Inspirations News Podcast

Summit School Tech program has opened a café inside Maimonides Geriatric Centre. It's a fully functional cafe that serves two purposes: training students, as well as serving and interacting with the centre's residents. Listen, as Mark Bergman chats with Maimonides Development Officer, Lisa Kasner - Job Integration Specialist, Thomas Saviolidis - And Onder, who works at the café! Enjoy!

We're focusing on mental health on this edition of our podcast. The Glee Club at Vincent Massey Collegiate, better knows as the Clef Notes, performed at the Just For Kids Voices competition, which raised money for mental health awareness at the Montreal Children’s Hospital! Listen as Mark Bergman chats with teacher Alessandra Martoccia, Sec V student August Di Liello, and Sec IV student Charl...

Listen to how Anna Maria Civitella started an initiative of collecting toys with a range of different abilities, so that students at The Mackay Center and Phillip E Layton schools can use them. We'll also chat with grade 5 student Ella, who will share her thoughts on how these new toys relate to her and her friends.*Photo credit: CIUSSS West-Central Montreal.

In this episode, Mark Bergman chat with Kevin James Reason (Liam's father) & Christine Tellier about the foundation's mission and goals, and how you can support the foundation.

It's been another challenging year for us all, yet with every challenge they're faced the students at Galileo Adult Center & Mackay Center Philip E Layton always find the silver lining. There's ALWAYS something to be grateful for!

Looking for greeting cards this holiday season? Check our www.zachdesigns.ca The business is run by Zach Reisman, who is an illustrator and 3D artist. Zach, who has Autism Spectrum Disorder, runs the business together with his mother Lorri Benedik, and they both joined Mark Bergman to share their story.

On this episode you'll learn about a support concept, for families with special needs, called Circles Of Support. Evelyn Lusthaus has a support circle for her daughter Hanna, who has Downs Syndrome. Mark chats with them both, as well as Hanna’s long time network facilitator, advocate for people with disabilities and their families, Nancy Rother. For more, please visit http://www.inspirationsn...

On this episode, we shine light on the Art & Soul program at Wagar Adult Education Center. The class focuses on teaching social skills through art. The class has also become very passionate about the topic of residential schools, as they've been learning about issues related to our indigenous communities. Host, Mark Bergman chats with students Jessica Teixeira-Pinto as well as Branden, an...

The C.A.R.E. Center in Cote-Saint-Luc is fundraising and looking to connect with former students. On this episode, you'll hear why CARE, a non profit recreational and educational center for adults over the age of 21 with physical disabilities, is such a vital part of our community. Guests:Joanne Charron, PresidentOlivia Quesnel, Executive Director Tamar Hertz, Board member, parent, Wagar High...

An integral part of the Shriners Hospital, the Child Life department aims to help kids (and parents!) normalize their hospital experience by reducing stress and cope during medical procedures. Listen as Mark Bergman chats with Child Life Specialist Angie Gugliotti, as well as parent Christine Elvidge, 10 year old Sari Bennet, and Keera Taylor who recently completed her internship at the hospital....

Check out this incredibly inspiring conversation with teachers and students of Galileo Adult Education Center, about their I Belong Project, and how this digital storytelling journey led them to the Hands On Media Film Festival! Joining us on this episode:Martina Schaivone - Galileo PrincipalLisa Trotto - SIS TeacherJessie Curell- Hands on Media Founder Alexis Gerin Lajoie - SIS Student & film...

Our 2 part series on Montreal social enterprises continues, with an in depth chat about the importance of social enterprise in our society and what it takes to launch. Joining Mark Bergman are founder and director of Zera Cafe- Eve Rochman, as well a Zera Cafe cook- Ricky Malus!

In celebration of Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion Month in Montreal, GenMTL's Pay it Forward for Purim initiative, along with DeLaMie Bakery saw 200 Purim Baskets go out to people in the Montreal community. Listen, as Mark Bergman chats with fundraiser organizers and members of the DeLaMie bakery, about the importance of social enterprise in Montreal!

