Afleveringen
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Joeita speaks to blind self-defence instructor and Brazilian Ju-jitsu practitioner Jim Turk about the relationship between martial arts and self-confidence for People with Disabilities.
Highlights
The Benefits of Self-Defence - Opening Remarks (00:00)Introducing Jim Turk, Martial Artist & Self-Defence Instructor (01:56)Practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (02:53)Learning Martial Arts as a Blind Student (04:22)Discovering Jiu-Jitsu (05:46)Appeal of Martial Arts During Vision Loss Journey (07:13)Building Confidence & Traveling Independently (09:05)Defending Yourself in Public (11:18)Techniques to Break Someone’s Grip (12:44)Teaching Sighted and Blind Students (14:20)Empowerment Through Martial Arts (16:17)Deciding to Teach (19:25)Mental Health Benefits (20:09)Class Size (21:53)Competitions & Belts (22:41)Teaching Sighted Students (23:47)Online Lessons (24:21)Fight Back Self Defense (25:20)Tips for the Blind Traveler (26:30)Show Close (28:33)About Jim Turk & Fight Back Self Defense
"My name is Jim Turk. I am a self-defense instructor, and also happen to be completely blind. It is an unfortunate fact that criminals often target people who are perceived, for whatever reason, as "easy targets". The reasons for this perception could range from a person’s age, gender, physical size, or, as in my case, a noticeable disability. Regardless of the reason for this perception of vulnerability, assaults against people in these categories tend to be very similar in nature to one another. For this reason, the self-defense principles and techniques I teach are useful to a wide range of individuals, such as senior citizens, women, children, and those with disabilities. After I began losing my vision, I started becoming more interested in personal safety and self-defense. I have since earned my blue belt in the martial art Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and have received my certification as a coach in the OneTouch self-defense system, which was specifically designed for blind people. The more I learn, the more I wanted to be able to share my knowledge with others, so I have started my own business teaching self-defense, called Fight Back.
I am located in Villa Park, IL, and I am available to teach private lessons or group classes."
Contact Jim Turk for more info: [email protected]
More About Jim Turk
Self-Defense Instructor Jim Turk Receives 2019 Council Excellence Award
About The Pulse
On The Pulse, host Joeita Gupta brings us closer to issues impacting the disability community across Canada.
Joeita Gupta has nurtured a life-long dream to work in radio! She's blind, moved to Toronto in 2004 and got her start in radio at CKLN, 88.1 FM in Toronto. A former co-host of AMI-audio's Live from Studio 5, Joeita also works full-time at a nonprofit in Toronto, specializing in housing/tenant rights.
Find Joeita on X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoeitaGupta
The Pulse airs weekly on AMI-audio.
For more information, visit https://www.ami.ca/ThePulse/
About AMI
AMI is a not-for-profit media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians who are blind or partially sighted. Operating three broadcast services, AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French, AMI’s vision is to establish and support a voice for Canadians with disabilities, representing their interests, concerns and values through inclusion, representation, accessible media, reflection, representation and portrayal.
Learn more at AMI.ca
Connect on Twitter @AccessibleMedia
On Instagram @accessiblemediainc
On Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
On TikTok @accessiblemediainc
Email [email protected]
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Joeita speaks to Devon Healey, assistant professor of disability studies at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto, about her research into the dramatization and perception of blindness in theatre.
Healey is also an award-winning actor, co-founder of Peripheral Theater and the author of “Dramatizing Blindness: Disability Studies as Critical Creative Narrative,” which came out in 2021.
Highlights:
“What is Blindness?” - Opening Remarks (00:00)Perceptions of Blindness (01:10)Introducing Devon Healy; Actor, Assistant Professor of Disability Studies & Author of “Dramatizing Blindness” (02:05)The Many Conceptions of Blindness (02:56)Interrogating Sightedness (06:23)Simulating Sighted Behaviour (09:28)“Blind” Performers & the Sighted Blindness Consultant (12:35)Relationship Between Theatre & Blindness (16:08)Academics & Dramatizing Blindness (17:29)Rainbow on Mars (18:56)Immersive Descriptive Audio (20:07)Radio Plays & the National Ballet (22:34)Kaleidoscopic Feelings of Blindness (26:22)More from Devon Healey (31:20)Show Close (32:02)Guest Bio
Devon Healey is an Assistant Professor of Disability Studies at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto. All of her work is grounded in her experience as a blind woman guided by a desire to show how blindness specifically and disability more broadly can be understood as offering an alternate form of perception and is thus, a valuable and creative way of experiencing and knowing the world.
She is the author of, Dramatizing Blindness: Disability Studies as Critical Creative Narrative (Palgrave Macmillan, 2021). Devon is an award-winning actor and the co-founder of, Peripheral Theatre. In 2020 she was awarded a commission by Outside the March (Dora award-winning Toronto theatre company) to both write and perform in, Rainbow on Mars, a sensory reclamation of blindness. Prof. Healey teaches courses in critical disability studies.
Follow Devon Healey on X (Twitter) -@devonkhealey
About The Pulse
On The Pulse, host Joeita Gupta brings us closer to issues impacting the disability community across Canada.
Joeita Gupta has nurtured a life-long dream to work in radio! She's blind, moved to Toronto in 2004 and got her start in radio at CKLN, 88.1 FM in Toronto. A former co-host of AMI-audio's Live from Studio 5, Joeita also works full-time at a nonprofit in Toronto, specializing in housing/tenant rights.
Find Joeita on X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoeitaGupta
The Pulse airs weekly on AMI-audio.
For more information, visit https://www.ami.ca/ThePulse/
About AMI
AMI is a not-for-profit media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians who are blind or partially sighted. Operating three broadcast services, AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French, AMI’s vision is to establish and support a voice for Canadians with disabilities, representing their interests, concerns and values through inclusion, representation, accessible media, reflection, representation and portrayal.
Learn more at AMI.ca
Connect on Twitter @AccessibleMedia
On Instagram @accessiblemediainc
On Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
On TikTok @accessiblemediainc
Email [email protected]
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Joeita speaks to Hubert van Niekirk, Executive Director of Every Canadian Counts, about a campaign to create a National Disability Insurance Plan in Canada.
Highlights
Opening Remarks (00:00)Introducing Hubert Van Kiekerk, Executive Director for Every Canadian Counts (01:25)The Proposed National Disability Insurance Plan (02:56)Potential Impact of Plan for Canadians with Disabilities (03:54)Relationship Between National Plan & Existing Provincial Programs (06:07)Cutting Back on Bureaucracy & Disability Admin (07:54)Benefits of NDIP for Families and Caregivers (09:40)Bringing the Australian Model to Canada (12:12)Supporting Canadian Youth with Disabilities (15:19)Cost & Viability of National Disability Insurance Plan (16:39)Governmental Cooperation (21:10)How to Get Involved with the NDIP (23:38)EveryCanadianCounts.com (26:11)Show Close (28:09)Guest Bio
Hubert Van Niekerk, Interim Executive Director of Every Canadian Counts
Educator and specialist teacher, community leader and volunteer.
Hubert has a long history of working and volunteering in the disabled community.
He has been involved with the Ontario Association for Developmental Education for 18 years serving as a member-at-large, president and past president. Hubert served as the president of the Council for Exceptional Children for London-Middlesex.
He is on the L’Arche London board of directors. Before retirement, Hubert was a special education specialist teacher in a mostly self-contained classroom for 17 years. He taught students with a wide-range of intellectual and multiple disabilities. Hubert also engaged in a year-long teacher work exchange to Australia for the year of 2010.
About Every Canadian Counts
Every Canadian Counts (ECC) is calling on Canadian governments to work together to develop a national funding program to ensure essential disability supports are available to all Canadians living with chronic, long-term disabilities. ECC includes individuals living with disabilities, caregivers, advocates and support organizations.
With ongoing effort through Bill C-22 (An Act to reduce poverty and to support the financial security of persons with disabilities) and the Accessible Canada Act, now's the perfect time for the "next big thing" to support Canadians with disabilities, similar to what's already been accomplished in Australia through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) - and we can't do it without you.
Reference:
Article - The Australian Advantage: Speaking with One Voice
"For all the plaudits and superlatives that have been laid at the feet of the NDIS in Australia, a truly breathtaking social policy initiative, it is not primarily the disability insurance idea itself nor its subsequent implementation that sets Australia apart. Rather, it was the ability of the disability community and their supporters to speak with one voice to get it done.
How was that possible?"
About The Pulse
On The Pulse, host Joeita Gupta brings us closer to issues impacting the disability community across Canada.
