Limitless: Blind Beginnings Podcast

Episode 170 - Let’s Talk About Job Interviews

Looking for work when you are blind or partially sighted can feel daunting, overwhelming, and even a bit scary, especially the part where you have to interview for the job. This week Shawn welcomes co-host Keisha back to the show to discuss looking for work, specifically how to prepare for the job interview, things to consider and plan during your search, and so 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.

Episode 169 - Let’s Talk About Blindness in India

The Limitless Podcast goes international this week as Shawn welcomes Jugaad and Jinnie to the show for a fascinating discussion about life in India as a person who is blind or partially sighted. They discuss the cultural differences in how blindness is viewed as well as how day to day life as a blind or partially sighted person can differ from daily life in Canada. 

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 168 - Let’s Talk About If We Were Sighted For A Day

It is both Halloween and the last week of Blindness Awareness Month, so this week we’ve decided to do a bit of a monstrous mash-up of the two (kind of like a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup)! It’s a full house on this episode as Shawn welcomes Jinnie, Acacia, Ishita, Jugaad, and Clement back for each to share what they would do if they each were “sighted for a day”. It’s a fascinating conversation that you won’t want to miss, and some of their answers may surprise you! Happy Halloween!

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 167 - Let’s Talk About Interacting With Someone Who Is Blind

In our continuing series of podcasts centered about learning about blindness for Blindness Awareness Month, this week Shawn welcomes Keisha back to the podcast to simulate certain scenarios that illustrate the best way to interact with someone who is blind or partially sighted. 

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 166 - Let’s Talk About Choosing to Use A White Cane

October 15th was White Cane Day. and this year to mark the occasion, we wanted to talk about white canes from a slightly different perspective. Join us as Shawn welcomes Acacia, Dougie, and Ishita to the show for a fascinating discussion about using a white cane later in life or choosing to use one even though you may have just enough vision to manage without one. Using their own lived experiences as examples, they discuss the advantages of this choice and how perceived attitudes can sometimes influence when that choice is made.

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 165 - Let’s Talk About What We Gain By Being Blind

When vision loss is discussed, most people think about all the negatives but rarely consider that there can be some positives as well. It is a transformative experience, which brings with it both positives and negatives. This week Shawn welcomes back Ishita and Jill to the podcast to shift perspectives and talk about some of the many positives that their blindness has brought into their lives as well as discussing dealing with the pressure that society puts on the disability community that they need to be “fixed”. 

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 164 - Let’s Talk About Hero vs Helpless

As we enter into the first week of Blindness Awareness Month, we are breaking some stereotypes! People in the disability community are often placed in two categories – hero or helpless. They can be seen as a source of inspiration, or as someone who is going to require support.  This week Shawn welcomes Ishita, Clement, Alexis, and Ella to the podcast to talk about reasons behind these stereotypes, their own experiences encountering these attitudes, how they feel about it, and what they want people in the able bodied community to know about blindness or partial sight. 

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 163 - Let’s Talk About Limitless Life Skills Camp

Over the summer Blind Beginnings held a five day camp for youth that allowed them to practice and learn independent living skills (such as cooking, laundry, cleaning, shopping, etc.) with a group of their peers. Dubbed the “Limitless Life Skills Camp”, it was a great success and many of the participants were able to develop and learn skills that they will carry with them into adulthood. This week Shawn welcomes co-host Keisha, who also helped facilitate the Camp, and two of the Camp’s participants, Ella and Tom, to talk about their respective experiences and the importance of independent living skills.

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 162 - Let’s Talk About University Life

The first year at University or any post-secondary institution can be a big adjustment for anyone, but for those students who also have to juggle moving away from home for the first time as well, it can be a major challenge. This week Shawn and co-host Jill welcome back Nina and Acacia, both of whom have moved away from home for the first time in order to attend University. From accessibility challenges to University cafeteria food, they discuss what the transition has been like as students who are blind or partially sighted.

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 161 - Let’s Talk About Education Assistants

Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants – often known as education assistants or EAs – support students by providing help to teachers and counsellors and help with teaching and other various tasks. But what’s it like for students, such as ones that are blind or partially sighted, to have an EA by their sides during the course of a regular school day? This week we answer that very question as Shawn welcomes Acacia, Jill, and Nolan to discuss their various experiences with EAs.

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!