The Skies We’re Under
Nurse, author and Director of Born at the Right Time, Rachel Wright talks to fellow parents of people with disabilities and others in their community. With the power of story telling, laughter, swearing and useful information they create solace in knowing the warts and all truth of this off piste version of parenting. Whether a well seasoned parent, newbie, one of many practitioners supporting families or simply someone wanting to peak over the fence - you’re welcome to listen in. We are better together, whatever Skies We’re Under.
Episodes

4 days ago
4 days ago
Join Rachel, Sarah and Lucy as we celebrate those people who change the world, be it campaigning for the right to medical treatment, supporting other parents, breaking down barriers, or just making a nuisance of themselves to get the voices of disabled people heard.
On this week’s episode we open up by reflecting on some of the world changers we know*, and reflect on why and how this is different for the disability community.
Rachel is then joined by Hannah Deacon, whose dedication to campaigning for patients' rights succeeded when the law changed on 1 November 2018, which led to cannabis becoming legal as a medical treatment. Her successful campaign on behalf of son Alfie Dingley, who lives with a rare and severe form of epilepsy, led to his doctors receiving the first schedule one license to prescribe whole-plant cannabis in the UK.
You can find more about Hannah and her work at her website.
*As promised - Sarah’s World Changers:
Lynne Elwell who works with Julie Stanfield who is the CEO at In Control and developed Partners In Policy Making
Jayne Leeson - CEO at Changing Our Lives
Lynne James Jenkinson - CEO at North West Training and Development Team (NWTDT) also a parent to many including an amazing young woman with Downs Syndrome.
Robert Punton - poet and disability rights campaigner, who Sarah Met through The Alliance for Inclusive Education
Joe Whittaker - Joe died a couple of years ago but was a passionate campaigner and all round incredible human. He was a lecturer at Bolton uni and included MANY people who would not have had access to higher education without him.
Martin Routledge - convener at Social Care Future and an EXCELLENT Elvis impersonator
Janet Cobb - started the learning disability email network many many years ago. Was at NWTDT and worked with Lynne Elwell for a long time
Dave Hingsburger- one of the most influential people I have ever heard speak -Friends Not Family
Samantha Clarke - Learning Disability England
Debra Moore - first met when she was the health lead for Valuing People. Now provides consultancy. She is bloody brilliant and well worth connecting with
Helen Laverty - started Positive Choices many years ago.
The Trio also discuss Single Case Experimental Design which you can find more about here or by watching this video.
Thanks to the lovely folk at Jiraffe for sponsoring this week's episode. You can find more about them and their work here.
We’d love to hear from you – we love sharing stories, we love hearing how things are going, the good, the bad, the snotty-crying ugly.
You can leave a message with us in a number of ways:
Firstly you can leave a message using speakpipe here: SpeakpipeTSWU
(Please note calls need to be limited to 90 seconds)
You can send us a voice note from your phone to our email address at tswupodcast@gmail.com
Or, if the thought of hearing your own voice gives you ‘the ick’, then send us an email to tswupodcast@gmail.com
Whatever way you choose to get in touch, we really want to hear your thoughts, views, musings, rants and confessions (we love a confession!) .
Thanks for listening and being a part of our podcast community -It would make our day if you could like, follow and review the podcast wherever you listen.
We’re so happy that The Skies We’re Under is a free, independent podcast. Any sponsorship received is used to cover the costs of the production of episodes and compensate our valuable guests for their time. The hosts provide their time and efforts for free. They do, however, appreciate any offers of caffeination to keep them going – you can buy them a cuppa here…
Follow us on Instagram @BornatRightTime. Head to www.bornattherighttime.com to find a parent workshop or CPD-certified training for practitioners in communication, collaboration and personalised care with parents/carers.

Wednesday Apr 16, 2025
Wednesday Apr 16, 2025
Welcome to a TSWU Raincheck. While you wait for new content, here is a short extract from earlier episodes to tide you over.
This week the hot topic of Help. When someone says, How can I help? It can feel like another thing we need to do, give someone a job. But how can we as parent carers feel more at home taking help, and enable the people who want to help us give it.
Extracts are from:
Season 1 Episode 11; and
Season 2 Episode 15;
We’d love to hear from you – we love sharing stories, we love hearing how things are going, the good, the bad, the snotty-crying ugly.
You can leave a message with us in a number of ways:
Firstly you can leave a message using speakpipe here: SpeakpipeTSWU
(Please note calls need to be limited to 90 seconds)
You can send us a voice note from your phone to our email address at tswupodcast@gmail.com
Or, if the thought of hearing your own voice gives you ‘the ick’, then send us an email to tswupodcast@gmail.com
Whatever way you choose to get in touch, we really want to hear your thoughts, views, musings, rants and confessions (we love a confession!) .
Thanks for listening and being a part of our podcast community -It would make our day if you could like, follow and review the podcast wherever you listen.
Follow us on Instagram @BornatRightTime. Head to www.bornattherighttime.com to find a parent workshop or CPD-certified training for practitioners in communication, collaboration and personalised care with parents/carers.

Wednesday Apr 09, 2025
Wednesday Apr 09, 2025
Welcome to a TSWU Raincheck. While you wait for new content, here is a short extract from earlier episodes to tide you over.
This week sex - from embarrassing sex ed lesson with Mrs Clayton to how having children with complex needs impacts our own sex life.
Extracts are from:
Season 2 Episode 4;
Season 2 Episode 16; and
Season 1 Episode 5
We’d love to hear from you – we love sharing stories, we love hearing how things are going, the good, the bad, the snotty-crying ugly.
You can leave a message with us in a number of ways:
Firstly you can leave a message using speakpipe here: SpeakpipeTSWU
(Please note calls need to be limited to 90 seconds)
You can send us a voice note from your phone to our email address at tswupodcast@gmail.com
Or, if the thought of hearing your own voice gives you ‘the ick’, then send us an email to tswupodcast@gmail.com
Whatever way you choose to get in touch, we really want to hear your thoughts, views, musings, rants and confessions (we love a confession!) .
Thanks for listening and being a part of our podcast community -It would make our day if you could like, follow and review the podcast wherever you listen.
Follow us on Instagram @BornatRightTime. Head to www.bornattherighttime.com to find a parent workshop or CPD-certified training for practitioners in communication, collaboration and personalised care with parents/carers.