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Working
The old 9 to 5
Championing access for all
In his job as an advice and advocacy worker for campaigning group Transport for All, Youcef Bey-Zekkoub is doing his best to keep disabled Londoners moving
Evening up the odds on an even break
Finding a job is a challenge for everyone in this climate, and much more so for disabled job-seekers. Jane Hatton tells us about a new, not-for-profit specialist job board to help disabled candidates find work with inclusive employers who are actively looking to attract more disabled applicants
Mouthful of pictures
Tom Yendell has been involved with the mouth and foot artists since the early 1980s and he now runs the association’s gallery. He is always on the hunt for new talent
Networking the Twitter way
Disabled businesswoman Tracey Proudlock finds tweeting good for more than idle chatter
Saved from the scrap heap
For Peter Cousins, work closely mirrors life. Cast aside from employment when he became disabled, he now runs a project where the old and apparently useless is recycled by young trainees who might also have been written off
Opening ears to deaf access
Having been on the wrong end of ignorance and poor provision, Ruthy Fletcher decided not to get mad but get active and set up her own resource
Oyez! Oyez! William stands on ceremony
The voices of disabled people often go unheard, but in the Buckinghamshire town of Chesham, everyone stops and listens when William Ellis rings his bell
Disabled Apprentice: situation vacant
With the launch of yet another initiative by the government to get people off benefit and in to work, when disabled businessman Adam Thomas of Design Matters wanted to take on a disabled apprentice, you’d have thought it would be in everyone’s interest. Not so.
Snoring brings dream of success
New entrepreneur Phillipa James tells us it was all about keeping it in the family when she found an anti-snoring product which gave other people a good night’s sleep and her the opportunity of starting her own business
Life's no drag for Chris
It’s a long way from panel beating to making fetish costumes via drag performance, but that’s the journey Chris Davis has been on
Taking a local lead
Life as a local councillor is rewarding but tough, says Rosemary Gilligan, who has done the job since 2002. But, as Sunil Peck finds out, that hasn’t put her off wanting more disabled people to make the move into public politics
All's well that ends well for Shakespeare
After almost 2000 rejected applications, Richard Shakespeare decided it might now be time for a bit of do-it-yourself job creation
At home on the ward
As a child Rachael Johnson had extensive experience of hospital from the patient’s point of view. She’s now using that experience to inform her work as a nurse on a children’s ward
Angie and her sparring partners
It's a far cry from the days when disability was central to TV schedules, so the watch word for independent producer Angie Carmichael has had to be diversification
Reach for the moon
As the man behind the much publicised Beagle 2 mission to Mars in 2003, Professor Colin Pillinger is one of Britain's most prominent space scientists. He tells Disability Now about the reasons for Beagle's ultimate demise, the ongoing quest to find life on Mars, having MS, and sending man back to the moon
Working at being independent
Carl Ford gave up a career in mechanical engineering and technical sales to campaign for independent living until his problems using hoists inspired him to come up with a solution that brought him full circle back to working as an engineer
This sporting worklife
Adam Rigby is on a mission to take the growing sport of wheelchair rugby league out of the heartlands of the North West and make it nationwide. He talks about balancing the needs of sport and work
Banging his own drum
Ahmet Faruk Vural is finding out what his right arm's for at his job in a Walthamstow pub. Although nowadays he's known as a "Bar Associate"
Shaun shows the road ahead
From hill starts to emergency stops. Shaun Cox has had to teach all the elements you'll need if you want to pass your driving test. He tells us why he likes putting people on the road to success
Nova-Caine eases Jacqueline's pain
Not being able to get out of bed only made Jacqueline May more determined to have the career of her dreams. Now a fully-fledged band manager, events organiser and music promoter, Jacqueline has learnt how to both work and play from the comfort of her sitting room
Mark's business package
No one can say that Mark Livsey has failed to deliver. From a start-up grant from the Prince’s Trust, he now has a fleet of 20 vehicles and is keeping things moving all over the north-west
It's music to his ear
