CNIB Podcast Network

CNIB Lake Joe is known for its ability to connect others in the most unique of circumstances. In episode four of Lake Joe On The Go!, we explore friendships that formed at Lake Joe, and how these relationships have shaped and changed lives.

In The Lens: Living Diverse, co-hosts Neisha Mitchell and Ben Akuoko explore the many facets of intersectionality from a blind, partially sighted and Deafblind perspective. In Episode 6, Kamini Rodhan joins the podcast and shares stories about her experiences growing up with sight loss in Guyana and Canada. Neisha, Ben and Kamini also explore the attitudes and perceptions that different cultures h...

CNIB Lake Joe is the perfect place to make connections of all sorts! In this episode, we’re joined by Marsha and Butch, two long-time Lake Joe guests whose love story began in 1983. Nearly 40 years later, the pair still come to camp to experience the magic that brought them together.

In our second episode, we discuss the journey of seeking employment as a person with a disability. Our guests open up about the challenges and successes that come along with the job-seeking journey and reflect on what could make that journey easier for people who are eager to work.

Discover the magic of CNIB Lake Joe with your host, Taylor Gaudon. Hear from passionate guests, volunteers, and staff as they explore a new topic in every episode. Tune in to hear about Lake Joe memories, stories of love and friendship, a day in the life, and more! Episode 1: Memories of Lake Joe CNIB Lake Joe is a magical place where lasting memories are made by all who have the great pleasure of...

In this episode of The Lens: Living Diverse, Ben and special guest, Ali Khalil, take a closer look at racialized masculinity. Ali reflects on his journey adjusting to sight loss as a Middle Eastern Muslim male and the expectations he experienced from his family and culture alike. Ben and Ali dissect the challenges of having to be tough, societal expectations, vulnerability and other topics pertain...

June is Pride Month and The Lens: Living Diverse is celebrating with special guest hosts, TerriLynn and Lucie. Hear their personal stories and reflections about coming out, cultivating relationships, involvement in the 2SLGBTQ+ community, intersectionality, and more. This episode was recorded during International Lesbian Visibility Week. Show notes: Toronto Trailblazer Tandem Cycling Club https://...

In Episode 3 of The Lens: Living Diverse, Vivi Dabee joins Neisha and Ben for a lively discussion about diversity in media. As a performer, playwright, and audio-description consultant for Vocal Image Ensemble Winnipeg (VIEW), Vivi shares insights to diversity and inclusion within the theatre, television, and film industry. They also chat about intersecting identities in media, representation, des...

*Content warning: This episode discusses trauma and abuse and contains graphic details of verbal and physical assault. Content may be distressing to some listeners. Listener discretion advised.* In The Lens: Living Diverse, Neisha Mitchell and Ben Akuoko explore the many facets of intersectionality from a blind, partially sighted and Deafblind perspective. In Episode 2, Neisha sits down with “one...

In The Lens: Living Diverse, Neisha Mitchell and Ben Akuoko explore the many facets of intersectionality from a blind, partially sighted and Deafblind perspective. In Episode 1, hosts Neisha and Ben discuss why they decided to create the podcast, upcoming guests, and why it’s important to celebrate diversity within the blind, partially sighted and Deafblind community.

Sfen Mogensen is a totally blind world traveler. He’s visited 97 countries and counting. In this episode, we hear his irrepressible and captivating stories about where, why and how he travels.

If you haven’t been around a lot of blind people, you may not associate them with things like marathon canoeing or a 42 km hike. Ron Walsh of Saskatoon, founder of the Blind Adventurer Foundation, wants to change that. His ambition is to help blind and partially sighted people prepare and learn, then set out on the kind of guided adventures that change lives. In this conversation, we hear about Ro...

Anyone losing their vision knows the importance of learning new practical skills for daily living. Perhaps more important is the emotional journey we take in coming to terms with our situation and constructing a new sense of self. In this candid conversation with Client Support Services worker Brian Vey, we dig into this complex and rewarding process.

Having a guide dog and being denied service in cabs or restaurants is disturbingly common, despite laws and public awareness campaigns. In this conversation with Victoria Nolan, we hear how CNIB Guide Dogs is fostering advocacy and encouraging guide dog handlers to challenge unlawful treatment.

For people living in remote communities, eye care isn’t something they can take for granted. The Eye Van is a mobile medical unit that covers 6,000 kilometres each year, providing preventative eye health screening and eye care for people who would otherwise have to travel long distances.

How do you describe an abstract art piece? What’s a professional audio describer’s dream job and how do you get there? These are some of the questions for J.J. Hunt, a Toronto-based describer who’s worked on film, TV, museum installations, and at live events.

“I have a million stories of every client who has been able to find their way and embrace what’s inside,” says Ann Harry, who facilitates the CNIB's Manitoba Youth Council. Her love for her work is clear in her stories of young people with sight loss, their parents, and the journeys they’ve taken.

For most of us, staying fit is a task that requires discipline and dedication. If you’re blind or partially sighted, there’s often another layer of challenges between you and your best health. CNIB’s Ashley Nemeth leads an interval training program for participants who receive guidance from a trained fitness professional and build confidence to advocate for inclusion in local gyms.

Skipping class, making friends, and dissecting frogs are among the many normal parts of school that can be harder if you have sight loss. But what’s it like in a setting where everyone is just like you? In conversation with the principal of the W. Ross MacDonald School, we hear about changes and what the school has to offer students and families.

GPS navigation is one of the biggest leaps in increasing independence for people with sight loss. At the CNIB Hub in Toronto, a new project is taking things to the next level by equipping surrounding businesses with Bluetooth beacons. These small, programmable devices offer detailed, localized information about what’s around you, making it easier to find places.

How relevant is braille? What steps are being taken to make it more accessible to people who want it? CNIB’s Diane Bergeron speaks to these issues and discusses the Orbit Braille Reader, a new, low-cost braille display that makes braille more available to everyone.

Across the country, groups of people with sight loss are getting together to share what they know about technology and helping each other learn. It’s a member-led movement that demystifies assistive technology and builds confidence and independence.

In celebration of World Braille Day, we interviewed the winners of the 2019 Braille Creative Writing Contest. Meet Kelsey Chen from Vancouver, B.C., winner of first prize in the group 1 category. Kelsey reads her winning story, and the Chen family sits down for an interview with Rhonda.

In celebration of World Braille Day, we interviewed the winners of the 2019 Braille Creative Writing Contest. Meet Zara Gandhi from Markham, Ontario, winner of first prize in the group 2 category. Hear her winning story, along with her journey as a blind student, and her family’s journey in raising a child with sight loss.

In celebration of World Braille Day, we interviewed the winners of the 2019 Braille Creative Writing Contest. Meet Zachary Abdallah from Calgary, Alberta, first prize winner in the group 3 category.