchair-accessible-vehicles/)

Ross Hovey works for Lloyds Banking Group as their Accessibility Manager. His role is to create an inclusive environment for disabled colleagues and he leads on the workplace adjustment programme. Outside of work, he is a board director for Changing Places (campaigning for better toilet facilities for the most severely disabled people), a co-chair of … Continue reading "Ross Hovey – Red Through and Through" (http://news.philandfriends.co.uk/2020/01/16/ross-hovey-red-through-and-through/)