Limitless: Blind Beginnings Podcast

Episode 59 - Let’s Talk About Ableism - Part 2

Shawn and co-hosts Nika and Clement continue their discussion of ableism from last week and talk about their own personal experiences with it. They discuss their internalized ableism and how it can affect their own behaviors, as well as concepts such as “inspiration porn” and how it can be damaging to how disability is viewed in the mainstream.

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 58 - Let's Talk About Ableism - Part 1

This week we are excited to present the first part of a two-part special episode on ableism. Join Shawn and co-hosts Nika and Clement as they have an open and frank conversation about ableism, defining it and sharing personal experiences which detail the implications and impact that it can have in the lives of people with disabilities.

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 57 - Let’s Meet Anu

This week Shawn and co-host Jinnie are excited to welcome Anu Pala, certified life coach and trainer, to the podcast in order to talk all about skincare and make-up. They discuss some of the challenges of using makeup when you are blind or partially sighted as well as sharing starter tips and the importance of self image and confidence that comes with self-care.

A-Nu Vision
https://www.a-nuvision.ca/

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 56 - Let's Meet Dougie

This week we’re making things up as we go, flying by the seat of our pants and talking all about the challenging and very fun art of improv! Shawn and co-hosts Leena and Ishita welcome Dougie, a Blind Beginnings volunteer, actor, and improv comedian to the podcast. They discuss how he got into acting and improv, what it’s like performing and teaching over Zoom during COVID, and what some of the challenges he faced breaking into both.

Dougie Cane Comedy on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqWBQjDdEhqxOLyfbiUVmrQ

Blind Beginnings Virtual Camp 2021
https://www.blindbeginnings.ca/virtual-camp-2021/

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 55 - Let's Talk About VocalEye

This week Shawn and co-host Kolby are very excited to welcome Steph Kirkland, the Executive Director of VocalEye to the podcast. VocalEye is the first live descriptive arts service for the blind in Canada and they discuss how the process works, the challenges of live description and what it means to be providing greater access to the live theater and the Arts for the Blind community. 

VocalEye
http://www.vocaleye.ca

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 54 - Let's Talk About Gender

This week Shawn is joined by co-hosts Jinnie, Nika, and John to discuss the topic of gender. They discuss everything from how to navigate the issue of gender in social settings when you are blind or partially sighted to how gender roles are formed, how they have started to change over the years and how disability can impact those roles. It’s an open and honest discussion about a fascinating and very important topic 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 53 - Our First Anniversary Show!

It’s hard to believe it’s been a year already! This week Shawn is joined by Nika, Kolby, Ishita and Rob to look back at the entire year’s worth of episodes and discuss some of their favorites! Come join us and see which episodes were favorites to record, the most impactful to listen to, and even the most nerve-wracking to be a part of! It’s a celebration of the Limitless Podcast and a peek behind the scenes you don’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 52 - Let’s Talk About Self Advocacy

Being able to advocate about your needs can be challenging for anybody, but especially draining for those in the blind or partially sighted community. This week Shawn is joined by co-hosts Nika, Kolby, and Clement to discuss some of their own experiences self-advocating, some of the challenges faced, as well as the importance of knowing when and how to speak up about your needs.

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 51 - Let's Talk About Deafblindness

June is Deafblind Awareness Month and to kick it off, Shawn and co-host Kolby welcome Dr. Linda Mamer to talk about deafblindness. Dr. Mamer is a Deafblind Consultant for the Provincial Outreach Program for Deafblindness and she gives us an overview of the many aspects and gradients of deafblindness as well as helping understand the different deafblind communication and teaching methods. We also learn all about ‘yarn bombing’ and how this tactile art is being used to help raise awareness for deafblindness all over the world during the month of June. 

Canadian Deafblind Association
https://www.cdbanational.com/

More information on Deafblind Awareness Month
https://www.cdbanational.com/deafblind-awareness-month/

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 50 - Let's Talk About Cricket

This week Shawn and co-host Ishita welcome back Jugaad, one of our youth from last week’s Culture and Disability episode, to discuss his passion for his favorite sport, Cricket!  While Cricket may not have much of a presence here in Canada, it’s huge in other countries around the world and if you were ever curious about how it’s played, it’s cultural impact in India, and even how it is adapted for players who are blind or partially sighted, you don’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!