Joeita Gupta has nurtured a life-long dream to work in radio! She's blind, moved to Toronto in 2004 and got her start in radio at CKLN, 88.1 FM in Toronto. A former co-host of AMI-audio's Live from Studio 5, Joeita also works full-time at a nonprofit in Toronto, specializing in housing/tenant rights.
Find Joeita on X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoeitaGupta
The Pulse airs weekly on AMI-audio.
For more information, visit https://www.ami.ca/ThePulse/
About AMI
AMI is a not-for-profit media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians who are blind or partially sighted. Operating three broadcast services, AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French, AMI’s vision is to establish and support a voice for Canadians with disabilities, representing their interests, concerns and values through inclusion, representation, accessible media, reflection, representation and portrayal.
Learn more at AMI.ca
Connect on Twitter @AccessibleMedia
On Instagram @accessiblemediainc
On Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
On TikTok @accessiblemediainc
Email [email protected]
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Joeita previews Season 5 of AMI-tv's "Postcards from..." with the show’s new host, Author & Artist Christa Couture. Christa discusses her travels to various parts of Canada, the challenges of travelling with a prosthetic, and the joy of exploring new places with all 5 senses.
Highlights:
Opening Remarks (00:00)Introducing Christa Couture – Writer, Musician, Broadcaster (01:19)About AMI-tv’s “Postcards From…” (03:23)Season 5 Travel Locations (04:37)Drumheller, the Dinosaur Capital of North America (05:30)Navigating Rugged Terrain with a Prosthetic (08:40)Bringing Attention to Accessibility Barriers (12:26)Prairie Oysters & Testy Festy (13:42)Dawson City & Whistler (16:36)Learning to Travel More Accessibly (18:09)Accessibility in Transportation (19:58)Unpacking the Suitcase Strategy (21:34)Travelling with Small Children (22:54)The Ultimate Souvenir (24:01)Show Close (25:55)Guest Bio:
Christa Couture is an award-winning performing and recording artist, non-fiction writer and broadcaster. She is also proudly Indigenous, queer, disabled and a mom. Her sixth recording, Safe Harbour, was released March 2020. Her writing has been published in Room, Shameless and Augur magazines and cbc.ca. As a speaker and storyteller, she has addressed audiences for The Walrus Talks, CBC's DNTO, Moses Znaimer's ideaCity and Imaginate in Port Hope, ON. She is a frequent contributor to CBC Radio's Now or Never and The Next Chapter, and hosts Season 5 of AMI-tv’s accessible travel series “Postcards From…”
Watch "Postcards From..." on AMIPlus.ca
Find Music from Christa Couture on Bandcamp
“A remarkable chanteuse, singing superb material,” deems Roots Music of Christa Couture, an award-winning indie artist who has built a reputation for transforming tragedy into musical triumph, with sharp-shooting wit, effortless grace, and heart-on-sleeve intensity.
Follow Christa Couture on Facebook
Christa Couture's Book - How to Lose Everything: A Memoir
Christa Couture has come to know every corner of grief—its shifting blurry edges, its traps, its pulse of love at the centre and the bittersweet truth that sorrow is a powerful and wise emotion.
From the amputation of her leg as a cure for bone cancer at a young age to her first child’s single day of life, the heart transplant and subsequent death of her second child, the divorce born of grief and then the thyroidectomy that threatened her career as a professional musician, How to Lose Everything delves into the heart of loss. Couture bears witness to the shift in perspective that comes with loss, and how it can deepen compassion for others, expand understanding, inspire a letting go of little things and plant a deeper feeling for what matters. At the same time, Couture's writing evokes the joy and lightness that both precede and eventually follow grief, as well as the hope and resilience that grow from connections with others.
"How to Lose Everything" series on CBC Gem
How to Lose Everything is an Indigenous series of animated short films that explore personal stories of loss. The five films’ stories span nations, languages, and perspectives on heartache.
More from Christa Couture
About The Pulse
On The Pulse, host Joeita Gupta brings us closer to issues impacting the disability community across Canada.
Joeita Gupta has nurtured a life-long dream to work in radio! She's blind, moved to Toronto in 2004 and got her start in radio at CKLN, 88.1 FM in Toronto. A former co-host of AMI-audio's Live from Studio 5, Joeita also works full-time at a nonprofit in Toronto, specializing in housing/tenant rights.
Find Joeita on X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoeitaGupta
The Pulse airs weekly on AMI-audio.
For more information, visit https://www.ami.ca/ThePulse/
About AMI
AMI is a not-for-profit media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians who are blind or partially sighted. Operating three broadcast services, AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French, AMI’s vision is to establish and support a voice for Canadians with disabilities, representing their interests, concerns and values through inclusion, representation, accessible media, reflection, representation and portrayal.
Learn more at AMI.ca
Connect on Twitter @AccessibleMedia
On Instagram @accessiblemediainc
On Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
On TikTok @accessiblemediainc
Email [email protected]
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Joeita discusses tips and tricks for blind home cooks with Renee Rentmeester, executive producer of the "Cooking Without Looking" TV show and podcast. She shares safety tips as well as accessible tricks of the trade.
Highlights
Cooking & Blindness - Opening Remarks (00:00)Introducing Renee Rentmeester of “Cooking Without Looking” TV Show and Podcast (01:10)About “Cooking Without Looking” (02:29)More on the Blind Hosts of the Show (03:47)Where to Find “Cooking Without Looking” (04:38)Typical Episode Format (05:17)Choosing Guests for the Show (07:15)Safety Tips for Blind Cooks (10:28)Safety on the Stove Top (12:55)Tips for Organizing Your Kitchen (15:00)Using Your Other Senses (16:26)Appliances, Kitchen Gadgets & Accessibility (18:11)International Cuisine (20:17)“Cooking Without Looking” Cookbook (22:51)The Most Complicated Recipe Made on the Show? (24:32)More Recipes & Tips from “Cooking without Looking” (26:19)Show Close (27:28)“Cooking Without Looking” Website
Cooking Without Looking is the First TV Show which features People who are Blind/Visually Impaired. We provide the stage for people to show what living blind is really like, and to create a bridge of understanding.
Join the “Cooking Without Looking” Facebook Group
About The Pulse
On The Pulse, host Joeita Gupta brings us closer to issues impacting the disability community across Canada.
Joeita Gupta has nurtured a life-long dream to work in radio! She's blind, moved to Toronto in 2004 and got her start in radio at CKLN, 88.1 FM in Toronto. A former co-host of AMI-audio's Live from Studio 5, Joeita also works full-time at a nonprofit in Toronto, specializing in housing/tenant rights.
Find Joeita on X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoeitaGupta
The Pulse airs weekly on AMI-audio.
For more information, visit https://www.ami.ca/ThePulse/
About AMI
AMI is a not-for-profit media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians who are blind or partially sighted. Operating three broadcast services, AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French, AMI’s vision is to establish and support a voice for Canadians with disabilities, representing their interests, concerns and values through inclusion, representation, accessible media, reflection, representation and portrayal.
Learn more at AMI.ca
Connect on Twitter @AccessibleMedia
On Instagram @accessiblemediainc
On Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
On TikTok @accessiblemediainc
Email [email protected]
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Joeita speaks with Kate Mann, Associate Professor Cornell University's Sage School of Philosophy & author of "Unshrinking: How to Face Fatphobia," which draws on personal experience & rigorous research to expose how size discrimination harms everyone, and how to combat it.
Highlights
The Insidiousness of Fatphobia - Opening Remarks (00:00)Society’s Fixation on Weight & the “Ideal Body” (01:07)Introducing Kate Manne, Author of “Unshrinking: How to Face Fatphobia” (01:59)Philosophical Interest in Misogyny & Fatphobia (02:22)Defining Fatphobia (04:17)Complicated Relationship Between Fatness & Health (06:03)Fatphobia in the Healthcare System (10:15)Weigh-In Process & Weight-Inclusive Physicians (12:27)Diabetes, BMI & Stigma (13:19)Intersections of Fatphobia, Race, Class, Ability & Gender (16:22)The Politics of Anti-Fatness as Anti-Blackness (18:28)Thin-Privilege (19:36)Beyond Body-Positivity (22:24)Thinsplaining - Book Excerpt (24:22)Find the Book “Unshrinking: Facing Fatphobia” (27:51)Show Close (28:33)Guest Bio -
Kate Manne is an associate professor of philosophy at Cornell University, where she’s been teaching since 2013. Before that, she was a junior fellow at the Harvard Society of Fellows. Manne did her graduate work in philosophy at MIT and is the author of two previous books, Down Girl and Entitled.
