Reflections

Reflections

By Accessible Media Inc.Society & CultureDocumentaryScienceSocial SciencesEducation
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Reflections episodes

  • AI Up Close and Personal: At Work

    Are the fears with AI being integrated into our jobs justified? Kelly MacDonald finds out.

    Registered Psychologist Dr. Christine Korol explains how we should pay attention to how we use AI in our everyday lives, from spell-check to talk therapy.

    Lisa Taylor, CEO of Challenge Factory, compares how some employers encourage AI use in the workplace, while others prefer a hands-off approach.

    Technology Analyst and Journalist Carmi Levy strongly supports Canada creating Canadian AI chat platforms to protect its users; we learn why.

    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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    26 min
  • Making Old New Again: On Vinyl’s Remarkable Comeback

    When Joeita Gupta received a record player from her mother-in-law as an anniversary present, she had no idea that it would blossom into a lifelong hobby of collecting records. Now, she’s noticed that so many other people are picking up the hobby too, and independent record stores are popping up all over. What is so attractive about this “old-school” medium?

    Courtney, the owner of Baxter’s Vinyl in Leslieville, Toronto shares what drove her to open a record store and what keeps her patrons coming back time and time again.

    Jilayne Jordan is an avid vinyl collector and wrote an article about the revival of the record. Jilayne offers interesting insight into how the vinyl record industry was damaged by cassettes and CDs, and how it’s making its comeback thanks to modern day collectors and superfans. 

    Paul Miller, Senior Vice President of Sales at Precision Record Pressing, gives us a glimpse into how the company has dealt with the boom in the record industry.

    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
  • What Are We Really Eating: Unpacking Ultra-Processed Foods
    Nisreen Abdel-Majid explores the thoughts and intentions behind the everyday food choices we make, and the consequences behind those choices. She unpacks the rise of ultra-processed foods in Canada and what that means for our health and habits.
    Registered Dietitian Abbey Sharp breaks down what “ultra-processed” really means and how to navigate ingredient lists without feeling overwhelmed.
    Manuel Arango from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada offers a policy and public health perspective, shedding light on the systemic factors shaping our food environment.
    Reflections Senior Show Producer Matt Agnew shares his family's day-to-day around food decisions, a relatable, real life reality check. 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
  • Vibe-Coding: How the Blind Community is Making Video Games Accessible
    Jacob Shymanski loves to play video games, and when he lost his sight, he felt that one of his favourite hobbies had been taken away from him. Native accessibility in video games is not common practice, and it takes hours and hours to modify a video game and make it accessible. That’s where a community of people on Discord using Claude code comes in.
    Using an AI chat bot, novice and experienced software developers are creating their own video game mods to make more video games accessible.
    Jacob and his three guests teach us how Claude works, how mods work, and explores some of the legal and ethical debates surrounding vibe-coding.
    Aaron created mods for Rimworld, a popular indie game, and demonstrates how he uses Claude Code to write these accessibility mods. Plus, he weighs in on if the cost of this software is worth it.
    Rashad shares how he, as someone with no experience in software development or coding, got started using Claude and the impact these accessible games have had on the disability community.
    Bradley created his first Slay the Spire mod by rewriting the code manually and explains how much quicker it was to create the mod for Slay the Spire 2 with Claude Code.
    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.
    31 min
  • Where Did the Village Go?
    Parenting, whether solo or with a partner, can become a very isolating experience for a multitude of reasons. Beth Deer found herself reminiscing on afternoons spent at her grandparents house, and wondering why her kids aren’t experiencing the same thing.
    Where did the village go? Did it disappear, or do we just have to create it ourselves?
    Beth speaks with Anthropologist Dr. Camilla Morelli, who shares insight into how motherhood has changed over the past several decades. She compares how families function in non-industrialized societies to give us background on why this isolation of parenthood is becoming a regular experience for many people.
    Shayla McCain, Beth’s friend and a super mom who is living with stomach paralysis and several other chronic illnesses, discusses how her best friend and husband have stepped up in the absence of a typical familial support system.
    Debby Agnew, mom to Reflections Sr. Producer Matt Agnew, tells us why a close, thoughtful relationship with her kids and grandkids is so important to her in an era where the time and the people refuse to slow down.
    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
  • Veterans and Everyday Heroes: How Service Dogs Help Uniformed Heroes Reclaim Their Lives

    How do service animals support people with invisible disabilities? Kelly MacDonald follows the work of non-profit organization Veterans and Everyday Heroes (V-EH!) to learn about the benefits of service animal intervention on frontline workers' lives.