Born deaf in one ear, recording artist Mala owns two record labels, mixes music in front of crowds of thousands worldwide and is one of the founders of one of this decade’s biggest underground scenes. Not bad for a guy whose sound engineering teacher once told him he would never be able to live life in stereo
When work feels close to life
The reactionary media’s line on sex offenders is “lock ‘em up and throw away the key”, but for Maria*, a probation officer working in that field, it’s more about unlocking and opening up minds
Karen has the bow-wow factor
Karen Standen was told by her bank manager that her idea for a hydrotherapy pool for dogs would never work. Four years on, her business is growing with hundreds of pooch owners splashing out
Fast track to Whitehall
Arabella Scott is a graduate who recently undertook an internship as part of the Fast Stream Summer Placement Scheme, managed by the Cabinet Office and Scope. She talks about experiencing life inside the Civil Service
Happy snapper
Graham Bool has been taking photos since he was a boy. He explains how a childhood fascination has become a career that’s taken him round the world
Travelling man
Amar Latif is an entrepreneur who founded Traveleyes, a company that specialises in holidays for visually impaired and sighted travellers. He talks about changing career, and allowing blind people to see the world
From fags to fitness
When James O’Driscoll lost his sight at the age of 26, he thought his life was over. But then he fought to become the first blind person to achieve a Level 2 Fitness Instructor Award, and now he says he feels that anything is possible
Happy feet
Because of the drug Thalidomide, Sue Kent says, she has only seven fingers and arms just eight inches long. Tired of being desk-bound, she looked to her feet to provide a working alternative
Plymouth Sounds
Andy Ballantyne is now a recognisable voice over the airwaves in Plymouth and the south west, on the recently rebranded Heart Radio. He talks to Paul Carter about his route into radio
Chris's Olympic comeback
Chris Lomas had a successful career in the computer industry before a brain haemorrhage led to his being unable to work for over eight years. Now back in employment, he’s involved in a London Olympics construction project
Building a career
Architect David Bonnett didn’t worry about accessible design until he became disabled himself. Now he’s a leading expert on the subject
Nursing times
When chronic pain and the results of a nasty spinal infection made mobility increasingly difficult for Bethann Siviter, she thought her nursing career was lost forever. But nearly a year to the day later, she returned to work as a nurse consultant
The golden bowl
Entrepreneur Natalie Ellis survived the Dragons’ Den and now, she says, the only way is up
That's Snowbusiness
Talent agency boss Peter Burroughs has dedicated much of his working life to boosting the careers of other short actors
Supporting people
Librarian Rebecca Marshall’s professional skills have been recognised by her peers. But she couldn’t have done it without the support of her employers
My track record
Spinning records as a mobile DJ has helped Dave Wood cope with his depression and win back his self-esteem
Kim gets physical
Kim Dean was told she was too small to be a physiotherapist. But, she says, that only made her more determined
A coach ticket
Danny West, principal consultant and coach of RYL Training and Coaching Consultancy, describes how dealing with the challenges of being diagnosed with HIV led to a career in life coaching
An Action-packed career
Albert Thomson is opening up surprising new job opportunities for disabled people as managing director of Action Amps
Researching her future
Rebekah Craig has faced discriminatory attitudes in her battle to become a psychologist
Driving Google’s search for access
Google’s TV Raman talks us though a career spent looking for access alternatives
Exporting Scouse nous
A group of people with learning difficulties from Merseyside has tackled negative stereotypes by volunteering in Kenya. Elizabeth Choppin reports
Sound advice on working in the media
Libby Cross, an independent radio producer who built up a successful career at the BBC, says ideas are her most valuable commodity
Investing in your own future pays dividends
David Clarke (below), a senior partner at Clydesdale Bank, says patience, tolerance and determination are vital ingredients for a good career.
Growing into the job
A new scheme should help disabled people compete for horticulture jobs, says Sunil Peck.
Anything to declare...only my paranoia
Journalist Richard Shrub examines the thorny issues surrounding coming out about mental health conditions when you’re in the job market
Mind the gap year
Like many people at the end of their schooling, Emily Steward wanted to take time out from education. She wound up working with children in the slums of Mbale in Uganda