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.

Listen on:

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Episodes

Wednesday May 07, 2025

We’re going back to school - and thinking about those people who demonstrated innate humanity and kindness, and really ‘got’ our children.
Rachel and Sarah reflect on their experiences with school days, from those scary first days of school to college days. The need to trust, and build relationships with the many people who are involved in supporting disabled children in education settings.
In addition, Sarah is trying to exercise some self compassion, and Rachel has been creating waterfalls (quite literally) in her home…
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 30, 2025

CONTENT WARNING - CONTAINS DISCUSSIONS RE: DIAGNOSIS/DIAGNOSES, CHILDHOOD CANCER AND TRAUMATIC BIRTHS.
Today we’re remembering diagnosis, and the people who made a difference, the people that genuinely changed our world when it got flipped upside down.
We reflect on the people who have helped us hear the news we don’t want to, as we continue to receive diagnoses, which never get easier to hear, no matter how ‘used to it’ we are.
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 23, 2025

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.

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