“Unshrinking: How to Face Fatphobia” By Kate Manne from Penguin Random House
“An elegant, fierce, and profound argument for fighting fat oppression in ourselves, our communities, and our culture.”—Roxane Gay, author of Hunger
For as long as she can remember, Kate Manne has wanted to be smaller. She can tell you what she weighed on any significant occasion: her wedding day, the day she became a professor, the day her daughter was born. She’s been bullied and belittled for her size, leading to extreme dieting. As a feminist philosopher, she wanted to believe that she was exempt from the cultural gaslighting that compels so many of us to ignore our hunger. But she was not.
Blending intimate stories with the trenchant analysis that has become her signature, Manne shows why fatphobia has become a vital social justice issue. Over the last several decades, implicit bias has waned in every category, from race to sexual orientation, except one: body size. Manne examines how anti-fatness operates—how it leads us to make devastating assumptions about a person’s attractiveness, fortitude, and intellect, and how it intersects with other systems of oppression. Fatphobia is responsible for wage gaps, medical neglect, and poor educational outcomes; it is a straitjacket, restricting our freedom, our movement, our potential.
In this urgent call to action, Manne proposes a new politics of “body reflexivity”—a radical reevaluation of who our bodies exist in the world for: ourselves and no one else. When it comes to fatphobia, the solution is not to love our bodies more. Instead, we must dismantle the forces that control and constrain us, and remake the world to accommodate people of every size.
Articles:
In 'Unshrinking,' a writer discusses coming out as fat and pushing back against bias - NPR Interview
Fighting Fatphobia and Embracing ‘Unshrinking’: The Ms. Q&A With Kate Manne - MS Magazine
Reference:
Belly of the Beast The Politics of Anti-Fatness as Anti-Blackness by Da'Shaun L. Harrison
To live in a body both fat and Black is to exist at the margins of a society that creates the conditions for anti-fatness as anti-Blackness. Hyper-policed by state and society, passed over for housing and jobs, and derided and misdiagnosed by medical professionals, fat Black people in the United States are subject to sociopolitically sanctioned discrimination, abuse, condescension, and trauma.
Da’Shaun Harrison—a fat, Black, disabled, and nonbinary trans writer—offers an incisive, fresh, and precise exploration of anti-fatness as anti-Blackness, foregrounding the state-sanctioned murders of fat Black men and trans and nonbinary masculine people in historical analysis. Policing, disenfranchisement, and invisibilizing of fat Black men and trans and nonbinary masculine people are pervasive, insidious ways that anti-fat anti-Blackness shows up in everyday life. Fat people can be legally fired in forty-nine states for being fat; they’re more likely to be houseless. Fat people die at higher rates from misdiagnosis or nontreatment; fat women are more likely to be sexually assaulted. And at the intersections of fatness, Blackness, disability, and gender, these abuses are exacerbated.
Taking on desirability politics, the limitations of gender, the connection between anti-fatness and carcerality, and the incongruity of “health” and “healthiness” for the Black fat, Harrison viscerally and vividly illustrates the myriad harms of anti-fat anti-Blackness. They offer strategies for dismantling denial, unlearning the cultural programming that tells us “fat is bad,” and destroying the world as we know it, so the Black fat can inhabit a place not built on their subjugation.
About The Pulse
On The Pulse, host Joeita Gupta brings us closer to issues impacting the disability community across Canada.
Joeita Gupta has nurtured a life-long dream to work in radio! She's blind, moved to Toronto in 2004 and got her start in radio at CKLN, 88.1 FM in Toronto. A former co-host of AMI-audio's Live from Studio 5, Joeita also works full-time at a nonprofit in Toronto, specializing in housing/tenant rights.
Find Joeita on X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoeitaGupta
The Pulse airs weekly on AMI-audio.
For more information, visit https://www.ami.ca/ThePulse/
About AMI
AMI is a not-for-profit media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians who are blind or partially sighted. Operating three broadcast services, AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French, AMI’s vision is to establish and support a voice for Canadians with disabilities, representing their interests, concerns and values through inclusion, representation, accessible media, reflection, representation and portrayal.
Learn more at AMI.ca
Connect on Twitter @AccessibleMedia
On Instagram @accessiblemediainc
On Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
On TikTok @accessiblemediainc
Email [email protected]
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Joeita speaks to Danielle Kaftarian, Executive Director of the Period Purse, about menstrual equity and what needs to change to ensure that all people who menstruate have access to period products.
Highlights
Period Poverty & Menstrual Equity - Opening Remarks (00:00)Introducing Danielle Kaftarian, Executive Director of the Period Purse (01:22)Importance of Discussing Menstrual Equity & Period Poverty (01:40)Stigma & Lack of Political Will (02:08)Why Don’t People Want to Talk About Periods? (03:28)Issues Surrounding Access & Alternatives (05:31)The Healthcare System & Menstrual Equity Fund (06:58)Offsetting the Increasing Cost-Burden of Menstrual Products (11:15)Challenges for People with Disabilities Who Might be Menstruating (13:00)Period Poverty Around the Globe (14:40)Menstrual Cups & Environmental Impacts (15:54)Employers & Menstrual Leave (18:01)Improving Comfort Levels Surrounding Menstruation (19:57)How & When to Talk About Periods Within the Family (21:17)About the Period Purse Charity (23:24)The Period Pack (24:27)Collaborating with Organizations (25:56)Donations & Sourcing Period Products (26:20)Period Purse Outside the Toronto-Area (27:18)Find the Period Purse Online (28:26)Show Close (28:45)Guest Bio -
Danielle Kaftarian (she/her) - Executive Director, the Period Purse
Danielle is TPP’s Executive Director with ample experience! She studied Accounting and Business Administration and worked in the finance industry for over 10 years, along with other jobs. After having two children, she felt a strong desire to contribute to the community and support others. It was not until TPP was founded, that she discovered her true passion. From early TPP days, Danielle was involved in various roles, supporting its mission to achieve menstrual equity for everyone in Canada. She’s proud to serve as the Executive Director with an incredible team, working tirelessly towards period equity.
About the Period Purse - theperiodpurse.com
The Period Purse creates menstrual equity by ensuring sustainable access to period products for all, and by ending the stigma associated with periods through education and advocacy.
About The Pulse
On The Pulse, host Joeita Gupta brings us closer to issues impacting the disability community across Canada.
Joeita Gupta has nurtured a life-long dream to work in radio! She's blind, moved to Toronto in 2004 and got her start in radio at CKLN, 88.1 FM in Toronto. A former co-host of AMI-audio's Live from Studio 5, Joeita also works full-time at a nonprofit in Toronto, specializing in housing/tenant rights.
Find Joeita on X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoeitaGupta
The Pulse airs weekly on AMI-audio.
For more information, visit https://www.ami.ca/ThePulse/
About AMI
AMI is a not-for-profit media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians who are blind or partially sighted. Operating three broadcast services, AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French, AMI’s vision is to establish and support a voice for Canadians with disabilities, representing their interests, concerns and values through inclusion, representation, accessible media, reflection, representation and portrayal.
Learn more at AMI.ca
Connect on Twitter @AccessibleMedia
On Instagram @accessiblemediainc
On Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
On TikTok @accessiblemediainc
Email [email protected]
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Joeita speaks to financial advisor Ron Malis about estate planning and financial management for a child with a disability.
Highlights
Financial Planning for a Child with a Disability - Opening Remarks (00:00)Introducing Ron Malis, Financial Advisor & Founder of Reegan Financials (01:08)Getting Started Working with People with Disabilities (02:08)When Do Parents Typically Start Planning for their Child’s Future (3:41)Specific Considerations for Parents of a Child with a Disability (06:38)Impacts of Social Assistance Programs and Setting Up a Trust (08:34) All About the Henson Trust & Choosing a Trustee (10:55)Impact of Inheritances and other Income on Social Assistance Payments (18:24)Eligibility Requirements for a Henson Trust (20:22)Estate Planning in a Tax Efficient Way (21:17)Benefits of Planning Earlier in Life (24:28)Closing Remarks (26:27)Learn More about Ron Malis & Reegan Financial - https://reeganfinancial.com/about/
About The Pulse
On The Pulse, host Joeita Gupta brings us closer to issues impacting the disability community across Canada.
Joeita Gupta has nurtured a life-long dream to work in radio! She's blind, moved to Toronto in 2004 and got her start in radio at CKLN, 88.1 FM in Toronto. A former co-host of AMI-audio's Live from Studio 5, Joeita also works full-time at a nonprofit in Toronto, specializing in housing/tenant rights.
Find Joeita on X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoeitaGupta
The Pulse airs weekly on AMI-audio.
