A Different Way of Seeing

In this episode I chat with the Audio Book Wizard, Richard Rieman about making illustrated children’s books accessible to all children. After a long career as a radio news reporter, anchor, and Washington Bureau Chief, Richard turned his storytelling skills to the world of audiobooks. He has narrated and produced hundreds of Indie-published audiobooks and is the author of the award-winning book, “...

In this episode I chat with Charlie Dyasi about his work as an audio engineer and voice artist. We discuss Charlie’s curiosity about audio that started at a young age and how it led him to explore working in various aspects of the audio field including radio deejaying, audio editing and creating radio jingles. Find Charlie and his audio work at any of the following:: e-mail: charliesa.dyasi@gmail....

In this episode I chat with Michelle Steiner, from the blog Michelle’s Mission, about her lived experience with a learning disability. Michelle talks about the impact her invisible disability had on her while growing up, and some of the adaptations she has made to accommodate her disability as an adult. We also discuss how Michelle’s learning disability empowers her in her work as a paraeducator o...

In this episode I chat with Kristin Secor, founder of the World on Wheels Blog. Kristin describes how she has adapted to accommodate living with a rare form of muscular dystrophy, and how she has managed to turn her love of travel and of helping people into an accessible travel blogsite. Kristin also shares some of the details of her first small group tour to South Africa in 2024, where she is par...

In this episode I chat with Barbara Hinske, a USA Today bestselling author about her newest book, Over Every Hurdle, the third book in the Guiding Emily series about a blind woman and her guide dog. We learn about Barbara’s inspiration for the series, the research she does into creating a realistic lived experience for both Emily and her guide dog, Garth, and the response to the series so far. PS...

In this episode I chat with Nadine McKenzie, Artistic Director of the inclusive performing arts company, Unmute Dance. Nadine shares a little of the history of the Unmute Dance Company and explains some of the logistics of running a mixed abilities performance group of dancers. She also tells us about the upcoming Arts Ability Festival that will be happening from 27 November – 3 December in Cape T...

In this episode I chat with Siva Moodley about his latest book, “A Passion for Success”, and his career as an educator and inclusive education advocate in South Africa. In “A Passion for Success”, Siva shares the stories of alumni of the Arthur Blaxall school for the blind, showing how success is due to a lifelong dedication to growth and determination to achieve. To contact Siva Moodley, e-mail h...

I’m currently on leave and thought I would share a guest episode from Global Network, a podcast published by Charlie Dyasi of Naledi Media, who recorded my podcast credits. Find Global Network at https://anchor.fm/s/2668542c/podcast/rss Or contact Charlie at E-mail: charliesa.dyasi@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lujadee.paul LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlie-dyasi-713525a...

In this episode I chat with author Jann Weeratunga about her journey as a writer and how she has become a strong ally for the disability community through her writing. Jann’s children’s books include characters with disabilities, and serve to normalize the concept of disability for both disabled and non-disabled children. During our conversation Jann talks about her books, the work she does in sch...

In this episode I chat with Lee Haskin, founder of Connor’s Haven in Mitchel’s Plain, Cape Town. When learning that her newborn baby was disabled, Lee made a commitment to providing the care her child would need. This led to the founding of Connor’s Haven and Resource Centre, which has become a centre of support and resources for parents and caregivers of children with disabilities in an area that...

In this episode I chat with Stephanie Duesing, author of the book Eyeless Mind, about her discovery that her son, Sebastian, had been living with undetected CVI for 15 years, and was almost completely blind. We discuss the difference between ocular blindness and cerebral/cortical blindness, the event that led Stephanie to discover her son’s CVI, and how he processes sight with words, the importanc...

In this episode I chat with Kellina Powell, aka Deaf Queen Boss, from Toronto, Canada. Kellina and I discuss her journey through hearing loss at the age of 4 years, college, her new online coaching business assisting others who are deaf, and her brand new book, “Every Day I am Just Deaf: Life in a Hearing World with Deaf Queen Boss” Contact Kellina at Instagram: @deafqueenboss Web: kellinaempowerm...

