Limitless: Blind Beginnings Podcast

Episode 125 - Let’s Talk About Cooking

We’re heading into the kitchen for this episode of the podcast as Shawn welcomes co-hosts Keisha and Kolby to the show to discuss their experiences in the kitchen, from experiences of shopping for groceries to the struggles of inaccessible appliances. It’s an episode full of learning that you’ll also be hungry by then end of, so you don’t want to miss it!

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 124 - Let’s Meet Dan

This week Shawn and co-host Keisha welcome Dan Mancina, one of the pioneers in blind  skateboarding to the show. They discuss how he got into the sport, how he has adapted it, and his efforts to build the world’s first adaptive skatepark. 

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 123 - Let’s Talk About Synesthesia

Synesthesia is the term for when you experience one of your senses through another. For example, you might hear the name "Alex" and see green, and people who have this ability are called synesthetes. This week Shawn welcomes Jugaad, Keisha, Jinnie, and Monty to the show, all of whom are synesthetes. They discuss the various different types of synesthesia, how it manifests for them and describe what it’s like and the various ways it impacts their daily lives. If you’ve never heard of synesthesia or ever wondered what colour Tuesday is, you won’t want to miss this fascinating 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 122 - Let’s Talk About Halloween

It’s a very spooktacular episode this week as Shawn welcomes Nika, Nolan, and Leena to the show to discuss Halloween, from their favourite memories and how this spooky holiday may or may not have been adapted to how they currently celebrate and plans for this year! 

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 121 - Let’s Talk About Why People Who Are Blind Are Great Employees

This week Shawn and co-host Keisha welcome Mark Bentz, entrepreneur, business owner, and member of the blindness community to the show to talk about employment and the benefits of inclusive hiring practices for businesses and discuss some of the qualities that can make an employee who is blind or partially sighted a huge asset to any company.

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 120 - Let’s Talk About Albinism

Our Blindness Awareness Month content continues this week as Shawn is joined by co-host Acacia as they welcome Adam to the show to discuss Albinism. They discuss its definition, de-bunk various myths, and share stories about what it’s like living with Albinism.

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 119 - Let’s Talk About Forced Inclusion

While inclusion is something that is incredibly important most of the time, when done without consulting the person who is being included, it can go wrong and backfire. This week Shawn welcomes co-hosts Ishita, Jinnie, and Clement to discuss this, compare experiences, and talk about how inclusion can be handled in a way that doesn’t result in awkward situations or, ironically, enhanced feelings of exclusion. 

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 118 - Let’s Talk About Guide Dog Training

It’s Blindness Awareness Month and Shawn and co-host Keisha are kicking off the month by welcoming former Seeing Eye Guide Dog trainer Sarah to the show for a fascinating deep dive into what the process of what training is like. From puppy-hood to handing off the dog to its new handler and owner, we talk about what makes a successful guide dog candidate, some of the challenges of training, and much much more! If you're a dog lover or curious to learn more about the scope of work and care that goes into training each individual dog, this is one episode 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 117 - Let’s Talk About Being Brave

You might be surprised at how often those who are blind or partially sighted get approached by people in public and are told that they are brave, just for going about the normal activities of their day. This week Shawn welcomes co-hosts Nika and Keisha to the show to discuss this common occurrence and to have an open and honest conversation about how it makes them feel, how it can play into common misconceptions about what it’s like to be blind or partially sighted, and some of the things that they do that does take bravery.  

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 116 - Do The Grind Blind Reunion

September 10, 2022 was the 5th Anniversary of “Do The Grind Blind” when nine youth who are blind or partially sighted, each with a sighted guide, challenged themselves to reach the top of Grouse Mountain via the infamous hiking trail known as the Grouse Grind. To celebrate this special anniversary, Shawn Marsolais, our founder and Director of Programs and Community Engagement gathered together a group of the original hikers and sighted guides (along with a few new faces) and climbed it once again. For this very special episode Shawn welcomes Randi, John, Russell and Sean (aka Terrence) along with podcast producer and Blind Beginnings Communications Coordinator Rob Mineault to revisit and discuss the original Do The Grind Blind as well as the recent reunion hike. 

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!