Limitless: Blind Beginnings Podcast

Babysitting can be a very important marker in many teenager’s lives, teaching valuable skills and a sense of responsibility. For teens who are blind or partially sighted, this is no different, and can carry with it the added feeling of trust and confidence in their own abilities. This week Shawn is joined by co-hosts Jill and Nika to discuss their own experiences and the importance babysitting can be for building confidence and skill sets.  

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!

It’s a very special episode this week as Limitless celebrates International Women’s Day, a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. Jinnie takes over hosting duties and talks with Shawn and Director of Operations for Blind Beginnings Lia Dicicco about their own professional journeys into the nonprofit sector, what it’s like to lead as women, some of the challenges that still exist in the workforce, finding a home/work balance, and much more.

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!

The Paralympics are right around the corner, which means that Paralympic fever is beginning to build here at the podcast! Shawn and co-hosts Nika and Ishita welcome Courtney Knight, a 4-time Paralympian (1996 Atlanta, 2000 Sydney, 2004 Athens and 2010 Vancouver) who competed in not only the Summer Paralympic Games, but the Winter as well! They discuss the process of becoming a Paralympian, what training was like and the kind of sacrifices that she had to make in order to compete.

This week Shawn and co-host Jinnie welcome Rob Sleath, chair of Access for Sight-Impaired Consumers group (ASIC)  and member of the User Advisory Committee for Translink to the show. They talk about Translink's new initiative to bring accessible signage to bus stops all around the Lower Mainland as well as the importance of having properly trained bus drivers that understand the experience of navigating the transit system as riders who are blind or partially sighted and other advocacy projects that Rob is involved in.

Access for Sight-Impaired Consumers
https://asicbc.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!

It’s the second part in our conversation all about what it’s like to date when you are blind or partially sighted. This time around Shawn welcomes Grant and Richard to the podcast in order to get the male perspective on dating and have an open and frank discussion on everything from attraction to how to stay safe during the early stages of dating. Due to the mature subject matter on this week’s episode, listener discretion for younger listeners is advised. 

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!

The first full week of February is White Cane Week, and to help celebrate this very special week designed to highlight the lived experiences of people who are blind or partially sighted, Shawn welcomes Nika, Jinnie, and special guest Monty to the podcast to pay tribute to everybody’s favorite mobility aid! They share some insight on the importance of this simple yet incredibly useful “blind stick” before swapping some of their favorite humorous white cane stories. It’s an episode full of information and laughter 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!

This week we go international as Shawn and co-host Keisha welcome Italian foreign exchange student Sara to the show to talk about what it’s like to travel and live in a different country when you are blind or partially sighted, discussing everything from navigating cultural differences to overcoming their own fears and misgivings. From insects to toilets to insects inside toilets, this episode has it all!

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!

This week Shawn welcomes Karen from CELA (Centre for Equitable Library Access) and Pikora from NNELS (National Network for Equitable Library Service) to the podcast to talk about their respective organizations, the services they provide, and how people who require materials in alternate formats can access them.

CELA
https://celalibrary.ca
NNELS
https://nnels.ca
CELA Kids and Teens Page
https://celalibrary.ca/services/kids-and-teens

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!

The beginning of a new year also means the start of a new semester at Universities all over the country, and this week Shawn welcomes Jinnie back to the show to discuss what campus life is like as a student who is blind. They discuss the resources that are in place for students with disabilities, the accommodations and adaptations that can also help, and give us an idea of what the process is like to navigate for those youth that will be looking to attend post secondary in the near future.

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!

January 4th was Louis Braille’s birthday and also World Braille Day, with the entire month of January being devoted to recognizing the importance of braille literacy with Braille Literacy Awareness Month. In honor of that, this week Shawn is joined by co-host Nika and special guest Maria, who is a parent to a 9 year old braille reader, to once again talk about braille and its importance, as well as taking a look at some surprising places that braille is starting to turn up.

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!