Casey Remrov Vormer, is an award-winning artist, autism advocate and new author of "The Autism Spectrum: How To Talk, How To Listen, And Why You Shouldn't Call It High-Functioning". Listen, as Mark Bergman chats with Casey about his new book, and what life has been like during the last 6 months during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Take a listen behind the scenes, about what inspired the Friendship Revolution. The film follows the year long journey of sixty teens and young adults, with and without disabilities, co-creating innovative projects to break down the barriers to inclusion. Listen, as Mark Bergman chats with Leibel Rodal, Steven Abad, Dr. Liz Cooper, Eva Levin, and Mushka Rom.

The last few months have been a challenge for us all. But how did the sudden break in routine, affect those living with autism? Listen, as Mark Bergman chats with Kelly Bron Johnson, founder and consultant at Completely Inclusive, and Steve Atme, singer, producer, writer, and the director of the movie, the Power Of One. They'll discuss the challenges, but also some of the good that's com...

Alison Levine is ranked #1 in the world in boccia, a sport for physically disabled athletes. As she was in the final stages of preparation for the 2020 Paralympics, COVID-19 hit, and it was decided that the games would be postponed until next summer. Join Mark Bergman, as he chats with Alison about how learning to adapt has been crucial in preparing her for how to deal with isolation and preparati...

Five friends, all diagnosed with autism/aspergers, created a film where they share their accomplishments, hoping to inspire viewers to follow their dreams. The Power Of One, is about inclusion and diversity despite differences with special needs, beliefs, race and rough backgrounds. Listen, as Mark Bergman chats with Steven Atme (producer & director), and Fareed Gul (co-writer, actor & son...

This Valentines's Day, we decided to visit the amazing students and staff at the Mackay Centre & Philip E. Layton schools. Mark Bergman asked them about a person they love, why they love that person so much, and how that person makes them feel? Have a listen! You're going to LOVE what they had to say! Special thanks to the following students and staff members for making this podcast...

This year on the Inspirations News Podcast, we will be highlighting difference makers within Montreal's special needs community. Our first Inspirations Difference Maker is well known in the community for his superb fundraising, and his friendly & positive personality. Mark Bergman chats with Ariel Mechaly as well as his sister Naomi Mechaly, about his fundraising for the Walk For Friendsh...

Mark Bergman visited the Lounge Group at the Friendship Circle of Montreal, to find out about their New Years resolutions. New goals! New foods! New hopes for 2020!❤️🎧You can now subscribe to The Inspirations News Podcast on: Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/InspirationsAppleGoogle Play: https://tinyurl.com/InspirationsGoogle

Vanessa Grimaldi, best known for winning The Bachelor Season 21, has always focused her attention on bringing awareness to students with learning disabilities. Host Mark Bergman chats with Vanessa about the reason why the area of special needs is so important to her, the benefits of the amazing sensory rooms that she has donated, and news about her new podcast! We'll also meet her podcast ass...

Now in their 41st season, Le Hiboux De Montreal is a team composed of visually impaired people in the greater metropolitan area. The team is recognized as a leader in team sports for people with visual disabilities. Mark Bergman chats with players Francois Beauregard and Bruno Hache about the growing popularity of blind hockey, and some of the incredible challenges involved in playing a high inten...

The Centre for the Arts in Human Development (CAHD) at Concordia University, established in 1996, is an educational, clinical and research centre serving adults with developmental disabilities and other special needs populations. On this episode, Mark Bergman will chat with Director of Clinical Services and Public Outreach, Lenore Vosberg, as well as CAHD member, Robbie Zunenshine. They'll ch...

Mark Bergman chats with Clinical Director of the SCERT Conference, Ed Cukier. We'll be covering everything from independence & autonomy, to sexuality, parental stress, and more! Find out about all the amazing sessions you'll be able to attend, by listening to this episode. Thanks to Marathon Souvlaki for sponsoring this episode of the Inspirations News Podcast!