Reflections

Reflections

By Accessible Media Inc.Society & CultureDocumentaryScienceSocial SciencesEducation
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Reflections episodes

  • Towards a World With Zero Barriers: Recognizing 2026 Zero Project Awardees

    The Zero Project works alongside the UN community to spotlight and scale innovations that advance the goals of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. On December 3, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, it releases a list of award solutions toward its goal: a world with zero barriers.  The full list is at zeroproject.org

    AMI-audio Manager Andy Frank spotlights three of these award recipients on this episode.

    Kevin Kelly, tells us about the Wayfinding Centre in Dublin, which empowers people and possibility through experience, mobility & transportation.

    David Betts was recently diagnosed with ALS and set to work on creating Talk To Me, Goose. We learn about this text-to-speech and AI-assisted communication approach.

    Becca Hume, Founder of TapSOS, shares how this app is making emergency outreach accessible for the Deaf and hard of hearing community, and much more.

    About AMI

    AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca.

    Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+

    Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online:

    • X /Twitter @AccessibleMedia
    • Instagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audio
    • Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
    • TikTok @AccessibleMediaInc
    • Email [email protected]


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    28 min
  • The Launch of Vision Health Canada: A new venture to keep our eyes on
    At Vision Health Canada (VHC), their work is unified under the guiding theme: One Voice. Clear Focus. Collective Action. They aim to collaborate with government, industry, clinicians, researchers, and community partners to establish a unified national approach to vision health. In this roundtable discussion, Kelly MacDonald introduces us to Jim Sanders, Director at VHC; Ian White, Chair of the VHC Board; and Michael Baillargeon, CEO and President of VHC About AMI
    AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians
    with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and
    AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform
    AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of
    accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities
    through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal.
    To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca.
    Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+
    Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online:
    - X /Twitter @AccessibleMedia
    - Instagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audio
    - Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
    - TikTok @AccessibleMediaInc
    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
    for information about our collection and use of personal data for
    advertising.
    25 min
  • Chronic Pain: How can we support people who live with it? - Part 1

    Grant Hardy hears from individuals living with chronic pain about their experiences, struggles, and how they are working to move forward.

    Couple Kara Stanley and Simon Paradis published their book, “The Pain Project,” that documents their journey of Simon’s chronic pain after a traumatic brain and spinal cord injury. Simon’s band is called “Them Ordinary Things”. We speak about “The Pain Project” as well as the hopes and struggles of this couple’s journey and how Simon uses music to get through his pain.

    Ardra Shephard is a long-time friend of AMI and host of the “Tripping On Air” podcast. She joins us to discuss her journey with multiple sclerosis, as well as her thoughts on how couples can navigate a diagnosis like MS together.

    Dr. Andrea Furlan is a Physician at Toronto Rehab Hospital, a Scientist at KITE Research Institute – University Health Network Hospital, and Professor of Medicine at University of Toronto. Her YouTube channel provides awareness and education about chronic pain management. She joins us to provide her medical perspective on chronic pain.

    Join us for the first of a two-part series on navigating the hopes, struggles, and important conversations surrounding chronic pain.

    About AMI

    AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca.

    Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+

    Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online:

    • X /Twitter @AccessibleMedia
    • Instagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audio
    • Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
    • TikTok @AccessibleMediaInc
    • Email [email protected]


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    28 min
  • Fighting and Focus: Self-Defence in the Real World
    We know the fears and anxieties that come with navigating the streets on our own, being out late in unfamiliar areas, or moving through public transit systems. Let’s talk honestly about those realities, and figure out safety, strategy, and self-defence.
    Samira Lavei and Lindsay McCaw run the Unbreakable Women’s Self-Defence series in Toronto; they share practical self-defence tips and emphasize the importance of coming together as a community for safety in numbers.
    Can martial arts traditions help people with disabilities take on the world more confidently? Johnny Tai, founder of Night Strike Self-Defence in Richmond, BC, shares how he adapts his thinking, teaching, and problem-solving to address specific vulnerabilities faced by people with disabilities. About AMI
    AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians
    with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and
    AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform
    AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of
    accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities
    through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal.
    To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca.
    Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+
    Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online:
    - X /Twitter @AccessibleMedia
    - Instagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audio
    - Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
    - TikTok @AccessibleMediaInc
    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
    for information about our collection and use of personal data for
    advertising.
    25 min
  • YouDescribe: Do I hear what you see?
    In 2025, video content offers vital access to information, but making videos accessible to blind and low-vision audiences is still a work in progress. Let's figure out where exactly we are in the grand scheme of things.
    Kelly MacDonald introduces us to Joshua Miele’s project YouDescribe, a free, crowdsourced platform that allows people to add audio description tracks to YouTube videos.
    We hear from the community bringing this initiative to life, including Ilmi Yoon, Teaching Professor and Director of Computing Programs at Northeastern University; Lana Do, Research Assistant; Dr. Shasta Marie Ihorn, Associate Professor of Psychology at San Francisco State University; and Tanja Milojevic, who contributes consultation on quality control and feedback for YouDescribe.
    We also grab insights from Christopher Patnoe, Lead for EMEA Accessibility & Disability Innovation at Google, for perspectives on the state of audio description, the role AI plays in all this, and how creative, user-centered innovations like YouDescribe support greater access for the blind and low-vision community. About AMI
    AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians
    with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and
    AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform
    AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of
    accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities
    through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal.
    To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca.
    Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+
    Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online:
    - X /Twitter @AccessibleMedia
    - Instagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audio
    - Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
    - TikTok @AccessibleMediaInc
    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
    for information about our collection and use of personal data for
    advertising.
    28 min
  • Who’s Hungry: Exploring Food Insecurity in Canada

    Food bank visits in the City of Toronto have increased by 340% since 2019, and across Canada food bank visits are rising. Why is this happening? How can we help?