In this episode Jeremy Opperman chats to me about a recent adventure of an aerobatic flight. During our conversation we explore various aspects of how I experienced the flight, including what I felt when flying upside down and what it was like for me to actually fly the plane as a totally blind person. Contact Jeremy Opperman at Web: www.disabilitydesk.co.za YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/channel...

In this episode I chat to Dr Homiyar Mobedji, from Benetech Asia/Africa. We discuss the importance of inclusive education and its importance in employment of persons with disabilities in the developing world. We also talk about the need for accessible books and Homiyar’s role as head of Benetech Asia/Africa, and the role of the Bookshare library for persons with print disabilities as a tool to sup...

In this episode I chat to Ken Edmonds, from the YouTube channel Traveling with a Chair, and the new global directory AccessibleTravel.info. Ken shares with us how he became involved in developing accessible travel platforms, and what people can find on his YouTube channel. He also talks about his new initiative, AccessibleTravel.info which is a global directory of accessible travel destinations an...

In this episode I chat to Mdu Mathenjwa of Grashyo Creations about writing to heal and the importance of telling our stories. Mdu also shares his own story of resilience and determination to move forward after a life-changing experience that led to the starting of his publishing company, Grashyo Creations. Contact Mdu Mathenjwa at Web: www.mdumathenjwa.co.za or www.grashyo.club Social media: @MduM...

In this episode I chat to Dr Karen Smit about her work empowering young women with disabilities, as well as the impact that digital inclusion in the telecommunications industry can have on the lives of persons with disabilities. Contact Dr Karen Smit at karensmit50@gmail.com Contact Lois with podcast topics or guest suggestions at Web: loisstrachan.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loisstrach...

In this episode I chat to author and disability advocate Elizabeth Sammons about the way persons with disabilities are represented in literature. Elizabeth shares great advice for authors, both those with and without disabilities, who wish to include characters with disabilities in their writing. Here are the publications mentioned by Elizabeth during our conversation: “Blindness: Is Literature Ag...

In this episode I chat to Dr Michelle Botha about different ways of thinking and talking about disability, and how the theories impact on our lived experiences. Michelle and I chat about • The Medical Model, • The Social Model • Critical Disability Theory We discuss what those models are, how they play out in our lives, and in the lives of those with little or no personal contact with disability C...

In this episode we get creative and turn everything upside down. Because it’s all about change! Our host, Lois Strachan is on the other side of the microphone as she speaks to guest interviewer, Jeff Thompson from the Blind Abilities podcast network about what to expect in the new format of A Different Way of Seeing. Find out what to expect in future episodes and the story of how Lois got into pod...

In this episode our host, Lois Strachan, speaks with Brian Bushway of Acoustic Athletics about echo location as a tool to help us navigate the world. We also share news on upcoming changes to the podcast, so be sure to listen right to the end of today’s episode. Here’s how you can contact Brian Bushway and Acoustic Athletics: YouTube The Brian Bushway- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnSsNx-Ql3WN...

In this episode, our host, Lois Strachan, speaks with Mary Klinkradt of Raising Hope SA about adaptive golf and the launch of the Raising Hope SA Golf Academy in Cape Town. For general enquiries contact Mary on mary@raisinghopesa.com For enquiries on adaptive golf lessons, contact Shane on golfacademy@hazendal.co.za Look out for news of the podcast update coming soon… This episode was edited by Cr...

In this episode, our host, Lois Strachan chats to Saffura Khan who is a social activist involved in many different areas of the disability sector. She is education manager at the South African National Zakah Fund, and a radio presenter. Saffura was born blind and she loves to travel. Today's travel quote is by Lawrence Block: "Our happiest moments as tourists always seem to come when we stumble up...

In this episode, our host, Lois Strachan, speaks with Matthew van Zyl from Square One Paragliding and Taryn Tomlinson from Able2Travel about the introduction of adaptive paragliding into South Africa. Today's travel quote is by Leonardo da Vinci: "Once you have tasted flight, you will always walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward. Because there you have been, and there you long to return" Th...

In this episode, our host, Lois Strachan, chats with Meiki Motshabi.who learned to swim as a visually impaired adult. We will hear about her love of water sports and her swimming adventures. Today's travel quote is by Rabindranath Tagor: " This episode was edited by Craig Strachan using the Hindenburg software. Credits read by Musa E. Zulu.