Reflections

What do you know about Lavender? Kelly MacDonald takes a visit to Sparta Lavender Farm, 3km east of the historic village of Sparta, located in Aylmer, Ontario. We meet the couple behind the farm, Karen Parr and Bert Floyd, who help us explore everything we ever wanted to know about Lavender. Kelly and others on the group tour take a Sound Bath, offered as a relaxation practice by Michele Kujawa, Soundbath Artist and Holistic Massage and Reiki Practitioner. Nature connects us in such incredible ways, so let's tap into some of its magic through Lavender.

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.

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The Canada Disability Benefit was announced earlier this summer with much fanfare. Proponents tout it as the first of its kind: a program designed to lift Canadians with disabilities out of poverty. Eligible Canadians can get as much as $2400 annually.

But does it live up to the hype?

Joeita Gupta takes us through a deep dive into the policy, application process, and real-life effects of the benefit. We hear from members of the disability community to gauge what the application process is like. We meet Keila Alex Echakowitz, who believed that the Canada Disability Benefit would boost their income until they were met with a 10% claw back, and the harsh reality that this government program will not help them to move out of their parent’s home. To find some clarification on the policies and eligibility requirements, we hear from Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families. Asif Khan is the Research and Policy Coordinator of the Income Security Advocacy Centre, and he tells us why the Disability Tax Credit and Canada Disability Benefit are extremely problematic, reflects on where there is room for improving the CDB, and what genuine economic justice for people with disabilities looks like. While this benefit is the result of years of advocacy, these stories explain the shortcomings of the Canada Disability Benefit and the changes that need to be made to make long lasting and life changing differences for 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.

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Makeup isn’t just about beauty. For many people who are blind, low-vision, or living with a disability, it’s also about self-expression, empowerment, and identity. But the beauty industry hasn’t always made space for everyone’s needs. Lead by her own love for makeup, Nisreen Abdel-Majid explores what it means to find beauty for people with disabilities. We meet Maria Santiago, a makeup influencer and content creator pushing for more inclusive conversations and honest reviews in the beauty world. We also head to Toronto’s Eaton Centre to see how accessible big-name stores like MAC and Sephora really are, from store layouts to customer service. Finally, we sit down with Trishna Daswaney, Founder of the UK-based brand Kohl Kreatives, which designs adaptive makeup tools built with inclusion at the core. These stories explore what inclusive beauty looks like at the moment, and what it could be if we continue to figure it out together.

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.

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Mark Richardson recently authored The Drive Across Canada: The Remarkable Story
of the Trans-Canada Highway, published on June 3, 2025. Kelly MacDonald and Mark Richardson take us on a fascinating journey along the coast-to-coast highway, reflecting on Mark’s countless trips and many stories. Michelle Higgins, who hit a moose in 2012 near Gander, Newfoundland, ended up in a relationship with Stephen Bromley of Conch, Newfoundland, after he experienced the same situation years later. We meet Kari Gunson of Peterborough, who helps to build tunnels for reptiles beneath the highway, and Terry Hoddinott, a blind tandem cyclist who utilized the Trans-Canada Highway while participating in a fundraiser near and dear to his heart. Let’s take the highway together and learn a little history, through the magic of these timeless stories.

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
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Reflections launches September 2, 2025 on AMI-audio and podcast platforms.  New episodes every Tuesday to Friday.

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
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• Email [email protected]

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