    Feature Reporter Joeita Gupta set out to find an answer for us. While it may not be as straightforward as we would like, there are still things we can do to support our fellow Canadians during a time when putting food on our tables is getting increasingly more difficult, and impossible for some.

    Rose Butler, Interim Vice President of Research and Advocacy at the Daily Bread Food Bank in Toronto shares some of the most recent statistics from the food bank and tells us how the Daily Bread Food Bank ensures its visitors receive balanced, nutritional meal support. 

    Dr. Jessica Agnew is the Associate Director of the Global office in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech. Dr. Agnew is also the Managing Editor of the Global Agricultural Productivity Support and explains how supply chains can impact food insecurity in Canada. 

    Pauline Cripps is the Community Food Lead at the Arrell Food Institute at the University of Guelph. She has almost a decade of experience working in food banks and teaches us about what a resilient food system is. 

    To get involved with or receive assistance from the Daily Bread Food Bank you can visit their website here: www.dailybread.ca

    About AMI

    AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca.

    Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+

    Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online:

    • X /Twitter @AccessibleMedia
    • Instagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audio
    • Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
    • TikTok @AccessibleMediaInc
    • Email [email protected]


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    28 min
  • Alzheimer's: The Tsunami to Come - The Conclusion
    This episode features the conclusion to our special archive cut of AMI's documentary Alzheimer's: The Tsunami to Come as it originally aired in 2016. About AMI
    AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians
    with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and
    AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform
    AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of
    accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities
    through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal.
    To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca.
    Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+
    Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online:
    - X /Twitter @AccessibleMedia
    - Instagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audio
    - Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
    - TikTok @AccessibleMediaInc
    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
    for information about our collection and use of personal data for
    advertising.
    24 min
  • Alzheimer's: The Tsunami to Come
    Few of us think of ourselves as caregivers, until the day we suddenly need to step up for a loved one. Sooner or later we will all either need a caregiver or become one. Are you ready for it?
    When that moment comes, families carry the burden long before a healthcare system that’s already stretched thin can catch up.
    Following our recent "Caregivers: A Very Personal Journey" episode, this special archive cut revisits AMI-audio’s 2016 documentary Alzheimer’s: The Tsunami to Come. It reminds us that while Canada eventually adopted the national dementia strategy caregivers were calling for, the everyday realities they face still mirror the stories we heard nearly ten years back.
    About AMI
    AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians
    with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and
    AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform
    AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of
    accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities
    through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal.
    To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca.
    Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+
    Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online:
    - X /Twitter @AccessibleMedia
    - Instagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audio
    - Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
    - TikTok @AccessibleMediaInc
    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
    for information about our collection and use of personal data for
    advertising.
    56 min
  • Disabilities and STEM: How Can We Make Science More Accessible? - Part 2

    Grant Hardy continues the exploration on how STEM learning can be made more accessible for persons with disabilities. In this episode, we highlight how individuals with disabilities bring unique perspectives to enhance scientific work and discovery.

    Dr. Kyle Keane, Senior Lecturer in Assistive Technologies at the University of Bristol, uses sonification to make visual elements and scientific data accessible; we find out how.

    John Hutchinson, Professor of Evolutionary Biomechanics at The Royal Veterinary College, used his epilepsy diagnosis as a way to adapt his teachings and advocate for others with disabilities in STEM fields; he tells us about his collaborative approach.

    Dr. Nick Bond is the Outreach and Public Engagement Fellow working in the Astronomy department at The University of Portsmouth; he highlights ways that a highly visual field, like Astronomy, can be adapted for the blind and low vision community.

    About AMI

    AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca.

    Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+

    Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online:

    • X /Twitter @AccessibleMedia
    • Instagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audio
    • Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
    • TikTok @AccessibleMediaInc
    • Email [email protected]


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    28 min
  • How Do I Leave It Behind: Understanding Legacy Giving
    Talking about death isn’t a comfortable topic, but it can be comforting to plan it out ahead of time. Hear us out.
    Planning ahead not only ensures your wishes are respected, it also opens the door to meaningful discussions about legacy giving and the impact we want to leave behind. Kelly MacDonald spends this half-hour asking his guests to weigh in on this delicate conversation with clarity and care.
    We hear from Braydin Frizell, Development Manager with the Canadian Council for the Blind; Meghan Maack, Fundraising Executive at the Perley Health Foundation; David DaCamara, Financial Planner at R&D Insurance and Financial Services Ltd; and Grace Scoffield, Producer on Reflections who shares her personal experience working at her university’s call centre, asking alumni whether they’d consider including the school in their legacy giving. About AMI
    AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians
    with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and
    AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform
    AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of
    accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities
    through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal.
    To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca.
    Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+
    Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online:
    - X /Twitter @AccessibleMedia
    - Instagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audio
    - Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
    - TikTok @AccessibleMediaInc
    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
    for information about our collection and use of personal data for
    advertising.
    26 min

About Reflections

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Listen in on how we make sense of the world, through conversation and the lens of lived experience, weaving our questions with your stories.