For more information, visit https://www.ami.ca/ThePulse/
About AMI
AMI is a not-for-profit media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians who are blind or partially sighted. Operating three broadcast services, AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French, AMI’s vision is to establish and support a voice for Canadians with disabilities, representing their interests, concerns and values through inclusion, representation, accessible media, reflection, representation and portrayal.
Learn more at AMI.ca
Connect on Twitter @AccessibleMedia
On Instagram @accessiblemediainc
On Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
On TikTok @accessiblemediainc
Email [email protected]
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Joeita speaks disability lawyer Sivan Tumarkin of Samfiru Tumarkin LLP about long-term disability claims and how to apply for them.
Highlights
The Ins and Outs of Long-Term Disability Claims – Opening Remarks (00:00)Introducing Sivan Tumarkin, disability lawyer and the National Co-Managing Partner of Samfiru Tumarkin LLP (01:14)What is Long-Term Disability and Who is Eligible? (02:14)Differences Between Personal Injury Claims, Workers’ Compensation & Long-Term Disability Claims (03:45)LTD Claims Across Canada (05:37)How to Start the Process of a Long-Term Disability Claim (06:37)HR & the Impact of Long-Term Disability Claims on Insurance Premiums (07:41)How Long Does the LTD Claim Process Take? (10:01)Documentation Requirements & Application Process (10:47)Pre-Existing Health Conditions & Reasons Disability Claims are Disqualified (12:44)How to Appeal or Challenge a Claim Denial (14:55)The Legal Process and Taking Insurance Companies to Court (18:11)Ombudspersons & Lodging Complaints Against Insurance Companies (22:41)Impact of Changes Within Employers or Insurance Companies on LTD Benefits (23:40)Breach of Policy & Reasonable Treatments (25:02)Recurrence Clauses, Episodic Illnesses & Disabilities (26:45)The David Versus Goliath Myth (Spoiler: David Wins!) (29:10)Visit Disabilityrights.ca & LTDFAQ.ca for More Info (30:09)Closing Remarks (30:58)Guest Bio
Sivan Tumarkin is National Co-Managing Partner of Samfiru Tumarkin LLP and heads the firm’s Disability & Personal Injury Law practice group across Canada. He also acts as a mediator for parties seeking to resolve their disputes efficiently and equitably.
Prior to co-founding Samfiru Tumarkin LLP, Sivan worked at one of the top insurance defence law firms in Canada. His clientele included insurance companies, municipalities and major retail corporations throughout Ontario. His previous experience working for insurance companies has given him unique insight into the long-term disability claim denial and appeals process, allowing him to secure strong results for his clients
Reference
Disability Rights Website
Frequently Asked Questions about Long-term Disability Claims
About The Pulse
On The Pulse, host Joeita Gupta brings us closer to issues impacting the disability community across Canada.
Joeita Gupta has nurtured a life-long dream to work in radio! She's blind, moved to Toronto in 2004 and got her start in radio at CKLN, 88.1 FM in Toronto. A former co-host of AMI-audio's Live from Studio 5, Joeita also works full-time at a nonprofit in Toronto, specializing in housing/tenant rights.
Find Joeita on X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoeitaGupta
The Pulse airs weekly on AMI-audio.
For more information, visit https://www.ami.ca/ThePulse/
About AMI
AMI is a not-for-profit media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians who are blind or partially sighted. Operating three broadcast services, AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French, AMI’s vision is to establish and support a voice for Canadians with disabilities, representing their interests, concerns and values through inclusion, representation, accessible media, reflection, representation and portrayal.
Learn more at AMI.ca
Connect on Twitter @AccessibleMedia
On Instagram @accessiblemediainc
On Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
On TikTok @accessiblemediainc
Email [email protected]
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Joeita speaks with Beth Beattie and Carole Dagher about their new book “The Right Not to Remain Silent: The Truth About Mental Health in the Legal Profession” which discusses mental health and well-being amongst legal professionals.
Highlights
Mental Health Within the Legal Profession – Opening Remarks (00:00)Introducing Beth Beattie & Carole Dagher (01:29)“The Right Not to Remain Silent: The Truth About Mental Health in the Legal Profession” (03:12)Importance of Mental Health Amongst Legal Professionals (04:23)Fear & Secrecy Surrounding Mental Health Struggles (06:02)Contributors to “The Right Not to Remain Silent” & Mental Health Summit (08:31)What Can We Learn from Personal Essays on Mental Health? (12:27)Intersections of Mental Health, Sexism, Homophobia & Racism (15:56)Deciding to Disclose One’s Invisible Disability (19:31)Reducing Stigma & Changing the Culture Within the Legal Profession (22:24)Significance of Mental Health Awareness Amongst Legal Professionals (24:22)Closing Remarks (25:23)More Info:
The Right Not to Remain Silent: The Truth About Mental Health in The Legal Profession is a groundbreaking book that sets the stage for revolutionizing how mental health is perceived in the legal profession and beyond. It contains a series of candid and courageous memoirs by members of the legal profession living with mental health and addiction issues. The authors are judges, lawyers, and law professors with wide-ranging legal practices in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario including at Bay Street and small boutique firms.
Young lawyers and senior members of the profession share their experiences of working while living with various types of challenges – depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, eating disorders, addiction, grief, imposter syndrome, and perfectionism.
The Right Not to Remain Silent: The Truth About Mental Health in The Legal Profession addresses the insidious nature of mental health stigma and isolation in the legal community. But it is fundamentally a book about hope. As the authors discuss their sometimes harrowing journeys, they also show routes back to meaningful engagement with colleagues and work.
To read these personal accounts is to be moved, inspired, and hopefully galvanized into action at the individual, collegial, and organizational level. This book offers practical solutions to change the culture of legal practice and beyond so as to bust apart stigma and isolation, foster people getting the support they need, and cultivate more diverse workplaces.
Book Contributors
David S. GoldbloomThe Honourable George R. StrathyThe Honourable Michele HollinsBeth BeattieCarole DagherThomas TelferKatherine CooliganOrlando Da SilvaMichael R. FergusonMichael HermanAidan JohnsonImran KamalRyan MiddletonYadesha SatheaswaranLeslie Anne St. AmourDan SteinCourtney WilsonLeena YousefiBrett D.M. JonesShayan ImranM. Ishrat Husain“Postpartum depression made me feel hopeless. Not Today.” article by Carole Dagher for the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
Guest Bio: Beth Beattie
Called to the Bar in 1994, Beth Beattie has a broad-based health law litigation practice.
Since January 2018 Beth has been a Friend of the Bell Let’s Talk campaign. Her story of working as a lawyer with bipolar disorder has been featured on television, radio, podcasts, print media and even billboards across the country. Television appearances include The Marilyn Denis Show, CTV News, CTV North News, CP24 and a CTV prime time special, “In Their Own Words”.
In 2021, 2022 and 2023 Beth co-chaired with the former Treasurer of the Law Society of Ontario, Teresa Donnelly, Mental Health Summits for Legal Professionals. Each year the Summits were watched by nearly 6,000 registrants.
Beth is a founding member of Voices for Mental Health which is a group of employees at the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General who have lived mental health experience or who have cared for loved ones with lived experience. Voices provides programming within the Ministry of the Attorney General and beyond on topics relating to mental health.
In 2022 Beth was awarded the Law Society Medal, the highest honour available to a lawyer in Ontario. The Medal was awarded for outstanding service within the profession in accordance with the highest ideals of the profession. She was also awarded the Ontario Psychiatric Association’s Mental Health Advocate of the Year Award.
About The Pulse
On The Pulse, host Joeita Gupta brings us closer to issues impacting the disability community across Canada.
Joeita Gupta has nurtured a life-long dream to work in radio! She's blind, moved to Toronto in 2004 and got her start in radio at CKLN, 88.1 FM in Toronto. A former co-host of AMI-audio's Live from Studio 5, Joeita also works full-time at a nonprofit in Toronto, specializing in housing/tenant rights.
Find Joeita on X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoeitaGupta
The Pulse airs weekly on AMI-audio.
For more information, visit https://www.ami.ca/ThePulse/
About AMI
AMI is a not-for-profit media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians who are blind or partially sighted. Operating three broadcast services, AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French, AMI’s vision is to establish and support a voice for Canadians with disabilities, representing their interests, concerns and values through inclusion, representation, accessible media, reflection, representation and portrayal.
Learn more at AMI.ca
Connect on Twitter @AccessibleMedia
On Instagram @accessiblemediainc
On Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
On TikTok @accessiblemediainc
Email [email protected]
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Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Health Equity
00:52 Barriers Faced by People with Disabilities
06:07 The Canada Excellence Research Chair in Health Equity
07:30 Addressing Health Inequities Highlighted by COVID-19
09:39 Tackling Health Equity in the Canadian Healthcare System
11:02 Understanding Sustainable Community Well-being
15:29 Taking a Critical Disability Lens in Healthcare
16:28 The Right to Health and Affirmation of People with Disabilities
22:19 Conclusion and Future Conversations
About The Pulse
On The Pulse, host Joeita Gupta brings us closer to issues impacting the disability community across Canada.
