Mat Fraser and Liz Carr

Features a disabled chocolatier, two members (one male, one female) from the GB wheelchair rugby team, disability euphemisms and a fond farewell to one of our presenters. Mat Fraser and Liz Carr present.

Listen to or download the show by following this link.

A transcript of this show will be posted soon.

• What do people call you when they're trying to avoid saying 'disabled'? Liz explains what the Americans say and Simon Minty joins the debate by phone.
• Meet Louis Barnett, who started his chocolate-making business when he was just 12 years old. He's now 20. Louis has dyspraxia, dyslexia, short-term memory loss and more. A role model and a half.
• Tony Garrett updates us on Paralympics news. And did you know that wheelchair rugby is a mixed sex sport? Ross and Kylie from the GB team tell us more and explain the rules of this roughest of disability games.
• We delve into the archives to play some classic Mat Fraser moments as we say goodbye to him on his last show.

Pod Talk

We were gripped by Louis Barnett's chocolate knowledge; he's a great talker and a real role model. We believe he's about to start doing work to encourage younger entrepreneurs, so watch this space. Mat and Liz were upset that he was down the line in Birmingham because they were hoping to sample some of his chocolate, or Chokolit as he spells it.

This show features the most amazing clip of Paralympian Ellie Simmons being interviewed after gaining a world record in the Olympic pool in Stratford. It's almost worth downloading the programme for this alone. I don't think you'll ever hear anyone sounding so overwhelmingly happy as the 17 year old GB swimmer.

... and finally Mat Fraser hung up his microphone for the last time. He's been on the show for six whole years now, co-hosting with Liz, but wants to concentrate more on acting and performing.

So, who will replace Mat from next month? Tune in and find out.

Because of water shortages following two very dry winters, from today seven water authorities across parts of southern and eastern England have introduced a hosepipe ban. Until the ban is lifted - which is unlikely to be before the end of summer - using a hosepipe to water your garden or your plants, to clean outdoor surfaces or to fill a pond are all prohibited.

There are a few exemptions - and you might be able to take advantage of one of them. If you're a keen disabled gardener or just prefer your lawn to remain lush and green in dry summers, the good news is that you can go on watering your garden using a hosepipe. This is in recognition of the fact that many disabled people might not be able to handle or carry heavy watering cans. The bad news is that the rules aren't entirely simple and straightforward.

First, there is no national policy on exemptions. It's up to each individual water authority to decide their approach. In recent years, most water authorities have permitted disabled people to carry on using hosepipes, but if your provider introduces a ban you should always check first to make sure you're exempt. Water authorities also reserve the right to impose the hosepipe ban on disabled people too if the drought becomes more severe.

Second, the exemption doesn't include all disabled people - just those who, in the words of some of the water companies involved, have "severe mobility problems" and hold a Blue Badge. The Blue Badge requirement doesn't, however, mean you can use a hosepipe to wash your car - it's still only to be used on gardens, plants and the like. It's also strictly limited to your own property, so if you were thinking of hiring yourself and your hosepipe out to the neighbours, think again.

Finally, if you don't have a Blue Badge, but believe that the nature of your impairment will cause you severe difficulties watering your garden by hand, you can apply to your local water authority for an exemption from the hosepipe ban.

The question is, though: how many disabled people were previously aware of this exemption? It certainly seemed to be new information to some of Ouch's followers on Facebook when we posted a link to the BBC News story earlier today, with the necessity to have a Blue Badge causing particular comment on both sides of the argument. Reader Louise Whittingham said: "Blue Badge holders are disabled and it's generally used to park a car. Being disabled myself I'm not sure why if we had a ban where I live I shouldn't abide by the ban too, Blue Badge or no Blue Badge", while Bekkie Clarke echoed a popular view: "I think it's great that it's recognised that a lot of people enjoy their gardens but can't carry around huge watering cans, but someone needs to spare a thought for those of us who don't have a blue badge but face the same difficulties day to day", and Angela Jane Shields suggested that the reason for using the Blue Badge as the reason for exemption is because it's "a way of monitoring who is exempt from the ban at a council level".

What do you think? When water is in such short supply, should disabled people be exempted from the hosepipe ban? And how could it be more easily applied so that it's not just Blue Badge holders who qualify? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

• For more information on the hosepipe ban, check out the BBC News Q&A;. If you live in an affected area, then the following water authority web pages contain more information on the ban, including their policy on exemptions for disabled people: Anglian Water, Southern Water, South East Water, Sutton and East Surrey, Thames Water, Veolia Central, Veolia South East.

Disability, dating and relationships have been making the news and comment pages over the past week, with debate surrounding both the title and the advertising campaign for Channel 4's new reality series about disabled people looking for love. The Undateables finally began on Tuesday 3 April, and reviews and reaction in the press the morning after ranged from critical to very favourable.

Elsewhere, following last week's story in which Baroness Grey-Thompson talked about being left to crawl off a train, disabled sailor Geoff Holt MBE has revealed that he was banned from boarding a train in his electric wheelchair; and a new Home Office report on Gary McKinnon, the computer hacker with Asperger's who has fought a ten-year battle against extradition, reverses the findings of an earlier study and says that he is now mentally fit to face trial in the USA and should no longer be considered a suicide risk.

More of the week's headlines

Millions affected as tax and benefit changes come in (BBC News, Thursday 5 April)

Rise in involuntary mental health admissions (BBC News, Wednesday 4 April)

Charity cuts fear for those with learning disabilities (BBC News, Tuesday 3 April)

A4e in line for major government contract as Equality and Human Rights Commission helpline service (The Guardian, Tuesday 3 April)

The dating world of disabled people (BBC News, Tuesday 3 April)

Are disabled people really 'undateable'? (The Guardian, Tuesday 3 April)

Brainfingers system allows disabled musician to play (BBC News, Tuesday 3 April)

Charity chief quits government welfare panel over incapacity tests (BBC News, Monday 2 April)

Disabled sailor Geoff Holt MBE barred from train (BBC News, Monday 2 April)

France's autism treatment 'shame' (BBC News, Monday 2 April)

One in ten children with autism shrug off worst of condition to become 'high functioning' by age eight, new study reveals (Daily Mail, Monday 2 April)

The Undateables? Disability rights, but Channel 4 wrongs (The Guardian, Monday 2 April)

Disabled man collapses after being refused treatment at walk-in centre and forced to call NHS hotline for ambulance (Daily Mail, Monday 2 April)

Going out on a date, complete with TV crew (The Observer, Sunday 31 March)

Two teachers caught taunting disabled boy, 10, as 'gross' and 'disgusting' after his mother bugged his wheelchair with recording device (Daily Mail, Friday 30 March)

Autistic teen locked in padded room by special school (BBC News, Friday 30 March)

Soldier who lost arm in Afghanistan designs ice axe for Everest trip (The Guardian, Friday 30 March)

Could bacteria cause Obsessive Compulsive Disorder symptoms? Mental health group investigates possible link (Daily Mail, Thursday 29 March)

Gary McKinnon 'mentally fit enough to be extradited', claims report (Daily Telegraph, Thursday 29 March)

Study finds highest-ever rate of autism in the US (The Telegraph, Thursday 29 March)

Duke of Edinburgh asks disabled man: How many people have you knocked over with your mobility scooter? (The Telegraph, Thursday 29 March)