Episode 87: Special Guest, Jess Chandler (Neurodivergent + Disabled Advocator and Activist)

I am super excited for today's episode as I have the wonderful special guest Elle McNicoll on the show. Elle is a bestselling and award-winning novelist and screenwriter. She is an advocate for better representation of neurodiversity in publishing, as an autistic and dyspraxic novelist. Her debut, A Kind of Spark, won the Overall Waterstones Children's Book Prize in 2021. It was also voted number 75 in The 100 Greatest Children's Books of All Time in 2023. She is a three-time Carnegie-nominated author and was also honoured in the US with the Schneider Award, 2022. Her first novel has also been adapted for television by the BBC, and McNicoll was head writer on the project. The adaptation was described in the press as 'groundbreaking' for its inclusion of autistic actors and crew (and you might remember when Ella Maisy Purvis was on the podcast, who played Elinor/Bonnie in the show!) I reached out to ask if she might like to come on my podcast to chat a little more about her latest book which is Elle’s YA debut 'Some Like It Cold'. I was kindly sent a copy to review and read earlier this year by the lovely team at Pan Macmillian so I have been very fortunate to have read the book. It will be published on October 1st (US) and October 3rd (UK), which is today! Buy Elle’s new book ’Some Like It Cold’: Indie bookshop editions: linktr.ee/somelikeitcold Preorder signed Waterstones editions: https://www.waterstones.com/book/some-like-it-cold/elle-mcnicoll/2928377278267?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAabdFYqMgatGwJuIgBTZD65RubhPkHDQAHZR_1iY5Q2RplaIgyGbaTUmnAk_aem_irZ80J1Fbj5FcufVoBwFoA See Elle on tour: Tour dates: https://linktr.ee/SLICromancetour Young Adult Literature Convention (YALC): https://londoncomicconwinter.com/YALC/guest/elle-mcnicoll/ Cheltenham festival: https://www.cheltenhamfestivals.org/events/some-like-it-cold-with-elle-mcnicoll Elle’s social links: Elle’s website: ellemcnicoll.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellemcnicollofficial X: twitter.com/BooksandChokers TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ellemcnicoll YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ellemcnicollofficial Watch ‘A Kind of Spark’ on BBC iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/p0f7q3rv/a-kind-of-spark

On today’s show I have the lovely Jess Chandler. Jess is an advocator and activist in the Neurodivergent and Disabled Community. Jess also spreads awareness about Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and educates others on the impact that invisible illnesses can carry. Now you might know Jess from her fab instagram and TikTok accounts @thejesschandler (where she has almost 34,000 followers and @the.neurodivergent.witch which has almost 13,000 followers! So I’m very excited for this chat! Links to find Jess: Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thejesschandler⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@thejesschandler⁠ YouTube:⁠https://www.youtube.com/@JessChandler⁠ ⁠the.neurodivergent.witch | Instagram, TikTok | Linktree⁠ My 21andsensory links:     @21andsensory on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.instagram.com/21andsensory⁠ @21andsensory on TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.tiktok.com/@21andsensory ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 21andsensory on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/c/21andsensory⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 21andsensory Blog: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠21andsensory.wordpress.com⁠⁠ @21andsensory on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠twitter.com/21andsensory⁠

Today I have special guest Professor Janet Harbord on the show. Janet is a professor of film studies at Queen Mary, University of London. Recently she has worked as a principle investigator (alongside Steven Eastwood) on a five year Wellcome Trust funded project called  ‘Autism through Cinema’.Autism Through Cinema was a collaborative investigation into the relationships between neurodivergent thinking and cinematic creation. Janet is on todays episode to chat about her work directing a video essay called ‘Autism plays Itself’ where she asks how films made in clinical settings have contributed to how autism has been medically imagined and defined across the past seventy years. Janet takes one such clinical film and works in collaboration with autistic respondents to reframe the footage from an autistic perspective. Mentioned:​Edinburgh Festival link: https://www.edfilmfest.org/film/out-of-competition-shorts/​Toronto hot docs BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT DOCUMENTARY: https://hotdocs.ca/industry/conference/awards​Trailer link: https://vimeo.com/919231648​BBC Shortcuts hosted by Josie Long: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00224h3Autism Plays Itself, Credits:​Director: Janet Harbord - https://www.qmul.ac.uk/sllf/film-studies/people/academic/profiles/harbord.html​Editor: Sasha Litvintseva - https://www.sashalitvintseva.com​Sound Designer: Tom Fisher - https://tomfishersoundportfolio.comRespondents: ​Ash Loydon: https://x.com/AshtonLamont​Sophie Broadgate: https://pikaiafilms.co.uk​Ethan Lyon: https://letterboxd.com/dz1ga