Joeita Gupta has nurtured a life-long dream to work in radio! She's blind, moved to Toronto in 2004 and got her start in radio at CKLN, 88.1 FM in Toronto. A former co-host of AMI-audio's Live from Studio 5, Joeita also works full-time at a nonprofit in Toronto, specializing in housing/tenant rights.
Find Joeita on X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoeitaGupta
The Pulse airs weekly on AMI-audio.
For more information, visit https://www.ami.ca/ThePulse/
About AMI
AMI is a not-for-profit media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians who are blind or partially sighted. Operating three broadcast services, AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French, AMI’s vision is to establish and support a voice for Canadians with disabilities, representing their interests, concerns and values through inclusion, representation, accessible media, reflection, representation and portrayal.
Learn more at AMI.ca
Connect on Twitter @AccessibleMedia
On Instagram @accessiblemediainc
On Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
On TikTok @accessiblemediainc
Email [email protected]
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Joeita speaks with Dominic Roberts, author of a new book of poetry "Blinded by the Write: Poems from a Twisted Mind" in which he discusses his vision loss journey.
Highlights:
The Emotional Landscape of Blindness - Opening Remarks (00:00)Introduction – The Pulse Home Studio (01:14)Introducing Dominic Roberts, Poet and Author of “Blinded by the Write: Poems from a Twisted Mind” (4:22)Writing Process (06:30)Fantasy Side (6:58)Making Peace with Vision Loss through Poetry (08:04)“Eyes Tell Lies” (09:23)Prominence of Nature in Poetic and Vision Loss Journey’s (13:03)Other People’s Poetry (14:15)From a Poem to a Book (14:46)Nature’s Own Disco (15:32)Paradise Lost, Inspiration & the Milking Process (16:53)Deciding to Write & Publish a Book (18:09)“Blind is Beautiful” (20:40)Is Blindness Something to be Overcome? (24:16)Find More from Dominic Roberts (25:00)Show Close (26:11)Links:
Blinded by the Write: Poems from a Twisted Mind (Amazon Canada, GoodReads)
About The Pulse
On The Pulse, host Joeita Gupta brings us closer to issues impacting the disability community across Canada.
Joeita Gupta has nurtured a life-long dream to work in radio! She's blind, moved to Toronto in 2004 and got her start in radio at CKLN, 88.1 FM in Toronto. A former co-host of AMI-audio's Live from Studio 5, Joeita also works full-time at a nonprofit in Toronto, specializing in housing/tenant rights.
Find Joeita on X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoeitaGupta
The Pulse airs weekly on AMI-audio.
For more information, visit https://www.ami.ca/ThePulse/
About AMI
AMI is a not-for-profit media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians who are blind or partially sighted. Operating three broadcast services, AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French, AMI’s vision is to establish and support a voice for Canadians with disabilities, representing their interests, concerns and values through inclusion, representation, accessible media, reflection, representation and portrayal.
Learn more at AMI.ca
Connect on Twitter @AccessibleMedia
On Instagram @accessiblemediainc
On Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
On TikTok @accessiblemediainc
Email [email protected]
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Joeita speaks to Carli Friedman of the University of Washington about disability and intimacy.
Highlights:
The Value of Intimate Relationships - Opening Remarks (00:00)Introducing Carli Friedman, Director of research for the Council on Quality and Leadership (01:09)Studying Disability & Intimacy (02:17)Defining Intimacy (03:26)Benefits of Having Intimate Relationships (04:01)Barriers to Close Relationships (05:30)Impact of Housing Situation (06:11)Access to Privacy (07:39)Stigma Around Inter-Abled Relationships (08:40)Understanding Access-Needs (10:29)Common Experiences Versus Shared Interests (11:35)Social Media and Intimate Relationships (13:10)Attitudinal & Other Barriers (15:06)Facilitators & Gatekeepers (16:03)How to Form Intimate Relationships (18:56)Kinship, Belonging & Well-Being (20:15)Independence Versus Interdependence (21:06)Show Close (23:11)Guest Bio:
Carli Friedman is the Director of Research for CQL | The Council on Quality and Leadership. CQL is an international not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to the definition, measurement, and improvement of personal quality of life, through a world of dignity, opportunity, and community for all people with disabilities. Carli’s research at CQL works to promote meaningful community participation and empowerment of people with disabilities by exploring the impact policy, service systems, and providers can have on quality enhancement and quality of life. Carli, who has a Doctorate in Disability Studies, is the author of over 230 journal articles, book chapters, research briefs, and reports, focusing on ableism, community integration of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, Medicaid, and social determinants of health.
Article: AAIDD Honors CQL’s Carli Friedman, PhD, With The 2022 Research Award
About The Pulse
On The Pulse, host Joeita Gupta brings us closer to issues impacting the disability community across Canada.
Joeita Gupta has nurtured a life-long dream to work in radio! She's blind, moved to Toronto in 2004 and got her start in radio at CKLN, 88.1 FM in Toronto. A former co-host of AMI-audio's Live from Studio 5, Joeita also works full-time at a nonprofit in Toronto, specializing in housing/tenant rights.
Find Joeita on X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoeitaGupta
The Pulse airs weekly on AMI-audio.
For more information, visit https://www.ami.ca/ThePulse/
About AMI
AMI is a not-for-profit media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians who are blind or partially sighted. Operating three broadcast services, AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French, AMI’s vision is to establish and support a voice for Canadians with disabilities, representing their interests, concerns and values through inclusion, representation, accessible media, reflection, representation and portrayal.
Learn more at AMI.ca
Connect on Twitter @AccessibleMedia
On Instagram @accessiblemediainc
On Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
On TikTok @accessiblemediainc
Email [email protected]
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Joeita speaks to Andrew Leland about his book "The Country of the Blind: A Memoir at the End of Sight"
Highlights:
“What is Blindness?” - Opening Remarks (00:00)Introducing Andrew Leland, Author of “The Country of the Blind: A Memoir at the End of Sight” (01:14)About H.G. Wells’ “The Country of the Blind” Short Story (01:57)Memoir Writing Process (04:12)Curiosity in Exploring Vision Loss (06:30)Balancing Intellectualizing Blindness & the Emotional Reality of Blind People (09:30)Deciding Where to Draw the Line (12:16)Blindness & the Male Gaze (15:05)Culture of Blindness (17:38)Surprises, Revelations & Conclusions (20:57)Lingering Questions & Tensions (23:31)Show Close (26:02)Guest Bio:
Andrew Leland’s writing has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, The New Yorker, McSweeney’s Quarterly, and The San Francisco Chronicle, among other outlets. From 2013-2019, he hosted and produced The Organist, an arts and culture podcast, for KCRW; he has also produced pieces for Radiolab and 99 Percent Invisible. He has been an editor at The Believer since 2003. He lives in western Massachusetts with his wife and son.
About The Country of the Blind
Named one of the best books of the year by: THE NEW YORKER • THE WASHINGTON POST • THE ATLANTIC • NPR • PUBLISHERS WEEKLY • LITHUB
A witty, winning, and revelatory personal narrative of the author’s transition from sightedness to blindness and his quest to learn about blindness as a rich culture all its own
“After reading Andrew Leland’s memoir, The Country of the Blind, you will look at the English language differently . . . Leland rigorously explores the disability’s most troubling corners . . . A wonderful cross-disciplinary wander.” —The New York Times Book Review
We meet Andrew Leland as he’s suspended in the liminal state of the soon-to-be blind: he’s midway through his life with retinitis pigmentosa, a condition that ushers those who live with it from sightedness to blindness over years, even decades. He grew up with full vision, but starting in his teenage years, his sight began to degrade from the outside in, such that he now sees the world as if through a narrow tube. Soon—but without knowing exactly when—he will likely have no vision left.
Full of apprehension but also dogged curiosity, Leland embarks on a sweeping exploration of the state of being that awaits him: not only the physical experience of blindness but also its language, politics, and customs. He negotiates his changing relationships with his wife and son, and with his own sense of self, as he moves from his mainstream, “typical” life to one with a disability. Part memoir, part historical and cultural investigation, The Country of the Blind represents Leland’s determination not to merely survive this transition but to grow from it—to seek out and revel in that which makes blindness enlightening.