    Captain Andrew Gough, a medically retired Police Sergeant, shares his personal journey leading to creating the organization, matching service dogs with handlers in need without the massive cost associated with the pairing. We also hear from board members Kimberly Biback and Lisa Mason on the ins and outs of running V-EH!

    Dawn LeFevre and Ryan Horwood give us their testimonials on the life-saving effects of working with service animals after dealing with frontline work trauma.

    Bruno Matos, Lead Trainer and Founder of Searchlight Service Dogs, tells us about the schooling process to get these service dogs trained and ready to work.

    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
  • Exploring Accessible Education: The Case of the Province of Ontario - Part 2

    Students are being forgotten about in classrooms, schools are sending kids with disabilities home, and school board Trustees are being removed and replaced with representatives from the government. These are ongoing issues in Ontario's publicly funded education system. How are these changes from the current government to cut funds to school boards and special education departments affecting students, teachers, and parents?

    Joeita Gupta seeks out the answers in this two-part episode. 

    In part 1, Joeita spoke with David Lepofsky, chair of the Toronto District School Board Special Education Committee. We also heard from Nora Green, a representative of Inclusion Action Ontario and a parent to two children with disabilities. 

    This time, Joeita sits with two employees at Ontario school boards to get a better idea of how these changes affect classrooms and class ratios, and hears what needs to change at the government level to positively impact classrooms.

    Martha Hradowy, President of Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation and education worker, shares how some of her members have reacted to these changes, and gives us insights into how school board budgets work.

    David Lepofsky urges you to write to [email protected] and tell them to reinstate school board trustees to maintain local democracy in Ontario’s public education system. For more information, visit aodaalliance.org/education

    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.

    29 min
  • Accessible Language Learning: Languages at Work

    Grant Hardy continues his multilingual journey with a look at languages on the job.

    Youssef Mohammad returns to discuss his career as a Medical Interpreter at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. Qjinti Isabel is a Professor of Conference Interpreting at Toronto's York University. She discusses her experiences with accessible Conference Interpreting. Plus, being a language enthusiast, she shares tips on how we can get started with language learning.

    Let's learn about languages at work, and how you can build a successful, accessible career using your multilingual skills.

    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.

    26 min
  • Exploring Accessible Education: The Case of the Province of Ontario - Part 1

    Students are being forgotten about in classrooms, schools are sending kids with disabilities home, and school board Trustees are being removed and replaced with representatives from the government. These are ongoing issues in Ontario's publicly funded education system. How are these changes from the current government to cut funds to school boards and special education departments affecting students and their families?

    Joeita Gupta seeks out the answers in this two-part episode.

    In Part 1, we hear from David Lepofsky, Chair of the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) Special Education Advisory Committee. David explains all of the recent changes and how they affect TDSB. 

    Nora Green is a representative of Inclusion Action Ontario and a parent to two children with disabilities. Nora shares how the removal of school board trustees impacts the parents of kids with disabilities and a shocking revelation of where the special education department is ranked on the Ministry of Education’s priority list. 

    David Lepofsky urges you to write to [email protected] and tell them to reinstate school board trustees to maintain local democracy in Ontario’s public education system. For more information, visit aodaalliance.org/education

    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.

    29 min
  • Where Did the Circus Go: Describing the Changing Spectacle

    How do you feel about the circus? Is it a magical, nostalgic memory where the audience cheers and the children jump with excitement? Or is it something you never fully came to appreciate?

    Kelly MacDonald wants to know where the circus came from, what it is at the moment, and where it's headed.

    Steve Peters gives us a historical rundown of the circus, the fantastic and the dark. Dancer and Aerialist Kirsten Rowe takes us behind the scenes and gives us a dose of circus performance reality. We explore what it's like to describe the circus to a blind and low vision audience with Amy Amantea of VocalEye and Audio Describer JJ Hunt.

    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.

    26 min

About Reflections

From the publisher's feed

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