The Pulse

We speak with handy-man Chris Judge about season two of his show Eyes for the Job. He shares with us his experiences as a blind handy-man and describes his beginnings with home improvement, repairs and assistive technology.

This is the August 8, 2018 episode.

We speak with Budour Hassan, a blind Palestinian writer based in Jerusalem. She shares her experience covering the Palestinian experience and discusses disability in the greater context of human rights abuses. She also describes the systemic oppression of vulnerable populations and explains why their stories should be heard and shared.

This is the August 7, 2018 episode.

Veganism is on the rise. Millions are people across North America are converting over to plant-based diets for health benefits or ethical reasoning. So how do you make the transition? And why would you choose to do it?

Allison Jade Lester is an entrepreneur and vegan advocate. She shares her experiences with veganism and discusses the environmental impact of becoming vegan.

This is the August 3, 2018 episode.

Léonie Watson is the Director of Developer Communications at The Paciello Group, an organization that helps achieve and improve accessibility on websites, applications and processes. She shares her story as an accessibility engineer with vision loss. And, she discusses the necessity inclusive design principles and web standards to complete the user experience.

This is the August 2, 2018 episode.

Affordable housing impacts every single person no matter where they fall in the socio-economic spectrum. It disproportionately impacts the working-class, those who are low-income, and those in marginalized groups. It puts a tremendous amount of pressure on individuals and families resulting in cascading impacts on health, security, and quality of life. So, how do we address this matter?

Trish Garner is the community organizer for the B.C. Poverty Reduction Coalition. She explains the issues of affordable housing and poverty in British Columbia and explores the need to create long term construction of affordable rental properties. She also discusses the development of the province’s first Poverty Reduction Strategy coming later this year.

This is the August 1, 2018 episode.

We chat with AMI-tv presenters Laura Bain and Shelby Travers about their new travel documentary “Postcards from Newfoundland and Labrador.” They describe their adventures on Canada’s most easterly province, including a screech-in ceremony and an ocean boat tour to the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve. They also share a sneak-peek into an upcoming documentary about Lake Joe, CNIB's camp located in Ontario's Muskoka region.

This is the July 31, 2018 episode.

The sibling bond is something special. If you’re lucky, they’ve been your oldest friend and companion. Over time, that sibling relationship can take on a new face when disability is included in the mix. A brother or sister can go from being a friend to being a caregiver. So how do we ensure that those caregivers are supported?

Eric Goll and Helen Ries are the co-founders of The Sibling Collaborative. They discuss the challenges and needs faced by sibling caregivers and explore some recommendations for support. They also share their results from the Sibling Needs Assessment Survey that was published earlier this year.

This is the July 30, 2018 episode

Affordable housing is a major issue in Canada. Along with skyrocketing prices on homes, significant rent hikes and gentrification, there are is an issue of short-term rentals. So how do we find a balance where short term rentals work for all parties?

Dr. David Wachsmuth is an Assistant Professor for the School of Urban Planning at McGill University. He discusses a paper he co-wrote about AirBnb in relation to the rent gap.

This is the July 26, 2018 episode.

For people with disabilities accessing a public space or recreational activity continues to pose a challenge. With policy discussions in place to address obstacles for employment, education, housing and transportation, how best do we position a discourse on advancing access to recreation and play?

Milena Khazanavicus is an AMI Community Reporter for the Halifax Region. She discusses her involvement with the Community Roots Urban Farm’s accessible garden. She also explains the necessity of preserving and protecting recreational spaces for their proven benefits to the community.

This is the July 13, 2018 episode.

We discuss the importance of accessibility and inclusion in environmentalism with Hillary Scanlon, a Global Studies student at Wilfrid Laurier University. She also tells us about the protype she created to make waste, recycling and compost units accessible to people who are blind and partially sighted.

This is the July 11, 2018 episode.