Thought-provoking and brimming with warmth and humor, The Country of the Blind is a deeply personal and intellectually exhilarating tour of a way of being that most of us have never paused to consider—and from which we have much to learn.Related Links:
NPR Article - As a writer slowly loses his sight, he embraces other kinds of perception
Blindness isn't a tragic binary — it's a rich spectrum (Ted Talk, July 2023)
Andrew Leland Website: https://www.andrewleland.org/
The Country of the Blind: A Memoir at the End of Sight (Wikipedia)
About The Pulse
On The Pulse, host Joeita Gupta brings us closer to issues impacting the disability community across Canada.
Joeita Gupta has nurtured a life-long dream to work in radio! She's blind, moved to Toronto in 2004 and got her start in radio at CKLN, 88.1 FM in Toronto. A former co-host of AMI-audio's Live from Studio 5, Joeita also works full-time at a nonprofit in Toronto, specializing in housing/tenant rights.
Find Joeita on X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoeitaGupta
The Pulse airs weekly on AMI-audio.
For more information, visit https://www.ami.ca/ThePulse/
About AMI
AMI is a not-for-profit media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians who are blind or partially sighted. Operating three broadcast services, AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French, AMI’s vision is to establish and support a voice for Canadians with disabilities, representing their interests, concerns and values through inclusion, representation, accessible media, reflection, representation and portrayal.
Learn more at AMI.ca
Connect on Twitter @AccessibleMedia
On Instagram @accessiblemediainc
On Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
On TikTok @accessiblemediainc
Email [email protected]
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Joeita discusses emergency preparedness for people with disabilities with Kaitlynne Lowe, Policy Researcher at MacEachen Institute for Public Policy at Dalhousie University.
From Emergency Supply Kits and Vulnerable Person’s Registries to accessibility barriers in transportation and housing, people with disabilities are often especially vulnerable during a crisis, disaster, or emergency.
Highlights:
“Vulnerable in an Emergency Situation” - Opening Clip (00:00)Disability & Emergency Preparedness - Opening Remarks (00:34)Introducing Kaitlynne Lowe (01:47)Public Safety for People with Disabilities (02:15)Emergency Response Capacity Across Canada (03:17)How are People with Disabilities Vulnerable During a Crisis? (05:41)Effective Communication During an Emergency (07:36)Accounting for Local Nuance in Emergency Planning (09:46)Accessibility Barriers in Transportation & Housing (12:30)Vulnerable Person’s Registry (16:23)Emergency Supply Kits (19:25)Rethinking What Constitutes an “Emergency” (22:49)The State of Emergency Preparedness for Canadians with Disabilities (24:57)Show Close (27:27)Guest Bio:
Kaitlynne Lowe is a Policy Researcher at the MacEachen Institute for Public Policy at Dalhousie University in Halifax. Kaitlynne is a Dalhousie MPA graduate, hopeful life-changer, book lover, theatre-goer, adventurer, and cat mom.
Follow Kaitlynne Lowe on X/Twitter: @KatieALowe
About The Pulse
On The Pulse, host Joeita Gupta brings us closer to issues impacting the disability community across Canada.
Joeita Gupta has nurtured a life-long dream to work in radio! She's blind, moved to Toronto in 2004 and got her start in radio at CKLN, 88.1 FM in Toronto. A former co-host of AMI-audio's Live from Studio 5, Joeita also works full-time at a nonprofit in Toronto, specializing in housing/tenant rights.
Find Joeita on X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoeitaGupta
The Pulse airs weekly on AMI-audio.
For more information, visit https://www.ami.ca/ThePulse/
About AMI
AMI is a not-for-profit media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians who are blind or partially sighted. Operating three broadcast services, AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French, AMI’s vision is to establish and support a voice for Canadians with disabilities, representing their interests, concerns and values through inclusion, representation, accessible media, reflection, representation and portrayal.
Learn more at AMI.ca
Connect on Twitter @AccessibleMedia
On Instagram @accessiblemediainc
On Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
On TikTok @accessiblemediainc
Email [email protected]
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In the third of three episodes on Accessible Fashion, Joeita speaks to Alexa Jonovavic, founder of Aille Design, a brand featuring clothing with Braille beadwork. Alexa dives into her collaborative process with members of the blind and partially sighted community. Plus, a fascinating exploration of the relationship blind women have with colour.
Highlights:
“So Much More Than Clothing” - Opening Clip (00:00)“Accessible Fashion as a Social Good” - Opening Remarks (00:28)Introducing Alexa Jovanovic of Aille Design (01:40)Discovering Love of Fashion & Design (02:36)Functionality Versus Aesthetics (04:00)Caring for Braille Beadwork Clothing (6:06)Learning & Writing Braille (7:27)Impact of Braille Beadwork Messages (9:12)Establishing Your Fashion Brand (11:18)Why Beads for Braille? (13:25)Formal and Professional Beaded Attire (15:02)Custom & Bespoke Braille Beadwork (19:54)Relationship Between Colour & Blindness (21:25)Influencing the Broader Industry (24:12)Personal Journey Through Accessible Fashion Work (26:11)Show Close (29:51)Aille Design on AMI-tv’s Fashion Dis
Guest Bio:
Now known as "The Braille Fashion Designer," Alexa Jovanovic first began creating Braille fashion as a research project in university where she was taught the importance of disrupting fashion industry norms through innovative design thinking and the co-design process.
Alexa built strong relationships with local blind and partially sighted individuals and together they discussed everything from shopping, clothing trends, and closet organization, to society’s misconceptions of what it means to “look and feel” blind.
About Aille Design - https://ailledesign.com/
Our brand name comes from the French verb Aller which means "to go" or "to move forward". We believe inclusivity is the direction the fashion industry needs to move forward in and we're ready to help lead the change!
The pronunciation of our name alludes to the personal "I" since our products help to empower and increase independence, as well as the physical "eye" since braille provides a source of vision and understanding.
Did you know? The two dots in our logo are the braille character for the letter "i". It represents the importance of braille while helping you remember the pronunciation of Aille.
We make clothing and accessories with fully legible braille that are designed alongside the blind and visually impaired community.
Use the braille to describe the physical garment, choose one of our value based phrases, or customize the braille to say anything you want! The tactile braille beadwork is the focal point of each design. It generates conversation about accessibility and inclusion and makes for an incredibly unique gift. 5% of all t-shirt sales are donated to organizations for the visually impaired.
About The Pulse
On The Pulse, host Joeita Gupta brings us closer to issues impacting the disability community across Canada.
Joeita Gupta has nurtured a life-long dream to work in radio! She's blind, moved to Toronto in 2004 and got her start in radio at CKLN, 88.1 FM in Toronto. A former co-host of AMI-audio's Live from Studio 5, Joeita also works full-time at a nonprofit in Toronto, specializing in housing/tenant rights.
Find Joeita on X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoeitaGupta
The Pulse airs weekly on AMI-audio.
For more information, visit https://www.ami.ca/ThePulse/
About AMI
AMI is a not-for-profit media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians who are blind or partially sighted. Operating three broadcast services, AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French, AMI’s vision is to establish and support a voice for Canadians with disabilities, representing their interests, concerns and values through inclusion, representation, accessible media, reflection, representation and portrayal.
Learn more at AMI.ca
Connect on Twitter @AccessibleMedia
On Instagram @accessiblemediainc
On Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
On TikTok @accessiblemediainc
Email [email protected]
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In the second of three episodes on Accessible Fashion, Joeita speaks to Wendy Wong, founder of June Adaptive on her creative choice and journey. Wendy discusses the practicalities of getting her business off the ground, including obtaining feedback from People with Disabilities.
Highlights:
“Adaptive Clothing for People of All Abilities” – Opening Clip (00:00)“You Are What You Wear” - Opening Remarks (04:46)Introducing Wendy Wong, Creator of June Adaptive (01:52)Inspiration from Aunt June (02:55)All About Aunt June (04:43)Challenges in Catering to a Niche Community (05:25)Making JuneAdaptive.com Accessible (06:57)Adapted Clothing Designs: Zipper Sneakers (08:09)Grip Socks (08:59)Magnetic Button-Down Shirt (10:25)Open-Back Tops (11:48)Denim Jeans with toggles, loops, thigh pockets, velcro ankle-openings (12:58)Process of Creating Adapted Clothing (14:54)Ensuring Quality (15:42)Collaborating with Suppliers (16:30)Evolution of Adaptive Fashion (17:53)Universal Design in Clothing (19:19)Affordable & Accessible Fashion (21:02)Wardrobe Essentials (23:46)Adaptive Fashion Goals (25:03)Show Close (26:02)About June Adaptive:
From people frustrated by inaccessible buttons and zippers to people recovering from medical treatments, people living with mobility challenges or disabilities can find fashion solutions at June Adaptive.
