Reflections

New approaches to assistive technology are replacing the medical model for disability with an inclusive one that acknowledges one size doesn’t fit all. An organization leading the way is CanAssist, engineering cutting-edge assistive technology and tackling accessibility across the board. 

Grant Hardy speaks with Griffin Long, a former engineering student at the University of Victoria, who completed his co-op placement with CanAssist, and explains how he created the foot pedal guitar strummer. 

Paul Green, Head of Technology and Systems at CanAssist, explains CanAssist's mission, giving examples of other adaptations they've developed for the community, and who's been involved. 

And, AMI's Communications Specialist Greg David shares visual descriptions of CanAssist projects, as well as his thoughts on how we're doing with the acceptance and evolution of assistive tech 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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Rising Temperatures in the summers are becoming a challenge for everybody, and are uniquely complicated for people living in high rise apartments and condos within the busy City of Toronto. Joeita Gupta learns more. 

Jordan Gray is the Executive Director for the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights and is among a growing number of advocates asking Toronto to create a Maximum Temperature Bylaw that ensures dwellings do not exceed temperatures higher than 26 degrees Celsius.  

Chris Stigas is a Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certified Professional and, after experiencing uncomfortable temperatures in his own apartment, adds an interesting perspective to this argument. Rather than creating a Maximum Temperature Bylaw, he proposes the city mandate that air conditioning in units be turned off later in the year, and turned back on earlier in the spring. 

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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Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online:

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What does it mean to be independent? The goal of independence, and the way to get there, varies. Reflections Reporters Grant Hardy and Kelly MacDonald discuss the scope of this theme as they revisit four past Reflections episodes: 

The Access Go Mobile App, released July 16, 2026, exploring how access to coding has levelled the playing field for the blind and low vision community. 

The Everyone Everywhere Boat, released June 16, 2026, identifying the role community plays in individuals finding independence. 

Accessible Housing, released on July 30, 2026, discussing the importance of autonomy and sense of self. 

Braille Mountain Initiative, released on July 14, 2026, taking the conversation from surviving to thriving. 

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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Anything is possible when creative minds take self-expression and a bit of theatre magic to put on a show. It's representation at its finest, and Kelly MacDonald finds out how its done. 

Kevin Jesuino, Artistic Director of Theatre Terrific, highlights the work the Canadian organization has been doing for inclusive theatre. 

Lisa B Lewis is the Founder and Executive Director of Omnium Circus, an inclusive, accessible circus that aims to entertain and represent. She and Artistic Director Noe Espana, give us the highlights of what the audience can expect from Omnium. 

Sara Porter is a multi-disciplinary theatre artist, who brings us notes on how she goes about telling her story in her solo show, Hello Sunshine. 

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
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Grant Hardy hears from three travelers from the blind and low vision community about the joys and challenges of international travel. No matter the plan or destination, these narratives offer valuable insight into accessible travel from a blindness perspective.

Richard Marion authored a series for The Blind Canadian about how he planned a trip to Edinborough, Paris, and London with his partner. He chats about how he used AI products like ChatGPT to plan an accessible itinerary, and what the infrastructure is like in Europe from an accessibility perspective.

Clement Chou has traveled to Japan multiple times, including solo trips and a group trip with other blind and partially sighted travelers. He shares the highlights from his experiences in Asia.

Laura Bain brings up what it's like to familiarize herself with new places when she arrives, like touching down in New York, or taking the Seable Holiday tour in London.

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
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David Phillips, Climatologist Emeritus with Environment Canada, who has given Canadians the weather word for over fifty years, seemed to be retired for only a day at most! He shares stories and memories of his experiences with Kelly MacDonald.

Chris Murphy, On-air Meteorologist with The Weather Network, shares secrets on how weather personalities navigate giving us the forecast while using the right type of communication skills.

Plus, we learn about the important work being done at the Canadian Hurricane Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia with Meteorologist and Manager Chris Fogarty.

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]

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Joeita Gupta speaks to university students, professors, and advocates about their experiences transitioning to post-secondary education.

Ava Henderson, a blind student studying in British Columbia, shares what her post-secondary experience has been like so far and has ideas on what universities can do to give students with or without disabilities the optimal post-secondary support.

What services are available for students with disabilities entering post-secondary education? Frank Smith is the National Coordinator of the National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS). He tells us how the challenges and realities for students with disabilities have changed over the last 40 years of the organization's existence.

Dr. Ben Whitburn, Associate Professor at the University of Southampton, attended university in the nineties. His perspective is that educators ought to change and adapt their mindsets in order to contribute to a positive and inclusive school environment.

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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Kelly MacDonald grew up believing graffiti on the walls was the sign of a broken neighborhood. Today, our attitudes about painting on bricks have changed.

Denise Love, a tour guide for Museum London, takes us on our own tour to check out the local alley art in London, Ontario.

Alejandro Zuluaga and Melanie Schambach are two artists who spearheaded a multi-media creation in a well-known underpass. They talk about artistic collaboration.

And sharing the realities of independently working on a full-sized, outdoor mural is artist Meaghan Claire Kehoe.

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]

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Anxiety feels like one of the defining experiences of modern life. Whether it's money, relationships, work, health or simply walking into a crowded supermarket, millions of people know exactly what it feels like to be anxious. Has anxiety always existed? Or is it something that's become more common in recent years? Beth Deer explores the history, psychology, and science behind anxiety, and whether modern life has fundamentally changed the way our brains respond to fear.

She's joined by historian Elizabeth Roberts-Pedersen and Professor Christine Purdon to learn about how anxiety has evolved from being a natural stress response into a diagnosable mental health disorder.

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]

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Joeita Gupta speaks to professionals with disabilities about their experiences transitioning into new and uncharted territory as they changed careers.

Michelle McQuigge was an esteemed journalist with The Canadian Press for over a decade when she decided to tackle a new career: becoming the CEO of Balance for Blind Adults. 

Through Michelle’s journey, we learn what it takes to switch careers, what can influence your decision to switch jobs, and how to handle disclosure of a disability with a new employer.

Not sure about your next career? Maybe entrepreneurship is the way to go. Kevin Shaw shares what he's learned so far.

Linda Brown is the Senior Learning Coordinator at the Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work. She is responsible for creating and coordinating training for job seekers who reach out to the CCRW. She goes over the skills and training most important for people switching careers, and how to build your transferable skills in your current job. 

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]

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