In today’s episode, Lois speaks with Ghofran Alyass about her life and how she navigated the educational system as a person with a disability living in Canada.

Ghofran was born in Iraq at a time of war, when obtaining medical supplies and accurate medical advice was a challenge. Her parents managed to care for a child with spinal bifida for ten years, until she was able to travel to the USA for lifesaving surgery.

In this conversation Ghofran discusses her early life, her experiences navigating the education system in Canada, her recent memoir and her current work running a not-for-profit called BeyondAbilities International

Reach out to Ghofran and buy her book:

BeyondAbilities International Website: http://www.beyondabilities.ca

Ghofran e-mail: [email protected]

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/C3nIsr0oB5u/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeyondAbilitiesCanada?mibextid=ZbWKwL

X/Twitter: https://x.com/AbilitiesBeyond?s=09

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/45589891.Ghofran_Alyass

Read Ghofran’s memoir:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CLF32B4B

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/wishlists/378c4096c9329957e182a9a7eca41b3283fb1647

Podcast Image description:

A smiling woman who is sitting in a wheelchair. She is wearing a white hijab and a white long-sleeved shirt. Behind her is a tree with red and green leaves, with fallen red leaves on the ground. There is also a stone structure and greenery.

I’d love to hear from you – contact me at

Web: https://www.loisstrachan.com/

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lstrachan

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loisstrachanspeaker

This episode edited by Craig Strachan using Hindenburg PRO – find out more on Hindenburg.com

Credits and music by Charlie Dyasi of Naledi Media.