We found pieces that helped people in our lives and we hope we can help you too.
“The Start of June Adaptive”
June was more than just a “cool” aunt to our founder Wendy; she was a sister, friend, and a hard-working medical professional who adored her cocker spaniel. Following an accident later in life, June had lost mobility in her arms and legs.
With a fashion background, Wendy wanted to help June maintain her independence and dignity by finding clothing that was beautiful yet functional. To Wendy's surprise, it was nearly impossible to find adaptive pieces that fit into June’s new everyday life.
As life went on, Wendy had found that additional family members had developed mobility challenges, sharing related issues in finding accessible fashion.
After discovering the adaptive fashion space, Wendy wanted to bring back the joy of fashion to people experiencing similar struggles. June Adaptive was created out of an inspiration to provide an inclusive shopping experience for different levels of ability.
Our goal is to create a universally designed experience for more people to shop. We want to make adaptive fashion more accessible because everyone should be able to look good.
Links
Toronto Star - These adaptive fashion designers are making personal style more accessible -
Fashion Magazine - Adaptive Fashion Brands You Should Know About
Seneca Journalism -Making Fashion Fit for Everyone
About The Pulse
On The Pulse, host Joeita Gupta brings us closer to issues impacting the disability community across Canada.
Joeita Gupta has nurtured a life-long dream to work in radio! She's blind, moved to Toronto in 2004 and got her start in radio at CKLN, 88.1 FM in Toronto.
A former co-host of AMI-audio's Live from Studio 5, Joeita also works full-time at a nonprofit in Toronto, specializing in housing/tenant rights.
Find Joeita on Twitter: @JoeitaGupta
The Pulse airs weekly on AMI-audio. For more information, visit https://www.ami.ca/ThePulse/recent_ep...
About AMI
AMI is a not-for-profit media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians who are blind or partially sighted. Operating three broadcast services, AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French, AMI’s vision is to establish and support a voice for Canadians with disabilities, representing their interests, concerns and values through inclusion, representation, accessible media, reflection, representation and portrayal.
Learn more at AMI.ca
Connect on Twitter @AccessibleMedia
On Instagram @accessiblemediainc
On Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
On TikTok @accessiblemediainc
Email [email protected]
About The Pulse
On The Pulse, host Joeita Gupta brings us closer to issues impacting the disability community across Canada.
Joeita Gupta has nurtured a life-long dream to work in radio! She's blind, moved to Toronto in 2004 and got her start in radio at CKLN, 88.1 FM in Toronto. A former co-host of AMI-audio's Live from Studio 5, Joeita also works full-time at a nonprofit in Toronto, specializing in housing/tenant rights.
Find Joeita on X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoeitaGupta
The Pulse airs weekly on AMI-audio.
For more information, visit https://www.ami.ca/ThePulse/
About AMI
AMI is a not-for-profit media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians who are blind or partially sighted. Operating three broadcast services, AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French, AMI’s vision is to establish and support a voice for Canadians with disabilities, representing their interests, concerns and values through inclusion, representation, accessible media, reflection, representation and portrayal.
Learn more at AMI.ca
Connect on Twitter @AccessibleMedia
On Instagram @accessiblemediainc
On Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
On TikTok @accessiblemediainc
Email [email protected]
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In the first of three episodes on Accessible Fashion, Joeita speaks to Izzy Camilleri, the founder of IZ Adaptive, a clothing brand that provides accessible fashions for people with disabilities.
We discuss her foray into inclusive fashion and design at a time when no one was talking about it. She discusses how her desire to create clothes that are functional, as well as beautiful, changed the course of her life while conferring dignity to people with disabilities.
Highlights:
Opening Clip – Izzy on Adaptive Clothing (00:00)Opening Remarks – Accessible Fashion as Function (00:39)Accessible Fashion Series Overview (01:42)Introducing Izzy Camilleri & IZ Adaptive (03:32)A Life-Changing Phone Call (04:11)Initial Challenges Designing Clothes for a Wheelchair User (06:30)Designing for People Who Need Help Dressing and Those Who Dress Themselves Independently (08:19)Disability Inclusive Features of Adapted Clothing (09:58)Inspiration for Getting into Fashion Design (11:11)Reaction of Colleagues to Izzy’s Shift into Adapted Clothing (11:46)The Business Side of Adaptive Clothing (13:58)Consulting with Large Labels on Accessible Design (14:58)Toronto as Accessible Fashion Hotbed (16:11)Creativity in Adaptive Clothing (17:01)Wardrobe Essentials (18:53)Feedback on IZ Adaptive (19:40)What’s Next for IZ Adaptive? (21:44)Show Close (22:38)Guest Bio:
Izzy Camilleri is one of Canada’s leading and most celebrated fashion designers, and a pioneer in adaptive clothing. Izzy first ventured into the world of accessible clothing after initially doing custom work for a wheelchair user in 2004. It opened her eyes to the huge necessity for this type of clothing in the world.
In 2022, Izzy received 2 awards for her adaptive line. She won the Innovation Award from the Women’s Empowerment Awards and the Fashion Impact Award from the CAFA Awards. In 2006, she received CAFA’s Womenswear Designer of the Year Award. Her adaptive line has been featured in the Royal Ontario Museum. For more than 39 years, she has designed custom clothing for an international clientele, crafted gorgeous collections featured in fashion magazines from Vogue to InStyle, and dressed celebrities like Daniel Radcliffe, Mark Wahlberg, Meryl Streep, Angelina Jolie and David Bowie. Since 2009, Izzy has focused on inclusive fashion through her brand IZ Adaptive, with the mission to make great looking and well-fitting clothes accessible to everyone. To learn more about Izzy, visit www.izzycamilleri.com.
See more of Izzy Camilleri on AMI-tv’s Fashion Dis!
Each episode of Fashion Dis celebrates the head-to-toe overhaul of a frustrated style seeker discouraged by an industry that lacks adaptive options.
The Story of IZ Adaptive
IZ Adaptive was launched in 2009 after fashion designer Izzy Camilleri spent a few years creating custom clothing for a client who was a wheelchair user living with paralysis. This experience opened her eyes to the clothing challenges and limitations people face while living with a physical disability.
After years of creating these first custom pieces, Izzy realized that if her client had all these obstacles around clothing, there must be many others with the same issues. Izzy decided to hold a focus group meeting where other voices were heard around the challenges, likes and dislikes around everyday clothing while living with a physical disability. With listening and learning, the seeds of creating a line of adaptive clothing were being planted. After doing online research of the market, she saw that there was very little out there designed specifically for this demographic of people. Most of what was available was for the elderly or for people living in long term care facilities. Clothing that was very dated in both design and fabric choice. Seeing this huge void in the market, Izzy saw this as an opportunity to create a line of clothes for people living with a disability, starting with modern wardrobe basics. In June of 2009 IZ Adaptive was born.
Izzy Camilleri was hailed a trail blazer pioneering the category of adaptive clothing in the form of fashionable, functional pieces. Her new and innovative work was called revolutionary. The path since that time has been long and hard, but Izzy kept it on life support, knowing the importance of what she was creating and how many lives IZ Adaptive positively affected.
At the beginning of the pandemic, Izzy also created the first ‘Seamless Back Pant’ which helps to reduce the risk of life threatening pressure sores. This patented technology is the most important work Izzy has done throughout her long career. These pants have become an important staple in many of IZ Adaptives customer’s wardrobes.
Today, Izzy is seen as the Thought Leader in this space. IZ Adaptive has a global reach with its online store. Major media outlets have featured IZ, and museums have also displayed this work. Universities and colleges reach out as well to learn about this new and exciting category of clothing for their studies.
IZ Adaptive continues to push boundaries, lead in innovation and is looking to the future with plans of big growth.
About The Pulse
On The Pulse, host Joeita Gupta brings us closer to issues impacting the disability community across Canada.
Joeita Gupta has nurtured a life-long dream to work in radio! She's blind, moved to Toronto in 2004 and got her start in radio at CKLN, 88.1 FM in Toronto. A former co-host of AMI-audio's Live from Studio 5, Joeita also works full-time at a nonprofit in Toronto, specializing in housing/tenant rights.
Find Joeita on X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoeitaGupta
The Pulse airs weekly on AMI-audio.
For more information, visit https://www.ami.ca/ThePulse/
About AMI
AMI is a not-for-profit media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians who are blind or partially sighted. Operating three broadcast services, AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French, AMI’s vision is to establish and support a voice for Canadians with disabilities, representing their interests, concerns and values through inclusion, representation, accessible media, reflection, representation and portrayal.
