Gear, Gadgets and Gizmos
Phil Friend invites disabled people in to talk about the stuff they use to overcome the barriers they face in living an independent life. Some very innovative and left-field thinking is the name of the game
- Update frequency
- every 46 days
- Average duration
- 20 minutes
- Episodes
- 30
- Years Active
- 2019 - 2023
From Jamaica to Glastonbury: Barrington Chambers on Resilience, Music, and Inclusive Innovation
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 Barr…
A World Within Reach: The Power of Active Hands with Founder Rob Smith
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 chal…
National Centre for Accessible Transport (NCAT): A New Era for Disabled Travel
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)
Wha…
Breaking Barriers: How Molly's Using Tech to Hear and See the World Differently
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 impa…
It is the simple life hacks that make all the difference
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 jo…
Tech is brilliant but so is the human touch.
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 t…
AT and Independent Living
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 ma…
Don't mention Dot Matrix Signs to Andy Garrett
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 ro…
Putting on the style with Fiona Jarvis
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…
Fitness and Comfort really matter.
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 …
Better Communication means Better Healthcare
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 h…
Gordon McCullough CEO at RIDC shares his thoughts and ideas about a post COVID future
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, t…
Hazel Dudley - Photography, Travel and Liverpool FC.
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 a…
Gavin Neate - Making the world a better place.
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 train…
Patrick Burke - Design and Function should go hand in hand.
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…
Mary Duffy Innovator par excellence.
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 arti…
Steph Cutler - Panorama and Victoria Sponge?
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, play…
Sue Kent - Hands and Feet in Harmony
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 a…
Rudi Breakwell-Boss - Bent spoons and Gobbledegook
