In this episode of Sunflower Conversations, James Dunn speaks with Mel Ogden about profound hearing loss alongside endometriosis, Hashimoto’s disease, and breast cancer, and how it's shaped her identity, work, and self-advocacy.

Mel shares her journey from childhood through to adulthood, navigating communication, disclosure, and shifting access needs across different environments.

• Communication in daily life, including lip reading and the importance of captions
• Learning to disclose access needs, moving from masking to self-advocacy, and why confidence isn’t always linear
• The impact of chronic illness and cancer on identity, energy, and day-to-day life
• Challenging assumptions like “you don’t sound deaf” and how these moments shape the experience of non-visible disability

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In this first episode of Season 3, James Dunn returns as our new host, bringing thoughtful and engaging conversations to the forefront. He is joined by Fiona, an organisational design and HR leader with over 18 years’ experience, who shares her experience of living with vitelliform macular dystrophy (VMD), also known as Best disease, and how it has shaped her perspective on identity, accessibility, and inclusion.

• Growing up with a childhood diagnosis and navigating the evolving impact of progressive vision loss
• What progressive vision loss can look like in real life, why corrective lenses often cannot “fix” low vision, and the quiet internal question so many people carry: am I disabled enough to ask for help?
• Why experimenting with free technology can be a powerful first step towards inclusion. Practical workplace accessibility tools, including screen readers, magnifiers, and read-aloud features
• Creating more inclusive workplaces through awareness, flexibility, and thoughtful design

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We talk with Alex Manners, an autistic speaker and author. In this episode, Alex explains what autism feels like for him, from literal language and sensory stress to special interests, like football, that genuinely help him cope. We also explore how improved communication and practical inclusion tools, such as the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower, can make everyday life more accessible.

In this episode, we cover a lot from school to employment. Below are just some of the topics we cover:

• Why Alex still uses the term Asperger's
• Special interests and how football and the football programmes support Alex's emotional regulation
• Why sarcasm, idioms, and vague questions cause real barriers
• Sensory sensitivities like labels, sock seams, and ticking sounds
• What autistic meltdowns are, how masking contributes, and what recovery feels like
• The importance of routine
  
  

If you are concerned about any of the subjects discussed in the podcast, please follow up with your healthcare practitioner for support.

Hosted by Chantal Boyle, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower.

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Find out more about the Sunflower by visiting the website hdsunflower.com

Music by "The Emerald Ruby" Emerald Ruby Bandcamp and Emerald Ruby website