Limitless: Blind Beginnings Podcast

Episode 142 - Youth Perspectives on Blindness: A Panel Discussion

It’s a very special episode this week as Shawn welcomes Acacia, Keisha, and Nina to a panel style discussion aimed at breaking stereotypes of blindness and giving an overview of their journeys through blindness or partial sight in order to educate and empower. It’s an open and frank discussion from the youth perspective that you won’t want to miss and a valuable resource for those new to the blindness community either as an individual, family member, or loved one.

Blind Beginnings’ mission is to inspire children and youth who are blind or partially sighted and their families through diverse programs, experiences, counseling and peer support, and opportunities to create fulfilling lives. Visit us online at www.blindbeginnings.ca to find out more!

Episode 141 - Let’s Talk About Eye Surgeries

For some people with vision loss, eye surgeries can be something that they have to deal with at multiple points in their lives. This week Shawn sits down with co-hosts Nika and Jill, both of whom have had Ocular Surgeries both recently and in the past, and talk about their experiences, from their initial emotions and nervousness at their respective procedures and how they prepared, to aftercare and dealing with the results.

Blind Beginnings’ mission is to inspire children and youth who are blind or partially sighted and their families through diverse programs, experiences, counseling and peer support, and opportunities to create fulfilling lives. Visit us online at www.blindbeginnings.ca to find out more!

Episode 140 - Let’s Meet Chad

This week Shawn sits down with journalist, advocate, and fellow podcaster Chad Bouton of the Hindsight is 20 / 200 podcast to talk about his podcast and its origins, as well his own journey growing up with Retinitis Pigmentosa.  

Listen to Hindsight is 20/200:
https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chad-bouton

Blind Beginnings’ mission is to inspire children and youth who are blind or partially sighted and their families through diverse programs, experiences, counseling and peer support, and opportunities to create fulfilling lives. Visit us online at www.blindbeginnings.ca to find out more!

Episode 139 - Let’s Talk About Looking Blind

What does it mean to “look blind” and can being self conscious about it impact your actions or add pressure in certain social situations? This week Shawn welcomes Dougie and Keisha back to the podcast to discuss their own experiences with their other people’s reactions to their vision, the pressure they put on themselves and the impact both can have on confidence and self esteem, and much more. It’s a fascinating and honest discussion that you won’t want to miss!

Blind Beginnings’ mission is to inspire children and youth who are blind or partially sighted and their families through diverse programs, experiences, counseling and peer support, and opportunities to create fulfilling lives. Visit us online at www.blindbeginnings.ca to find out more!

Episode 138 - Let’s Talk About Working In Retail

Working in retail or customer service can be challenging, but when you are blind or partially sighted it can also come with its own set of unique challenges to overcome. This week Shawn sits down with Acacia and Jill, both of which have experience working a variety of jobs in retail to share their experiences and talk about everything from initial concerns during the application and hiring process to how customers and co-workers reacted to their vision conditions and even advice for others who may be interested in working with the public.

Blind Beginnings’ mission is to inspire children and youth who are blind or partially sighted and their families through diverse programs, experiences, counseling and peer support, and opportunities to create fulfilling lives. Visit us online at www.blindbeginnings.ca to find out more!

Episode 137 - Let’s Talk About Humour

Humour may be the best medicine, but it can also be an effective tool to break down barriers and help build social bonds. This week Shawn welcomes co-hosts Ishita and Clement back to the podcast to discuss how each uses humour to defuse awkward situations, put others at ease, and to help strengthen relationships. They discuss everything from when and how humour is appropriate to sharing stories of when it has worked (and even a few cases when it didn’t). 

Blind Beginnings’ mission is to inspire children and youth who are blind or partially sighted and their families through diverse programs, experiences, counseling and peer support, and opportunities to create fulfilling lives. Visit us online at www.blindbeginnings.ca to find out more!

Episode 136 - Let’s Talk About Dating Part 3

It’s that time of year again, when love is in the air and flower shop employees and chocolatiers feel overwhelmed .. Valentine’s Day! We are helping celebrate again this year by talking all about dating and some of its challenges when you are blind or partially sighted. Shawn is joined by Nika and special guest Mark, both of whom are actively dating, to have an open and honest conversation and to take a deep dive into what it’s like these days to be looking for love. 

Blind Beginnings’ mission is to inspire children and youth who are blind or partially sighted and their families through diverse programs, experiences, counseling and peer support, and opportunities to create fulfilling lives. Visit us online at www.blindbeginnings.ca to find out more!

Episode 135 - Talk Description to Me

It’s a very special episode this week as Shawn welcomes JJ Hunt and Christine Malec, creators of the innovative and fascinating podcast, Talk Description to Me which discusses current events, and topical issues through the lens of audio description. They discuss the show’s origins and its unique premise as well as the importance of applying the idea of audio description to more than just shows and movies. It’s a fascinating discussion, and if you have ever wondered how lightning might be described to someone who has never seen it, you definitely won’t want to miss this episode! 

Talk Description to Me On The Web
https://talkdescriptiontome.buzzsprout.com/
On Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/show/2j3VfcqoyUTtCsrJfZQEqd
On Apple Podcasts
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talk-description-to-me/id1524083725

Blind Beginnings’ mission is to inspire children and youth who are blind or partially sighted and their families through diverse programs, experiences, counseling and peer support, and opportunities to create fulfilling lives. Visit us online at www.blindbeginnings.ca to find out more!

Episode 134 - Ask A.B.B.Y. Volume 5

White Cane Week begins on the first full week of February, and in honor of this we have once again gathered together a group of Blind Beginnings youth to answer your questions in our ever-popular “Ask A Blind Beginnings Youth” series! Shawn is joined by co-hosts Nina, Alethea, and Nolan to answer a series of listener questions. If you’ve ever wondered how hard it is to learn braille or how blind people can identify different types of money, you won’t want to miss this episode!

Blind Beginnings’ mission is to inspire children and youth who are blind or partially sighted and their families through diverse programs, experiences, counseling and peer support, and opportunities to create fulfilling lives. Visit us online at www.blindbeginnings.ca to find out more!

Episode 133 - Let’s Talk About Going to the Gym

It’s the first month of a new year and for many people who have fitness related goals as part of their new year’s resolutions, that means starting to attend a new gym. This week Shawn is joined by co-hosts Nolan and Aly and special guest Gail to talk about their experiences attending new gyms as blind or partially sighted patrons. They discuss some of the ways in which gyms can be welcoming as well as some of the barriers they can sometimes experience and the way they overcome them.

Blind Beginnings’ mission is to inspire children and youth who are blind or partially sighted and their families through diverse programs, experiences, counseling and peer support, and opportunities to create fulfilling lives. Visit us online at www.blindbeginnings.ca to find out more!