On today’s episode I have the lovely Zara Beth as my special guest, she's back on the podcast for a catch-up episode! Zara is an 18 year old content creator, writer, musician and disability advocate from the UK. She shares her experiences as a neurodivergent, queer adult navigating life with neurological disabilities and chronic illness. Zara dedicates her time to raising awareness for disabilities and mental health, creating a safe space for neurodivergent people, disabled people, and also for the LGBTQ+ community. Last time I spoke to Zara was on Episode 32 of the podcast which was in March 2021. She was 15 at the time and had over 378,000 followers on TikTok and had a new YouTube channel. So just to update you on those stats… She now has 2 million followers on TikTok with over 40 million likes… on YouTube over 400,000 subscribers and over on Instagram over 60k followers! Link to everything Zara mentioned and her social media: https://portaly.cc/zarabeth My 21andsensory links:    @21andsensory on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/21andsensory⁠ @21andsensory on TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.tiktok.com/@21andsensory⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 21andsensory on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/c/21andsensory⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 21andsensory Blog: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠21andsensory.wordpress.com⁠⁠ @21andsensory on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠twitter.com/21andsensory⁠

On todays show I have the lovely Louise and Fiona. Both Louise and Fiona work for the Wilf Ward Family Trust - they are part of a wider team of 900 people that support almost 300 individuals with learning disabilities across Yorkshire. It was founded in 1986 by Wilf and Phyllis Ward to give relief to carers through the provision of residential respite units and day facilities.  Since then they have grown providing more than 70 residential and supported living services for adults with profound learning and physical disabilities. Louise works as Head of Co Production and Fiona as the Interim Head of Complex Care. Wilf Ward trust links: Website: WilfWard X: WilfWardFamilyTrust (@wilfwardfamtst) Facebook: The Wilf Ward Family Trust Links to other things mentioned: Lasting Power of Attorney and Power of Attorney: Giving someone power of attorney - Social care and support guide Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS): Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) at a glance Care Quality Commission: Care Quality Commission My 21andsensory links:    @21andsensory on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/21andsensory⁠ @21andsensory on TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.tiktok.com/@21andsensory⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 21andsensory on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/c/21andsensory⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 21andsensory Blog: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠21andsensory.wordpress.com⁠⁠ @21andsensory on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠twitter.com/21andsensory⁠

On today's episode I have the lovely Charli Clement as my special guest. Charli is an activist, speaker, writer, creator and lived experience expert. They are proudly autistic, ADHD, dyspraxic, and chronically ill, and particularly passionate about discussing the intersections of these conditions. Charli works with the NHS and other organisations around psychiatric inpatient care, human rights and autism. Charli’s first non-fiction book around autism and chronic illness was published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers in December 2023 and is called ‘All Tangled Up in Autism and Chronic Illness: A guide to navigating multiple conditions' Charli has previously been a keynote speaker for the British Medical Association and given talks to NHS boards and staff, universities, city councils amongst others. They have also had bylines in outlets such as the Independent, the Metro, the Daily Mirror and VICE. Charli's links: linktr.ee/charliclement_ My 21andsensory links:  @21andsensory on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/21andsensory @21andsensory on TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.tiktok.com/@21andsensory⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 21andsensory on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/c/21andsensory⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 21andsensory Blog: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠21andsensory.wordpress.com⁠⁠ @21andsensory on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠twitter.com/21andsensory⁠