Learn more at AMI.ca
Connect on Twitter @AccessibleMedia
On Instagram @accessiblemediainc
On Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
On TikTok @accessiblemediainc
Email [email protected]
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This week, Joeita speaks to Jacqueline Alnes, author of The Fruit Cure: the Story of Extreme Wellness Turned Sour - "an unforgettable deep dive into the world of fruitarianism".
Highlights:
Excerpt from “The Fruit Cure” by Jacqueline Alnes (00:00)Opening Remarks “Disability & Wellness Culture” (00:43)Jacqueline Alnes Introduction (01:58)About her book “the Fruit Cure” (02:24)Combining an Autobiography with a History of Wellness Movements (03:22)Jacqueline’s Experience with the Medical Establishment (05:35)The Rise of Wellness Influencers (08:30)Racist & Puritanical Origins of Thinness (11:04)Desperate Need for Cures & Answers (13:25)Difference Between Cures & Healing (16:14)Are Social Media Platforms Responsible for Wellness Misinformation? (18:09)Navigating Contradictory Wellness Trends (21:00)Jacqueline Reads from “the Fruit Cure” (24:38)Where to find “the Fruit Cure” (26:18)Show Close (27:10)Guest Bio:
Jacqueline Alnes has published essays in The New York Times, Guernica, The Boston Globe, Women's Running, Iron Horse Literary Review, and elsewhere, and her interviews with writers can be found in Longreads, The Rumpus, and, more regularly, Electric Literature, where she serves as a contributing writer. A series of her paintings featuring inspiring athletes was featured on NBC during the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and in Runner's World. Currently an Assistant Professor of English at West Chester University, Alnes earned her MFA from Portland State University and her PhD from Oklahoma State University.
Alnes's first book, The Fruit Cure: The Story of Extreme Wellness Turned Sour details how mysterious neurological symptoms derailed her career as a Division I runner and left her desperate for answers. She found hope in an unlikely place: a thriving, online community of fruit-eaters. In The Fruit Cure, Jacqueline Alnes takes readers on a spellbinding and unforgettable journey through the world of fruitarianism, interweaving her own powerful narrative with the popularity and problematic history of fruit-based, raw food lifestyles.
About The Fruit Cure
“A deeply compelling read … Spellbinding ….” – BookPage
“Her journey from desperation to self-acceptance is moving and well rendered. In the crowded medical memoir field, this stands out.” — Publishers Weekly
A powerful critique of the failures in our healthcare system and an inquiry into the sinister strains of wellness culture that prey on people’s vulnerabilities through schemes, scams, and diets.
Jacqueline Alnes was a Division One runner during her freshman year of college, but her season was cut short by a series of inexplicable neurological symptoms. What started with a cough, escalated to Alnes collapsing on the track and experiencing months of unremembered episodes that stole her ability to walk and speak.
Two years after quitting the team to heal, Alnes’s symptoms returned with a severity that left her using a wheelchair for a period of months. She was admitted to an epilepsy center but doctors could not figure out the root cause of her symptoms. Desperate for answers, she turned to an online community centered around a strict, all-fruit diet which its adherents claimed could cure conditions like depression, eating disorders, addiction, anxiety, and vision problems. Alnes wasn’t alone. From all over the world, people in pain, doubted or dismissed by medical authorities, or seeking a miracle diet that would relieve them of white, Western expectations placed on their figures, turned to fruit in hopes of releasing themselves from the perceived failings of their bodies.
In The Fruit Cure, Jacqueline Alnes takes readers on a spellbinding and unforgettable journey through the world of fruitarianism, interweaving her own powerful narrative with the popularity and problematic history of fruit-based, raw food lifestyles. For readers plagued by mysterious symptoms, inundated by messages from media about how to attain “the perfect body,” or caught in the grips of a fast-paced culture of capitalism, The Fruit Cure offers a powerful critique of the failures of our healthcare system and an inquiry into the sinister strains of wellness culture that prey on people’s vulnerabilities through schemes, scams, and diets masquerading as hope.About The Pulse
On The Pulse, host Joeita Gupta brings us closer to issues impacting the disability community across Canada.
Joeita Gupta has nurtured a life-long dream to work in radio! She's blind, moved to Toronto in 2004 and got her start in radio at CKLN, 88.1 FM in Toronto. A former co-host of AMI-audio's Live from Studio 5, Joeita also works full-time at a nonprofit in Toronto, specializing in housing/tenant rights.
Find Joeita on Twitter: @JoeitaGupta
The Pulse airs weekly on AMI-audio. For more information, visit https://www.ami.ca/ThePulse/recent_episodes
About AMI
AMI is a not-for-profit media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians who are blind or partially sighted. Operating three broadcast services, AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French, AMI’s vision is to establish and support a voice for Canadians with disabilities, representing their interests, concerns and values through inclusion, representation, accessible media, reflection, representation and portrayal.
Learn more at AMI.ca
Connect on Twitter @AccessibleMedia
On Instagram @accessiblemediainc
On Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
On TikTok @accessiblemediainc
Email [email protected]
About The Pulse
On The Pulse, host Joeita Gupta brings us closer to issues impacting the disability community across Canada.
Joeita Gupta has nurtured a life-long dream to work in radio! She's blind, moved to Toronto in 2004 and got her start in radio at CKLN, 88.1 FM in Toronto. A former co-host of AMI-audio's Live from Studio 5, Joeita also works full-time at a nonprofit in Toronto, specializing in housing/tenant rights.
Find Joeita on X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoeitaGupta
The Pulse airs weekly on AMI-audio.
For more information, visit https://www.ami.ca/ThePulse/
About AMI
AMI is a not-for-profit media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians who are blind or partially sighted. Operating three broadcast services, AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French, AMI’s vision is to establish and support a voice for Canadians with disabilities, representing their interests, concerns and values through inclusion, representation, accessible media, reflection, representation and portrayal.
Learn more at AMI.ca
Connect on Twitter @AccessibleMedia
On Instagram @accessiblemediainc
On Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
On TikTok @accessiblemediainc
Email [email protected]
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We continue our annual Christmas story tradition with O. Henry's The Gift of the Magi, read by Andy Lehrer.
"The Gift of the Magi" is a short story by O. Henry first published in the New York Sunday World on December 10, 1905.
Highlights:
“Holiday Tradition” - Opening Remarks (00:00)Introducing Andy Lehrer (01:02)About “Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry (02:19)“Gift of the Magi” read by Andy Lehrer (3:48)Remarks on “Gift of the Magi” & Gift Giving (15:02)Sacrifice, Stress and Showing Appreciation (16:36)Most Memorable Gifts (21:59)Show Close (23:58)About The Pulse
On The Pulse, host Joeita Gupta brings us closer to issues impacting the disability community across Canada.
Joeita Gupta has nurtured a life-long dream to work in radio! She's blind, moved to Toronto in 2004 and got her start in radio at CKLN, 88.1 FM in Toronto. A former co-host of AMI-audio's Live from Studio 5, Joeita also works full-time at a nonprofit in Toronto, specializing in housing/tenant rights.
Find Joeita on Twitter: @JoeitaGupta
The Pulse airs weekly on AMI-audio. For more information, visit https://www.ami.ca/ThePulse/recent_episodes
About AMI
AMI is a not-for-profit media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians who are blind or partially sighted. Operating three broadcast services, AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French, AMI’s vision is to establish and support a voice for Canadians with disabilities, representing their interests, concerns and values through inclusion, representation, accessible media, reflection, representation and portrayal.
Learn more at AMI.ca
Connect on Twitter @AccessibleMedia
On Instagram @accessiblemediainc
On Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
On TikTok @accessiblemediainc
Email [email protected]
About The Pulse
On The Pulse, host Joeita Gupta brings us closer to issues impacting the disability community across Canada.
Joeita Gupta has nurtured a life-long dream to work in radio! She's blind, moved to Toronto in 2004 and got her start in radio at CKLN, 88.1 FM in Toronto. A former co-host of AMI-audio's Live from Studio 5, Joeita also works full-time at a nonprofit in Toronto, specializing in housing/tenant rights.
Find Joeita on X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoeitaGupta
The Pulse airs weekly on AMI-audio.
For more information, visit https://www.ami.ca/ThePulse/
About AMI
AMI is a not-for-profit media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians who are blind or partially sighted. Operating three broadcast services, AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French, AMI’s vision is to establish and support a voice for Canadians with disabilities, representing their interests, concerns and values through inclusion, representation, accessible media, reflection, representation and portrayal.
Learn more at AMI.ca
Connect on Twitter @AccessibleMedia
On Instagram @accessiblemediainc
On Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
On TikTok @accessiblemediainc
Email [email protected]
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