About the show

The Inclusion Ireland Media Award winning series Outside the Box returns to RTÉ Radio 1 at 10.02pm on Friday 11 September 2009.

Outside the Box is designed for and about people with disability, covering issues that affect them and their constitutional right to a fulfilling, meaningful life. In past seasons the programme has shone a light into many dark corners, highlighting both the problems and the positives of being disabled in Ireland today. Never afraid to tackle any issue, no matter how controversial, Outside the Box also prides itself on its sense of humour and its ability not to take everything too seriously.

Popular presenter and wheelchair user Olan McGowan returns to present the programme. Olan's warm, baritone voice and forensic style of interviewing are well known to listeners, and, while always being a good listener, he is very quick to spot when someone is trying to evade an issue. Refreshed after his break, he promises to be even more incisive than ever.

Producer Gerry McArdle accepts the Inclusion Ireland Media Award on behalf of Outside the Box

Gerry McArdle, who inaugurated the programme, also returns as producer, looking forward to working again with his colleague Olan. Experienced in many fields, including drama, music, and an accomplished playwright, Gerry's many radio productions, apart from Outside the Box, include People of God, Woman with the Wild Things Heart and, most recently, Passion Players with Gay Byrne.

Outside the Box meets young rising star Joseph Barry. Back row. l to r. Anne Barry (Joseph's mum); Producer Gerry McArdle; Declan Cassidy, Director of TV series 'The House'; Elaine Walsh, Writer, 'The House'. Front row: l to r. Presenter Olan McGowan; Joseph Barry, Actor; Joe T Mooney, Muscular Dystrophy Ireland.

Early programmes in this season look at issues surrounding mental health, parenting with a disability, blindness, and, of course, as the recession continues to bite and hurt the most vulnerable in our society, the programme will continue to monitor the activities of An Bord Snip Nua, and how it impacts on people with disability. Wherever there is an issue of interest to people with disability, Outside the Box will be there, not only giving the many organisations in this field a platform to air their concerns, but any new or pertinent information will also be broadcast.

When, in early 2009, Inclusion Ireland, the national association for people with an intellectual disability, honoured Outside the Box with its media award, Olan, Gerry and the past presenters were delighted. As Olan said: 'Inclusion Ireland is a major part of our target audience, so we must have been doing something right.'

The success of the programme in the past has been due to the ideas and suggestions that come from the many organisations concerned with disability and it is hoped that this will continue. You can email Outside the Box at otb@rte.ie, call 01 2082039 or write to Outside the Box, RTÉ Radio 1, Dublin 4.