On today's episode I have the lovely Emily Katy on as my special guest, who you might know from social media as @itsemilykaty. Emily was previously on episode 51 of the 21andsensory podcast but I shall of course reintroduce her... Emily is an autistic woman with ADHD and OCD. She is a blogger, author and advocate, and works with neurodivergent children and young people. Emily is a Trustee for the Autistic Girls Network and Former youth participation council member and Former Public Governor for her NHS Trust. She is also a #NotAloneTalk Host on Twitter. Emily has given talks in many different health settings and written many articles on her own experiences. So listeners might be thinking - oh Emily Katy is back on your podcast?! But that’s because Emily has some very exciting news - she is now a published book author! Buy Girl Unmasked here: linktr.ee/girlunmasked Twitter: twitter.com/ItsEmilyKaty Instagram: instagram.com/itsemilykaty www.authenticallyemily.uk

On todays episode my special guest is the lovely Rachel Charlton-Dailey. Rachel is an is an award-winning disabled editor, journalist, activist and more recently author! Rachel is a disability rights columnist for The Daily Mirror where she guest edited the series Disabled Britain. Rachel writes mainly about disability and women’s rights and her work has featured in publications such as HuffPost, The Guardian, Glamour and The Big Issue. Her specialisms are political issues affecting disabled people, disability in the media and the gender health gap. Her first book Ruby Hastings Writes Her Own Story was published by Collins Big Cat on January 8th! When Rachel isn’t writing, she can be found walking her sausage dog, Rusty (which OF COURSE we chat about!) Rachel’s Links: Buy ‘Ruby Hasting's Writes Her Own Story’: Buy my book! | Instagram | Linktree Disabled Britain: Disabled Britain: Doing It For Ourselves - Latest news, pictures & videos - The Mirror Rachel’s Twitter: Rachel Charlton-Dailey (@RachelCDailey) on X Rachel’s Instagram: Rachel Charlton-Dailey (@rachelcdailey) • Instagram photos and videos Rachel’s website/portfolio: Rachel Charlton-Dailey Ghosts articles Rachel wrote! Ghosts: Celebrating a British Comedy Breakout Success whynow https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a46186848/ghosts-ending-christmas-special-review/ Ghosts star Ben Willbond on show's devastating Christmas finale Why Ghosts means so much to LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent fans We mentioned: Disabled and proud podcast: Disabled & Proud Podcast (@disabledandproudpodcast) • Instagram photos and videos Fab mobility aids: https://www.neo-walk.com/ My 21andsensory links:    @21andsensory on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/21andsensory⁠ @21andsensory on TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.tiktok.com/@21andsensory⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 21andsensory on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/c/21andsensory⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 21andsensory Blog: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠21andsensory.wordpress.com⁠⁠ @21andsensory on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠twitter.com/21andsensory⁠

We last had a chat (a recorded chat - I speak to her outside the pod!) on Episode 35 in April 2021...but she’s back again for a catch-up…it’s my sister! Our previous chat here in case you missed it! We chat about: - Her life since 2021 and her career moves - The training and studying she has already done and  what she hasn’t had the opportunity to do… - The education system in the UK and working in both mainstream and specialist schools - Children-centred learning and how important this is - Studying a Masters and what that has entailed - Where she’d love to work next! My sisters TES shop link Teacher stat that was mentioned: 'Third of England's teachers who qualified in last decade 'have left profession'  'Nearly a third of teachers who qualified in the last decade have since left the profession, according to Labour analysis that has been released as the party attempts to shift the political focus on to education' (The Guardian, Jan 2023) Article here. My 21andsensory links:   @21andsensory on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/21andsensory⁠ @21andsensory on TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.tiktok.com/@21andsensory⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 21andsensory on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/c/21andsensory⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 21andsensory Blog: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠21andsensory.wordpress.com⁠⁠ @21andsensory on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠twitter.com/21andsensory⁠

Grab a hot drink and a snack because it's time for a huge 2023 catch-up episode with Emily!  Things I cover: Podcast guests I've had on this year - a recap My podcaster Spotify wrapped stats! Q&A segment - answered questions from my Instagram stories A life update Books I've read this year Things I mentioned: Lego succulent: https://www.lego.com/en-gb/product/succulents-10309 Lego succulent light kit: https://www.lightmybricks.co.uk/products/lego-succulents-10309-light-kit My Tangle video: (Gifted) My 21andsensory links:   @21andsensory on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/21andsensory⁠ @21andsensory on TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.tiktok.com/@21andsensory⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 21andsensory on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/c/21andsensory⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 21andsensory Blog: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠21andsensory.wordpress.com⁠⁠ @21andsensory on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠twitter.com/21andsensory⁠