In Episode 3 of The Lens: Living Diverse, Vivi Dabee joins Neisha and Ben for a lively discussion about diversity in media. As a performer, playwright, and audio-description consultant for Vocal Image Ensemble Winnipeg (VIEW), Vivi shares insights to diversity and inclusion within the theatre, television, and film industry. They also chat about intersecting identities in media, representation, descriptive services, what they like to watch, and more.

CNIB Diversity & Inclusion website: cnib.ca/en/support-us/advocat…inclusion-we-are-cnib

*Content warning: This episode discusses trauma and abuse and contains graphic details of verbal and physical assault. Content may be distressing to some listeners. Listener discretion advised.*

In The Lens: Living Diverse, Neisha Mitchell and Ben Akuoko explore the many facets of intersectionality from a blind, partially sighted and Deafblind perspective.

In Episode 2, Neisha sits down with “one of the strongest women I have come across in my life,” Jewel. Hear Jewel’s powerful story detailing her experience with blindness due to a physical assault and what it's like as a Black mother encountering discrimination in the child welfare system.

Jewel hopes to spread her message of perseverance, which she would like to convey to other women who have gone through similar situations that she went through.

DAWN Canada - Resource list of Crisis Hotlines

https://www.dawncanada.net/issues/crisis-hotlines/

In The Lens: Living Diverse, Neisha Mitchell and Ben Akuoko explore the many facets of intersectionality from a blind, partially sighted and Deafblind perspective.

In Episode 1, hosts Neisha and Ben discuss why they decided to create the podcast, upcoming guests, and why it’s important to celebrate diversity within the blind, partially sighted and Deafblind community.

Sfen Mogensen is a totally blind world traveler. He’s visited 97 countries and counting. In this episode, we hear his irrepressible and captivating stories about where, why and how he travels.

If you haven’t been around a lot of blind people, you may not associate them with things like marathon canoeing or a 42 km hike. Ron Walsh of Saskatoon, founder of the Blind Adventurer Foundation, wants to change that. His ambition is to help blind and partially sighted people prepare and learn, then set out on the kind of guided adventures that change lives. In this conversation, we hear about Ron’s goal, and how he plans to get there

Anyone losing their vision knows the importance of learning new practical skills for daily living. Perhaps more important is the emotional journey we take in coming to terms with our situation and constructing a new sense of self. In this candid conversation with Client Support Services worker Brian Vey, we dig into this complex and rewarding process.

Having a guide dog and being denied service in cabs or restaurants is disturbingly common, despite laws and public awareness campaigns. In this conversation with Victoria Nolan, we hear how CNIB Guide Dogs is fostering advocacy and encouraging guide dog handlers to challenge unlawful treatment.

For people living in remote communities, eye care isn’t something they can take for granted. The Eye Van is a mobile medical unit that covers 6,000 kilometres each year, providing preventative eye health screening and eye care for people who would otherwise have to travel long distances.

How do you describe an abstract art piece? What’s a professional audio describer’s dream job and how do you get there? These are some of the questions for J.J. Hunt, a Toronto-based describer who’s worked on film, TV, museum installations, and at live events.

“I have a million stories of every client who has been able to find their way and embrace what’s inside,” says Ann Harry, who facilitates the CNIB's Manitoba Youth Council. Her love for her work is clear in her stories of young people with sight loss, their parents, and the journeys they’ve taken.