This week, Newstalk becomes the first radio station to use text-to-speech technology to broadcast a radio programme, called 'Living with a Disability', presented by Newstalk's-own, Steve Daunt. Steve has a speech disability, so presents the programme with the support of text-to-speech technology.

Steve said:

"This week I did something that I never expected. I presented my first show on Newstalk.

To mark UN Day of the Disabled Person, Between The Lines gave a platform to 5 disabled people to reflect on what it's like to live with a disability in Ireland today. Among the five was Robin Barnett, the UK ambassador to Ireland who spoke honestly about his childhood and living with a disability.

The other four guests were Pádraig Naughton from Arts and Disability Ireland, James Cawley and Maryam Madani from the Independent Living Movement, and Freelance Journalist, Louise Bruton. They spoke about topics as diverse as growing up, finding love in the age of Tinder and all the things you would expect from a Newstalk Panel. They talk about these topics with their experience of living with a disability in Ireland. 

It will make a unique listen.

In the middle of it all, there was me with my sexy baritone voice.  During the show, I mention that I could never hide my disability even if I wanted to. That's because my cerebral palsy manifests itself through a severe speech impairment. In the past few months, I have been using a text to speech app as a tool in everyday life. 

The editor of Between The Lines, Stephen Jordan, suggested we take this to a new level and have the show use both my own voice and the text-to-speech software mixing with each other.  It's a first for radio, I think. You will forget it's there. Instead, you will just hear a great show with great guests and some thought-provoking ideas."

The programme is available now on podcast and will be broadcast on Between the Lines on Saturday at 8pm.