Reflections

What does it really take to access joy, community, and live music when fun isn’t always accessible? Nisreen Abdel-Majid finds out.   Everyone deserves a night out, but for many people with disabilities, concerts and live events come with extra barriers most don’t see. Let’s share the joys and the frustrations of navigating a night out. Brock Richardson, a former AMI contributor and wheelchair user...

The further development of AI has proved to be a watershed moment for accessibility, but how concerned should users be about their privacy and data protection? Grant Hardy invites experts, users, and developers to share their perspectives on whether giving up certain levels of privacy is worth accessible software and tech.  Mike Feir is a tech expert, and regular AI user. He tells us how AI has im...

The Towards Just Care Project evaluates Canada’s homecare system and aims to redefine what care means for recipients of homecare and homecare workers.  Joeita Gupta invites us to join her at a round table with guests involved in advocacy and academia within the homecare sector.  We hear from Mary Jean Jande, the Academic Lead of the Towards Just Care Project, about how the project got started. Meg...

St. Thomas, Ontario is commemorating the 140th anniversary of Jumbo the Elephant's death with a new exhibit detailing his life and legacy. Kelly MacDonald visits with Steve Peters, a local historian who tells us Jumbo’s story, including details of his tragic end. Curator of the JUMBOMANIA exhibit, Madeleine Howard, shares everything they’ve got going on at this fascinating exhibit dedicated to Jum...

Picture this: You’re out and about and you come across a barrier to persons with disabilities in the built environment. I.E. A record shop that doesn’t have a ramp out front. What can you, an average member of the community, do to get that barrier removed? Guest Reporter Jacob Shymanski and Reflections Senior Producer Matt Agnew found insightful answers to that question at Access Fest, A unique ga...

Ozempic was developed with the intent to treat type 2 diabetes, but today, it’s become one of the biggest weight-loss crazes in North America. Nisreen Abdel-Majid digs into what happens when a medication meant to save lives becomes a massive cultural trend, who it affects, and how severely. We hear from Mousa Abdul Samar, Pharmacist and Manager at Deen Pharmacy, who offers a vital perspective on O...

Violence against women is an epidemic, and women with disabilities are at a much higher risk to experience intimate partner violence.  Joeita Gupta brings us along as she learns more about the attitudinal and tangible barriers that women with disabilities face when seeking support in an abusive relationship. We hear from Marianne Ruffin, an expert in the violence against women sector. She shares h...

The  2025 IBSA Goalball American Championship  that took place this July was a qualifying competition that brought together top men’s and women’s national goalball teams from across the Americas. The Paralympic Training Center in São Paulo, Brazil hosted 22 teams over 8 days of goalball competition. We follow the Canadian Men’s Goalball Team through their trip, the prep and grind it took to get to...

What do you know about Lavender? Kelly MacDonald takes a visit to  Sparta Lavender Farm , 3km east of the historic village of Sparta, located in Aylmer, Ontario. We meet the couple behind the farm, Karen Parr and Bert Floyd, who help us explore everything we ever wanted to know about Lavender. Kelly and others on the group tour take a Sound Bath, offered as a relaxation practice by Michele Kujawa,...

The Canada Disability Benefit was announced earlier this summer with much fanfare. Proponents tout it as the first of its kind: a program designed to lift Canadians with disabilities out of poverty. Eligible Canadians can get as much as $2400 annually. But does it live up to the hype? Joeita Gupta takes us through a deep dive into the policy, application process, and real-life effects of the benef...

Makeup isn’t just about beauty. For many people who are blind, low-vision, or living with a disability, it’s also about self-expression, empowerment, and identity. But the beauty industry hasn’t always made space for everyone’s needs. Lead by her own love for makeup, Nisreen Abdel-Majid explores what it means to find beauty for people with disabilities. We meet Maria Santiago, a makeup influencer...

Mark Richardson recently authored The Drive Across Canada: The Remarkable Story of the Trans-Canada Highway, published on June 3, 2025. Kelly MacDonald and Mark Richardson take us on a fascinating journey along the coast-to-coast highway, reflecting on Mark’s countless trips and many stories. Michelle Higgins, who hit a moose in 2012 near Gander, Newfoundland, ended up in a relationship with Steph...

Reflections launches September 2, 2025 on AMI-audio and podcast platforms.  New episodes every Tuesday to Friday. About AMI AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of acce...